Technology assessment of solar energy systems: an analysis of differences in cost and direct and indirect air pollutant emissions, employment, and input energy requirements between two solar energy scenarios
As part of the Technology Assessment of Solar Energy (TASE) program, a number of solar technologies were characterized by various national laboratories in terms of size, fuel requirements, pollutant output, and material and labor requirements for operation and maintenance and construction. Those solar technologies were embedded, along with conventional technologies, into alternative energy systems to produce useful output energy. In this report the differences between two alternative solar scenarios, a 6-quad business as usual and a 14-quad maximum practical growth scenario were evaluated for total cost and direct and indirect employment, air pollutant emissions, and energy use. An input-output table was used to estimate the indirect effects. A number of sensitivity studies illustrate the importance of some of the assumptions and indicate how some of the adverse effects of solar energy development can be mitigated. In general, the 14-quad scenario, as defined for this study, is probably not a realistic picture of future US energy supply. The sensitivity studies suggest that other patterns of use of renewable energy sources will reduce the extent of adverse effects.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 5357604
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/EES-TM-179; ON: DE82019773
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140300* -- Solar Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
AIR POLLUTION
ALCOHOL FUELS
APPLIANCES
BIOMASS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COST
DEMAND
EMPLOYMENT
ENERGY
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL OILS
FUELS
FURNACES
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
INDUSTRY
LIQUID FUELS
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR POWER
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
POWER
POWER PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SPACE HEATING
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES
WOOD BURNING FURNACES