Journal Article

Net-zero emissions energy systems

Ogden, Joan, Davis, Steven J., Lackner, Klaus S., Azevedo, Inês L., Brouwer, Jack, Hodge, Bri-Mathias, Jaramillo, Paulina, Chiang, Yet-Ming, Hannegan, Bryan, Mastrandrea, Michael, Aggarwal, Sonia, Yang, Chi-Jen, Cohen, Armond, Fennell, Paul, Sperling, Daniel, Mach, Katharine J., Ingersoll, Eric, Bradley, Thomas, Sanchez, Daniel L., Edmonds, Jae, Shaner, Matthew, Benson, Sally M., Lewis, Nathan S., Peterson, Per F., Arent, Doug, Doig, Stephen, Field, Christopher B., Stagner, Joseph, Trancik, Jessika E., Hoffert, Martin I., Caldeira, Ken, Clack, Christopher T. M.

2018

Overview

Models show that to avert dangerous levels of climate change, global carbon dioxide emissions must fall to zero later this century. Most of these emissions arise from energy use. Davis et al. review what it would take to achieve decarbonization of the energy system. Some parts of the energy system are particularly difficult to decarbonize, including aviation, long-distance transport, steel and cement production, and provision of a reliable electricity supply. Current technologies and pathways show promise, but integration of now-discrete energy sectors and industrial processes is vital to achieve minimal emissions. Science , this issue p. eaas9793 Some energy services and industrial processes—such as long-distance freight transport, air travel, highly reliable electricity, and steel and cement manufacturing—are particularly difficult to provide without adding carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to the atmosphere. Rapidly growing demand for these services, combined with long lead times for technology development and long lifetimes of energy infrastructure, make decarbonization of these services both essential and urgent. We examine barriers and opportunities associated with these difficult-to-decarbonize services and processes, including possible technological solutions and research and development priorities. A range of existing technologies could meet future demands for these services and processes without net addition of CO 2 to the atmosphere, but their use may depend on a combination of cost reductions via research and innovation, as well as coordinated deployment and integration of operations across currently discrete energy industries.

• Publisher: The American Association for the Advancement of Science,AAAS
• Subject: Aerospace Education / Agricultural economics / Agricultural land / Agricultural management / Air transportation / Aircraft / Atmosphere / Atmospheric models / Aviation / Carbon dioxide / Carbon dioxide emissions / Carbon sequestration / Cement / Cements / Climate change / Climate models / CO2 / Decarbonization / Electric power generation / Electricity / Electricity consumption / Emissions / Energy / Energy consumption / ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY / energy services / Energy storage / energy, carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide, technology / Fossil fuels / Freight transportation / Global temperatures / Industrial production / Infrastructure / Integration / Land use / Long distance / Manufacturing / Manufacturing industry / Net zero / Nuclear electric power generation / Nuclear energy / Nuclear fuels / Nuclear reactors / POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION / R&D / Regulators / Renewable energy sources / Research & development / Research and Development / Risk aversion / Shipping / Steel / Systems integration / without net addition carbon dioxide