EPRI Study Finds Greater Efficiency in
Electric-End Use Technologies
PALO ALTO, Calif. - July 8, 2009
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) released an analysis today that
found that replacing some fossil-fuel end-use technologies with efficient
electric ones in residential, commercial and industrial applications have a
potential energy savings of 71.7 quadrillion BTUs, and could result in
cumulative CO2 reductions of 4,400 million tons between 2009 and 2030. More
than 60 percent of CO2 emission in the United States is related to the
transportation sector and the direct combustion of fossil fuels in the
industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. As the electric sector is
decarbonized, electricity as a fuel for transportation and replacing
combustion of fossil fuels in the industrial, commercial and residential
sectors will lead to overall CO2 reductions. The EPRI analysis entitled "The
Potential to Reduce CO2 Emissions by Expanding End-Use Applications of
Electricity" used the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) 2008
Reference Case as a baseline. The Reference Case accounts for market-driven
efficiency improvements, the impact of federally mandated appliance
standards and building codes, and rulemaking procedures. It envisions a
relatively flat price for electricity in real dollars between 2008 and 2030,
and continued contributions of existing utility- and government-sponsored
end-use energy programs established before 2008. The analysis shows that the
residential sector holds the greatest potential for energy savings and
reductions in CO2 emissions, followed by the commercial and industrial
sectors, which are roughly comparable. It found that the reduction of CO2
emissions of 320 million metric tons annually in 2030 could result in a 4.7
percent decrease in emissions relative to the baseline forecast. The
analysis found two key mechanisms for saving energy and reducing CO2
emissions with electric end-use technologies: upgrading existing electric
technologies with demand response measures, such as replacing or
retrofitting older equipment with new, innovative, highly-efficient
technologies, and expansion of end-use applications of electricity that
involves replacing less efficient fossil-fueled end-use technologies --
existing and planned -- with more efficient electric end-use ones. "It is
clear in order to meaningfully address the issues of climate change we will
need to fully explore and develop existing as well as new technologies that
will address this important issue," said Mike Howard, a senior vice
president at EPRI. "This study explores the greater potential for CO2
reductions through a review of demand-side opportunities, including
furthering the advancement and utilization of energy-efficient end-use
technologies." About EPRI The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI,
www.epri.com) conducts research and development relating to the generation,
delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. An
independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and
engineers as well as experts from academia and industry to help address
challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, health, safety
and the environment. EPRI's members represent more than 90 percent of the
electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international
participation extends to 40 countries. EPRI's principal offices and
laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville,
Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.
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