Energy Self-Sufficiency : Catalyst for Energy Agnostic Global Economy
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ABSTRACT
The concept of eAGE is easy to grasp if one appreciates the analogy of the distributed ability of computing at the hands of any individual who owns an iPad or notebook computer versus the ENIAC which weighed 30 tons. We propose development of energy products which could distribute the ability to manufacture energy in the form of domestic appliances to usher in micro-energy autonomy which may evolve as a segue to eAGE or energy agnostic global economy. Micro-energy autonomy may relieve the volatility linked to the price of fossil fuels, petroleum in particular. We propose to create tools and mechanisms which may not be restricted by intellectual property (IP) rights and disseminate the technology worldwide as a small business innovation.
Description
If individuals, households and small businesses are equipped to manufacture non-fossil renewable energy (for example, butanol) which is adequate for their needs (to power appliances and automobiles, lighting, heating, cooling) then we may suffer less from the vagaries currently associated with energy and fossil fuels. Carbon-neutral non-fossil energy sources may also help sustainability by reducing excessive emission of green house gases. A key outcome of microscale energy production capability is a potential paradigm shift where sourcing and distribution of energy is no longer controlled by a few global behemoths or cartels. We propose energy self-sufficiency or microscale energy autonomy as a pragmatic approach to distributed energy production through manufacturing of butanol and related liquid fuels. Microscale energy production may not be a panacea and may not alleviate all the ills we associate with fossil fuels but its impact on the environment may be quite significant. Microscale energy production can serve the global domestic demand of 7+ billion people and pave the way for energy self-sufficiency, albeit, in part. It is possible to implement microscale energy production with tools at hand. The potential of microscale energy production encourages us to remain cautiously optimistic about the scalability of the process which may eventually unleash macro-scale manufacturing of non-fossil fuel. The latter may boost an emerging energy agnostic global economy where development and freedom may be free from economic woes due to energy volatility and may no longer held hostage by the availability of energy resources or the threat of environmental embargo.
Date issued
2011-04-15Series/Report no.
Essays in Energy;IV
Keywords
Energy, eAGE, butanol, metabolic engineering, photo bio-reactors, pentanol, ethanol, methanol, biomass, Joule Unlimited, Codexis, micro-scale, energy autonomy, economic development, economic freedom, cartels, biotechnology, chemical engineering, cyanobacteria, microalgae, high insolation zones, low insolation zones, solar energy, smart grid, IP, intellectual property rights,
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