Optimum Use of Fossil Fuels in a Program of Greenhouse Gas Reducation

Abstract

The problems of analysing the potential contribution of so-called "alternate fuels" in particular sectors reveals a problem with the compartmentalized approach to emissions reduction implicit in the sectoral structure of the national process better addressed by the integrative mechanisms. The problem is that for some of the "alternates", while they might offer some C02 reductions relative to conventional fuels in transportation applications, for example, they are still better used in other applications. Trying to force them into transportation applications, against the direction of the market, may actually waste their potential for reducing C02.Natural gas, for example, provides about only 70% of the C02 per unit of energy as petroleum products. When used in some applications - such as combined cycle electricity generation, the greater efficiency of the gas-fired process can provide even greater C02 reductions than this theoretical figure. However, the work, including compression, of getting it into a car lowers its C02 reduction potential, so it is not as good as the theoretical 30% reduction.Personal vehicle use accounts for about 14% of total energy use in Canada. The larger problem of reducing GHGs across the energy-using system requires a comprehensive approach, looking at the best uses of all available sources across all competing demands, and not just at this 14%. The answers from such an approach are likely very different than one gets from a narrow, single sector approach - such as that of any one Table within the "National Climate Change Process".The conclusion we draw, is that the problem of potentially changing the allocation of fuels to uses is not really a task for any one sectoral table, but a larger problem handled at an integrative level.