Earth energy systems offer greatest GHG mitigation, concludes utility study
BRUSSELS, Belgium, 2004-08-18 (Refocus Weekly)
Earth energy heat pumps have the potential to reduce CO2 by 6% of the world’s emissions, which is “one of the largest savings that a single technology can offer.”
The technology is a “key electric technology with great potential for
energy savings,” explains ‘Electricity for More Efficiency: Electric
Technologies & their Energy Savings Potential,’ produced by the Union of
the Electricity Industry (EURELECTRIC) and the International Union for
Electricity Applications. Earth energy can heat or cool buildings and is “the
most energy efficient way of providing heating and cooling in many applications,
as they can use renewable heat sources in our surroundings.”
“The energy extracted from the environment by heat pumps should be recognized
as a renewable energy source” as it is in Canada, it argues. If conventional
boilers were switched to earth energy, up to one-half of the fuel could be
displaced and the technology could reduce CO2 emissions and pollutants
associated with space heating in Europe by 30% to 50%.
“The potential for CO2 emissions reductions via residential, commercial and
industrial heat pumps is about 6% of global emissions,” it notes. “This is
one of the largest savings that a single technology can offer.”
In addition to earth energy, the report examines lighting, motors, transport,
industry and domestic applications, and highlights the savings possible from
each application while relating the same comfort level or efficiency. If
electric technologies are to increase their market penetration, “authorities
must create stable, simple and transparent market-based regulatory models”
that eradicate inconsistencies between policies and are backed by appropriate
R&D funds.
Earth energy heat pumps have a “large and worldwide potential” since 30% of
the global CO2 emissions of 22 billion tonnes in 1997 were to heat buildings,
and another 35% from industrial activities. The total potential CO2 reduction
from earth energy is 1.4 billion tonnes, or 6% of global emissions, and higher
efficiencies in power plants could push that potential to 16%.
Ground-coupled units comprise 95% of all heat pumps, the report estimates. The
terminology is also known as geothermal heat pump or GeoExchange units.
EURELECTRIC is the association for the electricity industry in Europe, and the
UIE promotes applications of electricity which focus on environmental
protection, energy efficiency and economic viability.
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