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thinking critically about sustainable energy (tcas

TCASE 6: Cooling water and thermal power plants

November 19, 2009 by Barry Brook
with 1,028 views
2

Heat engines require cooling, to turn heat energy into mechanical energy (and then, via a turbine-connected generator, to electrical energy). This is an unavoidable physical principle, and is typically exploited via the Carnot cycle. Usually, this cooling requirement uses water. Why do I raise this point? Because it seems to... [read more]

TCASE 3: The energy demand equation to 2050

November 14, 2009 by Barry Brook
with 270 views
0

Bottom line: 2050 power demand will be ~10 TWe of electrical generating power — a 5-fold increase on today’s levels, requiring the construction of ~680 MWe per day from 2010 to 2050.-----Before we look in detail at the various low-carbon energy technologies that may provide the means to move away from fossil fuels, it is worthwhile... [read more]