Electrification

  • Switching fossil fuel devices to electric power

Carbon Intensity

Decarbonization

  • Lowering the mass of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of electrical energy generated.

Lower carbon sources of electricity are often called “clean electricity”.

Co-Benefits of Electrification

  • Reduced air pollution
  • Lower operating volumes for motors

Challenges

  • Variability
    • Wind and solar power vary with wind speed, time of day, and cloud cover
    • Electricity that doesn’t vary is often called “firm electricity”.
  • Transmission
    • Wind and solar resources are not always close to populations
    • This often requires new and expensive transmission lines
  • Distribution
    • New electricity loads may require new and expensive upgrades to our distribution system
  • New environmental impacts
    • New types of pollution from production and use
  • Rare Minerals

New Sources for Clean Firm Electricity