Reducing imported oil and minimizing CO2 & other emissions are the two major driving forces of different energy R&D programs today in most part of the world. In the transportation sector, the major alternatives are: 1). Developing new electric vehicles (EVs), fuel cell cars and hybrids; also utilizing natural gas or bio-fuels instead of oil; 2). Using diesel or diesel hybrid to minimize oil consumption. In the power generation sector, the major alternatives for reducing CO2 & other emissions are: 1). Non-fossil fuel based power generation such as nuclear, wind, solar and biomass; 2). Cleaner coal for post capture retrofitting existing coal power plants, or IGCC with CO2 pre-capture for new coal power plants.
Based on many years of experience in all three different sectors of energy (Oil & Gas at Exxon-Mobil; Hydrogen and Fuel Cells at UTC Fuel Cells & Shell; and Power Generation/Coal Gasification & IGCC at GE) the author will try to give his perspectives on the future pictures of energy, and also try to assess the future picture of different alternatives mentioned above. The audience can draw their own conclusions based on certain data and pictures of different sectors of energy to be presented in this lecture.
Some work done by the author in above mentioned companies will also be discussed in this talk. |
