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Annual Energy Outlook 2012; with Projections to 2035
6/1/2012
The projections in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA's) Annual Energy Outlook 2012 (AEO2012) focus on the factors that shape the U.S. energy system over the long term. Under the assumption that current laws and regulations remain unchanged throughout the projections, the AEO2012 Reference case provides the basis for examination and discussion of energy production, consumption, technology, and market trends and the direction they may take in the future. It also serves as a starting point for analysis of potential changes in energy policies. But AEO2012 is not limited to the Reference case. It also includes 29 alternative cases (see Appendix E, Table E1), which explore important areas of uncertainty for markets, technologies, and policies in the U.S. energy economy. Many of the implications of the alternative cases are discussed in the "Issues in focus" section of this report.
Key results highlighted in AEO2012 include continued modest growth in demand for energy over the next 25 years and increased domestic crude oil and natural gas production, largely driven by rising production from tight oil and shale resources. As a result, U.S. reliance on imported oil is reduced; domestic production of natural gas exceeds consumption, allowing for net exports; a growing share of U.S. electric power generation is met with natural gas and renewables; and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions remain below their 2005 level from 2010 to 2035, even in the absence of new Federal policies designed to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Thirty-Six Month Evaluation of UPS Diesel Hybrid Electric Delivery Vans
3/1/2012
This 36-month follow-up evaluation is part of a series of evaluations by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Using an established and documented evaluation protocol, DOE - through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)- has been tracking and evaluating new propulsion systems in transit buses and trucks for more than 10 years. The DOE/NREL vehicle evaluations are a part of the Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA), which supports DOE's Vehicle Technologies Program.
This report focuses on a parallel hybrid-electric diesel delivery van propulsion system currently being operated by United Parcel Service (UPS). The hybrid propulsion system is an alternative to the standard diesel system and allows for increased fuel economy, which ultimately reduces petroleum use.
Authors: Lammert, M., Walkowicz, K.
Life-Cycle Analysis of Shale Gas and Natural Gas
12/1/2011
The technologies and practices that have enabled the recent boom in shale gas production have also brought attention to the environmental impacts of its use. Using the current state of knowledge of the recovery, processing, and distribution of shale gas and conventional natural gas, we have estimated up-to-date, life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, we have developed distribution functions for key parameters in each pathway to examine uncertainty and identify data gaps - such as methane emissions from shale gas well completions and conventional natural gas liquid unloadings - that need to be addressed further. Our base case results show that shale gas life-cycle emissions are 6% lower than those of conventional natural gas. However, the range in values for shale and conventional gas overlap, so there is a statistical uncertainty regarding whether shale gas emissions are indeed lower than conventional gas emissions. This life-cycle analysis provides insight into the critical stages in the natural gas industry where emissions occur and where opportunities exist to reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of natural gas.
Authors: Clark, C.E.; Han, J.; Burnham, A.; Dunn, J.B.; Wang, M.
Well-to-Wheels Analysis of Fast Pyrolysis Pathways with GREET
11/1/2011
The pyrolysis of biomass can help produce liquid transportation fuels with properties similar to those of petroleum gasoline and diesel fuel. Argonne National Laboratory conducted a life-cycle (i.e., well-to-wheels [WTW]) analysis of various pyrolysis pathways by expanding and employing the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model. The WTW energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the pyrolysis pathways were compared with those from the baseline petroleum gasoline and diesel pathways. Various pyrolysis pathway scenarios with a wide variety of possible hydrogen sources, liquid fuel yields, and co-product application and treatment methods were considered. At one extreme, when hydrogen is produced from natural gas and when bio-char is used for process energy needs, the pyrolysis-based liquid fuel yield is high (32% of the dry mass of biomass input). The reductions in WTW fossil energy use and GHG emissions relative to those that occur when baseline petroleum fuels are used, however, is modest, at 50% and 51%, respectively, on a per unit of fuel energy basis. At the other extreme, when hydrogen is produced internally via reforming of pyrolysis oil and when bio-char is sequestered in soil applications, the pyrolysis-based liquid fuel yield is low (15% of the dry mass of biomass input), but the reductions in WTW fossil energy use and GHG emissions are large, at 79% and 96%, respectively, relative to those that occur when baseline petroleum fuels are used. The petroleum energy use in all scenarios was restricted to biomass collection and transportation activities, which resulted in a reduction in WTW petroleum energy use of 92-95% relative to that found when baseline petroleum fuels are used. Internal hydrogen production (i.e., via reforming of pyrolysis oil) significantly reduces fossil fuel use and GHG emissions because the hydrogen from fuel gas or pyrolysis oil (renewable sources) displaces that from fossil fuel na
Authors: Han, J.; Elgowainy, A.; Palou-Rivera, I.; Dunn, J.B.; Wang, M.Q.
Clean Cities Niche Market Overview: Refuse Haulers
9/1/2011
Many niche market fleets, which operate specially designed vehicles that serve very specific functions, are ideal for the adoption of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. One prime example is the refuse hauler sector, whose 136,000 trucks average only 2.8 miles per gallon, using more than 1.2 billion gallons of fuel annually in the United States. This sector could substantially decrease its petroleum consumption through the use of alternative fuel or advanced technology vehicles. Before adopting these technologies, a refuse hauler fleet should consider both the technologies' benefits and the fleet's individual needs.
Authors: Shea, S.
U.S. Virgin Islands Transportation Petroleum Reduction Plan
9/1/2011
The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) has set a goal to reduce petroleum use 60% by 2025 compared to the business-as-usual scenario. Ground-based transportation is responsible for 40% of USVI petroleum use, so the USVI and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) set up a Transportation working group (TWG) to devise a way to meet the 60% reduction goal in the transportation sector. This report lays out the TWG's plan.
Authors: Johnson, C.
Clean Cities Annual Metrics Report 2009 (Revised)
8/10/2011
Each year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) asks Clean Cities coordinators to submit an annual report of their activities and accomplishments for the previous calendar year. Data and information are submitted to an online database that is maintained as part of the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Coordinators submit a range of data that characterizes the membership, funding, projects, and activities of their coalitions. They also submit data about sales of alternative fuels, deployment of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), idle reduction initiatives, fuel economy activities, and programs to reduce vehicle miles driven. NREL analyzes the data and translates them into gasoline reduction impacts, which are summarized in this report.
Authors: Johnson, C.
Guide for Identifying and Converting High-Potential Petroleum Brownfield Sites to Alternative Fuel Stations
5/1/2011
Former gasoline stations that are now classified as brownfields can be good sites to sell alternative fuels because they are in locations that are convenient to vehicles and they may be seeking a new source of income. However, their success as alternative fueling stations is highly dependent on location-specific criteria, how to prioritize them, and then applies that assessment framework to five of the most popular alternative fuels?electricity, natural gas, hydrogen, ethanol, and biodiesel.
The second part of this report delves into the criteria and tools used to assess an alternative fuel retail site at the local level. It does this through two case studies of converting former gasoline stations in the Seattle-Eugene area into electric charge stations.
The third part of this report addresses steps to be taken after the specific site has been selected. This includes choosing and installing the recharging equipment, steps to take in the permitting process and key players to include.
Authors: Johnson, C.; Hettinger, D.
Clean Alternative Fuel Vehicle and Engine Conversions; Final Rule
4/8/2011
EPA is streamlining the process by which manufacturers of clean alternative fuel conversion systems may demonstrate compliance with vehicle and engine emissions requirements. Specifically, EPA is revising the regulatory criteria for gaining an exemption from the Clean Air Act prohibition against tamperingfor the conversion of vehicles and engines to operate on a clean alternativefuel. This final rule creates additional compliance options beyond certification that protect manufacturers of clean alternative fuel conversion systems against a tampering violation, depending on the age of the vehicle orengine to be converted. The new options alleviate some economic and proceduralimpediments to clean alternative fuel conversions while maintainingenvironmental safeguards to ensure that acceptable emission levels from converted vehicles are sustained.
Project Results: Evaluating FedEx Express Hybrid-Electric Delivery Trucks
4/1/2011
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) Fleet Test and Evaluation Team evaluated the 12-month, in-service performance of three Class 4 gasoline hybrid-electric delivery trucks and three comparable conventional diesel trucks operated by FedEx Express in Southern California. In addition, the tailpipe emissions and fuel economy of one of the gasoline hybrid-electric vehicles (gHEVs) and one diesel truck were tested on a chassis dynamometer. The gHEVs were equipped with a parallel hybrid system manufactured by Azure Dynamics, including a 100-kW alternating current induction motor, regenerative braking, and a 2.45-kWh nickel metal hydride battery pack. This fact sheet summarizes the results of the evaluation of the gHEVs.
Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future
3/30/2011
The Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future outlines a three-part strategy: 1) Develop and secure America's energy supplies; 2) provide consumers with more choices of alternative fuels and advanced and fuel-efficient vehicles, alternative means of transportation; and 3) innovate our way to a clean energy future by creating markets for innovative clean technologies that are ready to deploy and by funding cutting edge research to produce the next generation of technologies.
Project Startup: Evaluating Coca-Cola's Class 8 Hybrid-Electric Delivery Trucks
3/1/2011
Although the largest trucks?Class 8, with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) above 33,000 lb?make up only 1% of the U.S. highway vehicle fleet, they are responsible for almost 20% of highway petroleum consumption. Improving theefficiency of Class 8 trucks through strategies such as alternative fuels and hybridization is a high-impact way to reduce petroleum consumption and associated emissions. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Fleet Test and Evaluation Team is evaluating the 12-month, in-service performance of five Class 8 diesel hybrid-electric delivery trucks and five comparable conventional diesel trucks operated by Coca-Cola Refreshments in Miami/South Dade County, Florida. In addition, the tailpipe emissions and fuel economies of one hybrid and one diesel truck have been evaluated on a chassis dynamometer at NREL's Renewable Fuels and Lubricants (ReFUEL) Laboratory.
