Fuels for future electric power

Journal Article · Thu Jun 03 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Public Util. Fortn.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7274259

Yu, O S

Economists and engineers at the Electric Power Research Institute have devised and used a programming model to explore some of the options by which the United States may realistically move away from its present heavy dependence on oil and gas to a more diversified energy economy. One aim of their model was to allow for price-induced interfuel substitution and price-induced energy conservation. To achieve the transition toward energy independence, the U.S. must adopt more stringent and effective energy-conserving practices; stimulate increased production of domestic oil and gas; transfer a greater portion of the energy demand to the more abundant coal and nuclear supplies; and learn to exploit such underused resources as geothermal power and waste heat, and such inexhaustible energy sources as solar radiation and fusion. None of these options by itself can make a large enough contribution during the next two decades to avoid increasing U.S. dependence on imports. The nation, therefore, has the limited choice of determining an appropriate combination of existing options. The author reports that the present value of benefits from both the fast-breeder reactor and coal-based synthetic fuels well exceeds their anticipated research and development costs. The direct cost to the United States economy from a nuclear moratorium is also calculated. (MCW)

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA
• OSTI ID: 7274259
• Journal Information: Public Util. Fortn.; (United States), Journal Name: Public Util. Fortn.; (United States) Vol. 97:12; ISSN PUFNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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BREEDER REACTORS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHARGES
COAL
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DEMAND FACTORS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY MODELS
ENERGY SOURCES
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FLUIDS
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
HEAT
NATURAL GAS
NUCLEAR POWER
PETROLEUM
POWER
POWER GENERATION
REACTORS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SIMULATION
SOLAR ENERGY
SYNTHETIC FUELS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
WASTE HEAT
WASTES