The co-presidents of COP 31 have announced a target of 35% electrification as a percentage of Final Energy. Electrification is the right target, but percentage of Final Energy is the wrong metric.
Thanks Michael. So, if you set yourself, or your country, a goal of increasing electricity as a percentage of Final or even Useful Energy, it becones rational to mandate the least efficient heat pumps and EV's. Quirky detail of the cleantech revolution indeed :)
I loved the post. I have been ranting myself about how people are confused about the importance of energy efficiency in the transition - electrification and renewable energy drive the numbers everyone sees, but people then take these numbers as a mandate to push very hard on building insulation and avoiding air conditioning, or even trips in EVs.
I am going to go ahead and disagree with the tong in cheek, half serious call for useful energy. The right approach, I think, is sectoral targets. Understandable and operational enough. I don't think my hairdresser needs to know what useful energy is. But they definitely should know what EVs and heat pumps are.
Good points. But why not just count the Co2 emissions? The most efficient tCO2/MWh is the most attractive - and start by the bottom of the electrification staircase?
Focusing on CO2 emissions is like getting an exam result without getting the marked paper back. So you got a C. But you don't know*why* you got a C, or what to do to get a B next time round or an A in your final exams.
Thanks Michael. So, if you set yourself, or your country, a goal of increasing electricity as a percentage of Final or even Useful Energy, it becones rational to mandate the least efficient heat pumps and EV's. Quirky detail of the cleantech revolution indeed :)
Heat pumps? Resistive heating for the win!
I loved the post. I have been ranting myself about how people are confused about the importance of energy efficiency in the transition - electrification and renewable energy drive the numbers everyone sees, but people then take these numbers as a mandate to push very hard on building insulation and avoiding air conditioning, or even trips in EVs.
I am going to go ahead and disagree with the tong in cheek, half serious call for useful energy. The right approach, I think, is sectoral targets. Understandable and operational enough. I don't think my hairdresser needs to know what useful energy is. But they definitely should know what EVs and heat pumps are.
Thanks! Though I'm deadly serious about Useful Energy.
Good points. But why not just count the Co2 emissions? The most efficient tCO2/MWh is the most attractive - and start by the bottom of the electrification staircase?
Focusing on CO2 emissions is like getting an exam result without getting the marked paper back. So you got a C. But you don't know*why* you got a C, or what to do to get a B next time round or an A in your final exams.