Alternative Energy for Sustainable Transport Course Review

Within the Summer Courses of the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos has held the course “Alternative Energy for Sustainable Transport: Biofuels and Hydrogen. At the same, and the hand of top specialists, has tried to understand and assess the current situation and future of the energies that will replace petroleum in the transport sector, and basically are biofuels and hydrogen.

The findings from the course are:

1. The consumption of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal) continue to rise due to continued economic growth and consequent increase in energy demand.

2. This is particularly worrying in the transport sector, being the most dependent on oil: More than 90% of motor fuels come from oil, and constitute 26% of total primary energy consumption. Besides producing a continuous growth of world population, especially in developing countries-more-energy demand is growing even faster rate of population mobility in public transport and private. (Only in Madrid in recent years, the population increased by 12% and 53% mobility).

3. Besides the previously mentioned factors (demographic and economic growth), the sustainable energy future is determined by three factors: availability and security of energy resources, technological resources and social acceptance.

4. Although proven oil reserves and probable reserves (more inaccessible and more expensive) can ensure future continuity of this fossil fuel, its relative scarcity and higher cost over its entire future to the major environmental problems occur, requires its gradual replacement by other energy sources.

5. The pathways for sustainable energy development in the transport sector can be reduced mainly to the following three:

a) Efficient and clean fossil fuels.
b) Widespread use of renewable energy, particularly biofuels made from biomass.
c) Strengthening the role of hydrogen as a clean form of energy, technology, fuel cell and internal combustion engine.

6. Among the social awareness initiatives that help change the attitude of users and to reduce pollutant emissions in transport include:
Promoting behavior change in favor of the use of public transport and car sharing.
Increased taxes for more polluting vehicles.

7. According to estimates, the number of cars used in the world will reach 1,400 million in 2030, almost double the 760 billion in 2000. This CO2 emissions from transport (in Europe are already 40% of total) increased in proportion to the number of vehicles, which urgently requires the development and diffusion of technologies that can minimize CO2 emissions. This in turn will require the incorporation of advanced technologies in three areas: fuel and vehicle propulsion.

8. Although the reduction of CO2 emissions in transport is more expensive than in other sectors such as electricity or heat for industrial purposes, its strategic importance is more prominent.

9. The key advantages of hydrogen as transport fuel is its flexibility as energy carrier and can be obtained from natural gas, biomass and other renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind power. Its role in transportation will in the medium to long term.

10. While not introduce new energy technologies in transport, conventional engines will continue to dominate the market in the near future, as gasoline and diesel will be available even at prices much higher. So petrol and diesel oil with high quality will continue to coexist with other alternative fuels that allow the diversification of supply and reducing CO2 emissions, in both hybrid vehicles and in incorporating other advanced technologies.

11. The internal combustion engine still has potential for improving energy efficiency by 20% over the next ten years at least. The hybrid vehicle (gasoline / electric) appears as the most promising technology in the medium term, especially if it continues to improve battery technology for electric utilities. The role of fuel-cell vehicle will be very important, but longer term (no earlier than 10-15 years). Energy efficiencies can reach double the current equivalent vehicle.

12. Biofuels, mainly ethanol and biodiesel, have excellent potential to reduce CO2 emissions, resulting in major environmental benefits. It is for politicians to collaborate in the development of incentives and establishment of regulations and infrastructure for the effective implementation of this technology.

13. Biofuels from biomass can reach a market share exceeding 5% in the near future (2010) if received Administration support and incentives needed and expected. The presence in the market for bioethanol and biodiesel, as well as so-called second generation biofuels, will grow, with forecasts of 10% in 2020 and up to 25% from 2030.

14. The second-generation biofuels will come mainly from the herbaceous and woody forest and agricultural residues, and both gaseous and liquid will be obtained through thermochemical processes (gasification, liquefaction and pyrolysis). The final step is to reach the concept of “bio-refinery”, which integrate these processes with the production of other chemicals with high added value.

15. Hydrogen storage is one of the main barriers to the commercialization of it in the transport sector. For now, compressed hydrogen is the best technical solution, but we need better technology options for a more effective storage (greater amount of hydrogen per unit volume and per unit weight of storage device). Research efforts are directed to systems based on physical adsorption of hydrogen on new materials with high porosity and chemical adsorption (hydrides).

16. Hydrogen safety, closely linked to the storage system is used, is another barrier, but with a strong psychological component.

17. The real challenges for the progressive development of these promising technologies that will replace fossil fuels for transport and focus the following points:
– Cost reduction
– Improved technology
– Regulation favorable rules
– Social acceptance.

None of these factors, by itself, be sufficient to solve the energy problem in transportation, but all the same it balanced is the key to that solution. There are reasons to be optimistic.

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