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Energy Predictions Focus on Environment

Battelle Memorial Institute, an energy and environmental consultant for industry and government, has come up with a "top 10" list of the changes we can expect in the energy field in the coming decade.

a href="http://www.battelle.org/">Battelle Memorial Institute, an energy and environmental consultant for industry and government, has come up with a "top 10" list of the changes it says we can expect in the energy field in the coming decade.

A panel of energy experts from Battelle and the national laboratories that it manages and co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy (including Pacific Northwest, Brookhaven and Oak Ridge National Laboratories and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory) says new energy innovations will be driven by economics, R&D, worldwide environmental regulation, consumer behavior and preferences, national energy policy and liability and legal issues.

Battelle predicts the following 10 energy innovations will come about by 2010:
  1. A shifting energy industry structure. Deregulation of the natural gas and electric utilities will continue, resulting in more competition and more mergers; small independent utilities will decline. Oil companies will become energy companies, competing in both the mobile and stationary energy markets. Automakers may hold more influence in the energy industry.
  2. Hybrid vehicles. Hybrids getting 70 mpg will become more attractive in the face of rising fuel prices. Small hybrids are already here; large sedans getting 80 mpg are in the concept stage. While they might become a reality within the next 10 years, it may take decades for a full transition to a hybrid world.
  3. Smart energy management systems. Computers, the Internet and global positioning systems will do everything from reduce traffic congestion to regulate heating and air conditioning and appliances in our homes. Industry will also take advantage of these systems to increase efficiency in energy production and distribution systems.
  4. Distributed power generation. Large-scale power grids will make way for smaller, distributed systems that will make major blackouts and energy disruptions a thing of the past. Individual or local power generation will be accomplished via microturbines, internal combustion engines, and fuel cells powered by natural gas.
  5. Fuel cells. Fuel cells will used more frequently in transportation and portable and stationary power generation. They must be made smaller and cheaper before gaining widespread acceptance.
  6. Gas-to-liquid conversion. Advances in chemical engineering processes to transform hydrocarbon compounds from gases to liquids will permit more flexible use and storage of fuels. One example: the conversion of natural gas to diesel fuel for transportation.
  7. Advanced batteries. Next-generation batteries will be based on lithium polymer technology and have about three times as much energy capability as those on the market. These advancements are needed for the switch to hybrid and electric vehicles. Consumers also will see better batteries for laptop computers and cell phones.
  8. Energy farms. Crops will be grown for both food and energy value. One example: Growing crops for ethanol production.
  9. Solar energy. Although experts say solar energy is difficult to capture and store in large quantities in a cost-effective manner, substantial improvements are on the rise in the next 10 years. Progress is continually being made in the conversion efficiency photovoltaic cells.
  10. Methane hydrate crystal mining. Frozen natural gas crystals have been discovered on the ocean floor. The ability to get at this energy source would be a huge step forward in providing energy for the future. No attempts have been made to exploit this resource, but over the next 10 years it will be added to natural gas production.

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