New Electrification Technology

Abstract

Reducing Co2 Emissions—Depending on the sources of electric-
ity production, the use of electricity can be a contributing factor to net
CO2 emissions. What is less obvious is the fact that the increasing use of
efficient end-use electric technologies has the potential to save energy
and decrease overall CO2 emissions substantially.
There are two main mechanisms for saving energy and reducing CO2
emissions with electric end-use technologies: (1) upgrading existing electric
technologies, pro cesses, and building energy systems; and (2) expanding
end-use applications of electricity. Upgrading existing electric end-use
technologies embodies replacing or retrofitting older equipment with
new, innovative, highly efficient technologies. It also includes improving
controls and operations and maintenance practices, as well as reducing
end-use energy needs by improving buildings and building processes. In
essence, this first mechanism is comprised of what are commonly referred
to as energy efficiency and demand-response measures.
The second mechanism, expanding end-use applications of electricity,
involves replacing less efficient fossil fuel end-use technologies (exist-
ing or planned) with more efficient electric end-use technologies. It also
encompasses developing new markets for electric end-use technologies
that result in overall energy, environmental, and economic benefits.
There are many electric end-use technologies known to be su-
perior in their performance, using much less overall (net) energy in
performing the same function as a fossil fuel technology. This benefit
of electricity use stems from several characteristics: (1) electricity is
able to apply portions of the electromagnetic spectrum to a process or
a task (e.g., microwaves to cook food or ultrasonic waves to enhance
dyes); (2) electricity uses a mix of low-carbon primary energy sources,
including nuclear, wind, solar, hydropower, etc.; and (3) electricity can
provide motive power more efficiently than fossil fuel engines.