Title: An analysis of a sustainable energy system taking resource depletion and environmental emissions into consideration

Authors: Ryuji Matsuhashi, Koichi Hikita, Hisashi Ishitani

Addresses: Department of Geosystem Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan. Department of Geosystem Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan. Department of Geosystem Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan

Abstract: This paper aims at evaluating technologies to realise a sustainable energy system within the constraints of resources and environment. For this purpose, we first developed a database to estimate life cycle efficiencies and greenhouse gas emissions for various energy technologies. Then, on the basis of this life cycle assessment, we quantitatively define the concept of sustainability limitations on resource depletion and environmental emissions. From this concept, the present energy system of the world is judged to be unsustainable from both resource and environmental viewpoints. Then, various mitigation measures such as disposal of CO2 and solar power generation are evaluated utilising the concept. The evaluated result showed how sustainability influences cost-effectiveness of the measures. At the same time we clarified the key points to realise a sustainable energy scenario in ultra-long term.

Keywords: CO2 disposal, cost-effectiveness, sustainability limitations, CO2 emissions, appropriate incentives.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1998.000814

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1998 Vol.11 No.1/2/3/4, pp.83-90

Published online: 24 Jul 2003 *

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