There is no Single Answer- Why Innovation and Applied Technology is Key to Meeting our Future Energy needs
Between now and 2050, the world population could grow to around 9 billion people, and energy demand may more than double. By 2030, it is predicted there will be as many cars in developing countries as in the US and Europe today. Meeting these expanding needs - whilst taking care of our environment is one of the greatest challenges that we face.
Two recent influential reports on climate change both warn of major impacts on people's lives and the global economy if swift action is not taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions. For the scientists, engineers and technologists who are working to solve this challenge, now this one of the most exiting times to be in the energy industry. Of course, we have a long history of innovation - what is new is the scale and pace of change required.
Fossil fuels are and will remain the most dominant source of energy for decades to come. Power generation will likely be fuelled by coal and gas, with a gradual increase in the use of renewables and nuclear. The transport sector will continue to rely on oil, with gas and biofuels becoming more significant in the longer term. If we look to 2050 and beyond, renewables could perhaps begin to make up as much as a quarter of the global energy mix.
So a future that is looking to stabilize CO2 emissions has to mean making fossil fuels greener - which puts technology and innovation at the centre of the radar screen. Shell takes its responsibility in this context very seriously. We recognise the need to make fossil fuels less carbon-intensive - and we are committed to finding the solutions to make that a reality.
One such reality is clean coal energy. Countries with significant coal resources such as China, India and the USA are increasingly looking to coal as it is abundant and cheap, but on the downside, it has high CO2 emissions. In the United States more than half the electricity is generated by coal-fired power plants, and in the European Union, that figure is 36 percent. Here in Australia, there are significant reserves that previously have not been suitable grade as feedstock for power generation. Power plants using innovative coal gasification technology are 10% more efficient than conventional coal plants and can process the more difficult coal reserves. They consume 40% less water and produce only half as much ash and solid waste.
In a pioneering study here in Australia with the Queensland government, we are looking towards building a demonstration project to capture carbon CO2 from an electricity generating plant powered by our clean coal gasification technology. The CO2 will be stored in 'saline aquifers', or vast underground saltwater deposits.
In addition, Shell has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with Energy Investments Australia Pty to further advance the Monash Energy clean coal-to-liquids project in the state of Victoria, Australia. The Monash Energy project would involve the gasification - via Shell's proprietary coal gasification process - of Anglo American's brown coal from Victoria's Latrobe Valley for further conversion into clean transportation fuels, including virtually zero sulphur, synthetic diesel, using Shell's proprietary gas-to-liquids technology. A number of locations have been identified as potential sites for the storage of CO2 from the process.
The challenge of future energy scenarios that excites us engineers today is the constant search for improvement in existing technologies and deployment of new technologies. But having the physical and financial resources is not enough. We need more scientists and engineers if we are to continue developing and deploying the innovations and technologies required so that we can realise the potential that exists, meet society's needs and expectations, and reap the rewards.
To put it simply, scientists and engineers are vital to the future of our industry. Professional bodies such as Chemeca, universities and employers have a vital role in developing the people we need for now and the future, and we share the responsibility of showing them how exciting and worthwhile a career in engineering is, and how important for the future of their world.