The Role of Renewable Energy in Moving Towards Sustainable Transportation

BY
ABDULKAREEM ABDULRAZAQ KAYODE MOHAMMED NASIR KAREEMAH MOHD YUSUF

Outline of Presentation

Introduction Background Analysis of Findings Recommendations Conclusion

Introduction
The

last five decades witnessed a tremendous growth in the transportation sector as a means of mobility of persons and goods. This growth has consequently increased the socio-economic development of countries. However, despite the advancement of growth and development as a result of improved transportation system in the world, it also posed the greatest challenge to sustainable development to countries on the verge of achieving sustainable development.

World Transportation Delivered Energy Consumption (2008-2035) Quadrillion Btu

World Liquids Consumption by sector (2008-2035)(Million barrels per day)

Energy Usage by Sector.

World Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by fuel (1990-2035) (Billion metric tons)

Aim and Objectives

Broad Aim The broad aim is to analyse the role of renewable energy in advancing towards sustainable transportation. Other Objectives Include;

To discuss the trend in the conventional sources of energy for different mode of transportation system; To discuss the sources of renewable energy presently in use and the future sources to enable a sustainable transportation system; To make a comparative analysis of the conventional sources of energy and the renewable energy and their effect in promoting sustainable transportation system; To measure the extent at which renewable energy can be a perfect substitute for conventional source of energy to sustainable transportation.

Methodology
The methodology that would be used in this study would be strictly secondary. Data collection would solely be from review of literatures from the field of sustainable development. Also, renewable energy has over the years become a subject of focus therefore, literatures from the field of renewable energy and sustainable transportation will also reviewed. Books, journals articles, periodicals and materials from the internet will all be utilized.

Background

25%

of the world carbon di oxide emission can be attributed to transportation activities, and the trend could double by 2050 (IEA 2009). To a large extent this has contributed to both environmental and health hazards. Global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, spread of toxic organic and inorganic substances, notable tropospheric ozone, depletion of oil and other natural resources as well as damage to land scape and soil are all the adverse effect of fossil fuelled mode of

Background Contd
From

1971 to 2006, global transport energy use rose steadily between 2% and 2.5% per year, closely paralleling growth in economic activity around the world. The road transport sector used the most energy and grew most in absolute terms. Aviation was the second- largest user of energy and grew the most in relative terms.

Background Contd

Total fossil fuel-related emissions increased from 20.9Gt in 1990 to 28.8Gt in 2007. Transportation accounts for 4.58Gt in 1990 and 6.63Gt in 2007. As population continues to grow worldwide, the rate of demand for petroleum products also increases. More than 800 million passenger vehicles depends largely on petroleum products to function. IEA puts it as 84 million barrels of oil is consumed worldwide and tendency to grow persist as population pressure lingers. Transport and C02 emission are strongly linked to population and income.

Negative Effects of Non- Sustainable Transportation

Background Contd

Renewable energy technologies continues to become relevant and important as environmental concern escalates. It continues to serve as a necessary component of strategies to address climate change, fuel poverty and in promoting sustainable development

What is Sustainable Transportation?

Finding a balance between the current and the future of transportation through environmental, social and economic aspects (Beatley, 1995 a means of promoting better and healthier ways of meeting individual and community needs while reducing the social and environmental impacts of current mobility practices a means of transportation that meet the needs of society today without compromising our ability to meet the transportation needs of tomorrow

Use of Indicators

Source: Litman, Todd. 2009. Sustainable Transportation Indicators.

Performance Indicators

There are currently no standardized indicator sets for comprehensive and sustainable transport planning (Litwin 2009)

1. Energy use for transport 2. Greenhouse gas emissions 3. Other transport emissions 4. Injuries and fatalities 5. Movement of people 6. Movement of freight 7. Travel by cars and planes
Gilbert & Myrans (2003)

8. Personal vehicle movement 9. Urban land use 10. Length of paved roads 11. Household spending 12. Relative transit costs 13. Energy intensity 14. Emissions intensity

Indicators of Sustainable Transportation

Source: Haghshenas and Vazir 2010

Dimensions of Sustainable Development

Challenges to Sustainable Transportation

Sustainable Transportation

Understand

Quantify

Apply

Renewable energy is a form of energy capable of being regenerated by natural processes at meaningful rates.

Sources of Renewable Energy

Solar Energy
Geothermal Energy Wind Energy Programs Hydro Energy Programs

Hydrogen Programs
Biomass Programs

Photovoltaic Systems Electricity from the Sun

Geothermal Energy Programs

Advantages Geothermal energy cost is extremely low compared to many other energy sources. It has low pollution compared to fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source. Almost no environmental impact when using geothermal heat from nuclear decay. Geothermal heat pump systems can reduce your energy use storing heat from the summer/sun and makes use of it in the night and winter. Low maintenance systems Disadvantages Viable areas for construction are only few. The area where geothermal plants are built must have a good heat source. Carries with it the risk of releasing harmful gases trapped beneath the earths surface.

Wind Energy Programs

Advantages Wind power is very low cost (after the initial production and installation) Wind power is clean (no pollution or carbon dioxide after the initial setup, apart from the comparatively minor emissions produced to manufacture, transport, erect and maintain them) Wind turbines are self sufficient (low maintenance, few moving parts, easy to repair) Many people view wind turbines as aesthetically beautiful additions to the landscape. Wind prices won't inflate like today's gas prices. Disadvantages The strength of the wind is not constant and it varies from zero to storm force. This means that wind turbines do not produce the same amount of electricity all the time.

Hydro Energy Programs

Advantages Hydroelectricity is a source that does not produce greenhouse gases. Operation and maintenance costs for hydroelectricity plants are much lower than for thermal electricity power plants. Breakdowns are few because their mechanical design is relatively simple, and no excess heat is generated during operations. Hydroelectricity generating plants have a long life. Although dams prevent the natural flushing out of a river during a flood, they also control flooding downstream in times of high rainfall and snowmelt. Disadvantages Usually a large area of land has to be flooded to ensure a continuous flow of water to the turbine. In some cases when a dam is built, large populations have to be relocated. In China, the Three Gorges Dam Project on the Yangtze River will displace more than 1 million people. Dams affect river ecosystems. Rivers usually experience seasonal flooding that flush out river backwaters and deposit silt on riverbanks. Dams prevent those seasonal floods and allow silt and vegetation to clog up river backwaters. This causes changes to the environments, which may impact plant and animal habitats. Hydroelectricity dams are costly to build.

Hydrogen Programs
Advantages Reductions in imports of oil and Lower CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. Potential for long-term reduction of the outflow of dollars currently required to pay for the nations energy needs Disadvantages Potentially limited market acceptance Difficulty of achieving simultaneous transitions of vehicles and fuel infrastructure Reliance on geological sequestration to mitigate CO2 emissions from hydrocarbon-based hydrogen production.

Advantages

Biomass Programs (Biomass-derived Ethanol)

Disadvantages not economical to produce, grow and transport biomass as source of biomass is not too close to the area of processing or the methods used to process the cost of installing and maintaining the infrastructure for processing the biomass is very expensive as involves making infrastructure for collecting, processing, and then purifying the biofuel.

reduction of greenhouse gas emissions e.g. CO2 reduction local air pollution protection of soil and groundwater through the use of biodegradable products reduction of health hazards by using nontoxic products

Analysis

Transportation Energy Mix Use Worldwide

Transport = 23% of world energy-related GHG emissions & growing faster than other end-use sectors .so must be a critical part of mitigation strategy. Emissions growth is slowing in developed world, but rapid motorization in developing nations is driving worldwide growth in emissions (2002-2030 = 80%!). Transports tie to oil adds to importance of mitigation!

Advanced vehicle technology, low carbon fuels, urban planning, shifting to more efficient modes, and appropriate pricing all have crucial roles to play in mitigation.
Best strategy will depend on local conditions and other factors.

Transportation

Public and Private transportation (by ownership) Land, Air and Sea transportation (by mode)

Cars Trains Airplanes Boats

Selected Energy Source Cost Comparison

1. 2. 3. 4.

What do individual fuel/vehicle pathways look like? How do these pathways compare? How could we combine pathways and approaches to meet societal goals for carbon? What policy measures and tools are needed to encourage progress toward sustainable transportation?

Factors to be considered before undertaking any renewable energy program

Location Conventional energy industry Transport vehicles industry Transition Cost

Well
Distribution Channels

Wheels

(ICEVs) Internal combustion engine vehicles PEV plug-in electric vehicles PHEV plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

How to measure pathway effectiveness

How do we define and measure sustainability for transportation? Life-cycle analysis (LCA) is a powerful method for evaluating and comparing fuel/vehicle pathways with respect to a set of sustainability metrics

These could include primary energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutant emissions, water use, land use, materials requirements, and other factors that might be harder to quantify such as reliability and resiliency. The life cycle of a product encompasses all of the physical and economic processes involved directly or indirectly in its life, from extracting the raw materials used to make it to recycling the product at the end of its life. Life-cycle analysis for transportation analyses all the steps in producing and using fuels: resource extraction and transport, production of the fuel, fuel delivery to refuelling stations, and use in vehicles. (Sometimes the energy and materials used to make vehicles are also included in the life

cycle, but these tend to be significantly lower than fuel cycle energy use and emissions.)

Sustainable Mobility Project Members

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