This document summarizes U.S. energy usage by fuel type and transportation sector. It finds that petroleum remains the dominant fuel in transportation, comprising over 85% of all transportation energy. Emerging technologies like hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles are beginning to make inroads but face challenges from battery life and fuel distribution networks. Renewable fuels from algae or non-edible crops may help address some of these challenges if produced sustainably at sufficient scale. Overall the U.S. energy system remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels but continued innovation in renewable technologies may help transition to lower carbon alternatives.

1. U.S. Energy Outlook
Ramon Sanchez (rsanchez@hsph.harvard.edu)
Harvard University
April 4, 2012

2. U.S. Total Energy Market Share
by Type of Fuel
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

3. Petroleum Fuel
 Price of fuel presents variations
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

4. Energy in Transportation
Fuel Used in the USA in 2009
2009
Air
Certificated carriersa
Jet fuel (million gallons) 11,147
General aviationb
Aviation gasoline (million gallons) 227
Jet fuel (million gallons) 1,447
Highway
Gasoline, diesel and other fuels (million gallons)
Light duty vehicle, short wheel base and
motorcyclec 86,035
Light duty vehicle, long wheel basec 35,764
Single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or more truck 16,342
Combination truck 28,130
Bus 1,869
Transitd
Electricity (million kWh) 4,695
Motor fuel (million gallons)
Diesele f
658
Gasoline and other nondiesel fuels 98
Compressed natural gas 142 Transportation Mode Energy used
Rail, Class I (in freight service)
Distillate / diesel fuel (million gallons) 3,192
(MJ)
Amtrak Highway 2.35E+13
Electricity (million kWh) 565
Distillate / diesel fuel (million gallons) 62 Air 1.97E+12
Water
Residual fuel oil (million gallons) 4,543
Water 3.34E+11
Distillate / diesel fuel oil (million gallons) 1,266 Transit 1.42E+11
Gasoline (million gallons) 1,130
Amtrak
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1.16E+10
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

5. Transportation per type of
vehicle
Transportation Mode Passenger Miles Traveled in the USA in 2008
(Millions)
Passenger Vehicles 3199116
SUVs 1049667
Air Carriers 583281
Intercity Buses 314278
Trucks 310681
Motorcycles 26430
Inner City Buses 21198
Heavy Rail 16850
Commuter Rail 11032
Amtrak 6179
Light Rail 2081
Other 1156
Taxis 844
Ferry Boat 390
Trolley Bus 161
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

6. Current Trends in Transportation
 Energy efficient vehicles, people are
finding ways to use less fuel
 Emerging Technologies (diesel, hybrid and
electric vehicles)
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

7. Hybrid vehicles
For every 100
Units of Input
Energy you
get 32 Output
Units (Overall
40 – 50 mpg)
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard School of Public Health

8. Hybrid Vehicle Technology
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard School of Public Health

9. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
Plug-in Hybrid: It is an electric vehicle
that uses Lithium-ion technology
batteries to achieve an autonomy of 35
miles per charge (Chevy Volt). If the
user would like to drive for longer
distances, the hybrid system would
activate the internal combustion engine
and the car would become a hybrid
vehicle. Under just electric operation it
would give you an equivalent of 165
miles/gallon and in the hybrid operation
you would get 140 miles/gallon. It takes
8 to 6 hours to recharge the battery, but
it could potentially be used as a
supplemental energy source for your
home after a long drive, it may be good
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard School of Public Health for 98 % of non-heavy duty applications.

10. Limitations for plug-in hybrid
vehicle technologies
 Concerns about environmental equity, pollution
from mobile sources in urban areas might switch
to point sources in rural areas (i.e. Power Plants)
 Supply problems with rare earths needed for
electromagnetic components
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

11. Electricity by type of fuel in the
U.S.
Proportion of U.S.
Energy Source
electricity (2010)
Coal 44.0%
Natural Gas 24.0%
Nuclear 19.5%
Hydroelectric 6.3%
Biomass and other 3.5%
Oil 0.9%
Wind 0.8%
Solar 0.7%
Geothermal 0.3%
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

12. Electricity Residential Average
Price in the USA
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

13. Emission factors for
conventional electricity
 Different emissions for electricity from different
fuel sources
Source: Air pollution from electricity-generating large combustion plants
An assessment of the theoretical emission reduction of SO2 and NOX
through implementation of BAT as set in the BREFs . European Environmental
Agency
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

14. Electricity from Natural Gas with
Co-generation
 Natural Gas represents 24% of
electricity
It has a higher efficiency than any other type of conventional power
generation facility (close to 50% efficiency)
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Harvard University

15. Hydroelectric Power
 A hydroelectric dam, provides relatively
clean energy and serves as a water
reserve for agriculture and human
consumption
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Harvard University

16. Hydroelectric Power
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

17. Nuclear Power
It represents almost 20% of all
energy produced in the USA
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Harvard University

18. The Clean Coal Dilemma
 What is Clean Coal ?
Monoethanolamine Plant:
Used to toxic emissions and
Capture CO2
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Harvard University

19. The Clean Coal Dilemma
 Problems with Carbon Capture and
Sequestration (i.e. Clean Coal)
Energy Intensive: Electricity output decreases
between 18 and 23%
Capital costs increase by 60%
Operating costs increase by 30-40%
Electricity prices increase between 80 to 100%
Long-term health effects from carbon capture are
unknown
Clean Coal is not a myth, it Carbon sequestration is uncertain, certain
is just too expensive. geological formations are required to capture
Electricity generators are carbon underground
unwilling to invest if there is
Capture period is uncertain, constant monitoring
no legislative mandate
and risk analysis are needed
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

20. Solution to Clean Coal
Dilemma might be in renewable
fuels
 Renewable Fuels: They come from
carbohydrates and lipids from plants
and animals, they are replenished
consistently every year
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

21. Non-edible crops
 Potential Solution to renewable fuel problems:
Non-edible Energy Crops (low water
requirements)
Jatropha Curcas Microalgae Farming
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

22. Microalgae Farming
 Area of opportunity: Algae Biodiesel
Species Algae Inoculation +CO2 Mixing Harvesting Extraction
Selection Culture and nutrients
Soap and Glycerin Recovery
Cosmetics
Biodiesel
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University Public Health
School of
Transesterification

23. Algae farming might pay for
Clean Coal
 Results Carbon Capture + Algae Farm
 Reduction of 76% in the carbon intensity of fuels
(compared to fossil fuels)
 Reduction of 95% in the carbon intensity of electricity
with no additional costs (the algae farm pays for
Clean Coal operation)
 Elimination of 95% of toxic emissions from power
plants
+ =
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

24. Photovoltaic Electricity
 Costs have decreased by 70% in the past
decade New
Technologies:
Solar laminate
panels
PV is an international
commodity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYJe12X6T50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=VdQK5wq4T_E&feature=fvwp&NR=1
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

25. Concentrated Solar Power Tech
 Emerging
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIv-gbZQC4k&feature=fvsr
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

26. New Waste-To-Energy Tech
 Reduced toxic emissions and solid
waste
Plasma
incinerator:
Produces
electricity from
trash, produces
synthetic gas and
reduces landfill
space
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVKm_i0Fvw8

27. Energy Efficiency Programs
 People embrace this program
Electricity used in
Commercial Buildings
in the USA
SEDS: State Energy
Data Systems
Space
Cooling
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

28. Wind Power
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

29. Fuel Cell Vehicle
It has no mobile parts in its engine, it
gets its energy from the reaction of
Hydrogen and Oxygen. The issue,
how do you get, store and distribute
the hydrogen???
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard School of Public Health

30. Fuel Cell Technology
 The main problem
with fuel cells is:
How do you get
the hydrogen in a
sustainable way?
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

31. New Technologies to get
hydrogen
Daniel Nocera, formerly at
MIT, now a Professor in the
Harvard School of
Engineering and Applied
Sciences
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

32. Opportunities for domestic fuel
cells
For more information, click in the following link:
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/03/clean-energy-
pioneer-brings-lab-to-harvard/
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

33. Other applications for fuel cells
For more information, click in the following links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khK_QTWl5Nc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaNGJul2FZ0&feature=endscreen&NR=1
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

34. Questions??
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Ramon Sanchez ©
Harvard University

35. Thank you!!!
There is nothing more
difficult to execute nor
more dubious of success nor
more dangerous to administer
than to introduce a New Order
of Things
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

36. Potential problems with
conventional renewable fuels
Oil Producing Crop Scientific Name Kg of oil/ Hectare .Yr
Corn Zea mays 145
Cotton Gossypium hirsutum 273
Hemp Cannabis sativa 305
Soy Beans Glycine max 375
Linseed Linum usitatissimum 402
Cartamus Carthamus tinctorius 655
Buffalo plant Cucurbita foetidissima 665
Rice Oriza sativa L. 696
Sunflower Helianthus annuus 800
Cocoa Beans Theobroma cacao 863
Penauts Arachis hypogaea 890
Canola Brassica napus 1000
Olive Olea europaea 1019
Castor Ricinus communis 1188
Pecan Carya illinoensis 1505
Jojoba Simmondsia chinensis 1528
Babassu Palm Orbignya martiana 1541
Jatropha Jatropha curcas 1590
Avocado Persea americana 2217
Coconut Cocos nucifera 2260
Maacauba Palm Acrocomia aculeata 3775
Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis 5000
Spirulina microalgae Spirullina Sp. 18000
Diatom algae Chlorella Diatomea family 43200
Nannochoropsis (off-shore) Nannochloropsis family 116800
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

37. Potential problems with
conventional renewable fuels
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Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

38. Potential problems with
conventional renewable fuels
 Carbon Debt due to land use changes
USA
Brazil
Brazil
After Subsidies:
Deforestation of the
Before Corn Rainforest in Brazil to
Subsidies in the plant soybeans to feed
USA: Crop Rotation U.S. Cattle. Carbon
of Corn and Soy Debt is subsidized by
Slide # 38 the U.S. Government
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University