Title: The spatial scale of energy supply: tracing back the fuels for the town of Lusk, Ireland

Authors: Wolfgang Berger

Addresses: c/o International Solar Energy Society, Wiesentalstrasse 50, D-79115 Freiburg, Germany

Abstract: The dimensions of scale, self-sufficiency and embedded energy are not at the top of the agenda when considering matters of energy supply. Light is shed on these factors with reference to the domestic energy supply of the town of Lusk, Co. Dublin, Ireland. The focus is narrowed to the energy used to transport fuels from the locations of exploration to their place of final use in Lusk. Case studies are presented for the supply by oil, coal, electricity as well as by solar- and wind energy. Links to the respective emissions of carbon dioxide are provided. Looking ahead, conservative and progressive scenarios for scales of supply in the year 2005 are created. Thus, a better understanding is gained of how the spatial scale of energy supply depends on the role which is attributed to the application of renewable forms of energy.

Keywords: embedded energy; energy self-sufficiency; energy supply; Lusk; Ireland; scenarios; spatial scales; fuel transport; renewable energy; oil; coal; electricity; solar energy; solar power; wind energy; wind power; carbon emissions; carbon dioxide; CO2.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1998.063305

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1998 Vol.10 No.2/3/4, pp.266 - 274

Published online: 09 Jul 2014 *

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