How Much Of Our Energy Is Lost

[ThomWV]

In the simple act of moving it from where it is liberated and the end user? I know that when ships bring liquefied gas into the country the ship itself actually uses the gas for its fuel, consuming about 3% of the cargo in passing from the middle east to the Atlantic coast. I am also aware that the most efficient coal fired power plants only get about 30% of the energy available in the coal to the transmission grid, where even more is lost over the miles. If I remember correctly natural gas pipelines have to have pumping stations every 50-100 miles and that those pumps are run off of 2-stroke Diesels or jet turbines, each of which is power by natural gas - but how much?

I'm just wondering how much of our available energy we just piss away into heat before any good use is got out of it?

Anyone got any insights?

Edited for Spelling and bad title

[htuttle]

1. Our entire civilization is built around the concept of cheap energy

Very, very few things in our society are designed with energy efficiency in mind. Not our technology, not our urban and suburban city planning, and not our economies. It's ALL based on the idea that really cheap energy is available without end.

Other factors, such as convenience, time efficiency, economic efficiency and labor efficiency, are all considered far more important than energy efficiency. Petroleum energy has actually been priced artificially low all these years, considering it's finite nature, and this has affected every element of our civilization.

If we were to begin designing things with energy efficiency foremost as a consideration, we could still conserve loads and loads of what petroleum energy we have left.

Hell, I bet that given the same amount of oil left in the ground, if we had designed our technologies from the start with energy conservation in mind, we could have made it last for another 100 years, instead of the 20 or so more years I'm expecting it to last (though we're clearly peaking now). It's too damned late for that, however.

Don't know if these are insights or just a bunch of crabbing...but there you have it.

[Just Me]

2. That is an interesting question, ThomWV.

The answer would likely lead to another question: how do we transfer "energy" more efficiently?

[ThomWV]

3. I agree

I think that there may be great savings to be had in energy transmission (electricity) and transportation for fuels where appropriate. While I think that the push for Hydrogen is poorly thought out at best it can't be as bad as the Government supported rush to Natural Gas before anyone at all knew how much was (or was not as its turned out) to be available at low cost.

People who worry about peak oil should take a look at Natural Gas. Its a pure horror story. Each year we import more of Canada's gas and each year Canada's output goes down. In the mean time our domestic wells are tapping smaller and smaller pockets of gas and so well life is down, year after year.

The folks who want to dam up ever creek, burn weeds, and put a windmill on every roof are all well meaning, but we will not lay down to live like Hobbits willingly. Don't bet on it happening in any of our lifetimes.

[wuushew]

4. We need more transmission capability

anti-eminent domain nut jobs are forcing the construction of more coal fired power plants in Wisconsin at the expense of our collective health.

[LiberalEsto]

5. That's why distributed generation is important

Distributed generation means companies, communities, or even individuals buying and installing their own electric power generators in order to 1) leave the power grid or 2) have an emergency backup in case the grid fails. These generators- which come in may types - can be powered by natural gas, propane, fuel oil, wind power, solar, or water power. (I can't remember if there were other sources - I guess coal might be a potential source but a pollution-causing one).

Some amount of electrical energy is lost when electricity is sent long distances over transmission lines. Distributed generation creates a more efficient source of electricity because the power is used right where it is generated.

The more we move toward distributed generation, the less vulnerable we are to the whims and vagaries of the electric power companies. California, which got screwed by Enron a few years back, has been very supportive of distributed generation technology.

As with all energy sources, the more energy it takes to obtain, make usable, and distribute the energy, the more energy is wasted overall.