Chapter 1: Understanding Energy Waste

In our current energy landscape, a significant amount of energy is wasted, which is why the concept of electrifying everything is crucial. The efficiency of renewable electricity, when channeled into electric motors and heat pumps, far surpasses the existing energy consumption methods.

Thus, we must consider why electrifying everything is prioritized over other climate solutions, such as improving insulation, utilizing renewable natural gas, or expanding wind energy. To grasp this, we need to delve into Sankey diagrams and the concept of rejected energy.

Section 1.1: The Sankey Diagram Explained

The Sankey diagram from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory serves as a striking visual representation of U.S. energy flows, highlighting the inefficiencies within our economy. On the left side, it displays the total primary energy inputs—coal, oil, gas, geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, and solar. The center shows how this energy is utilized, while the right illustrates two significant outcomes.

Primary energy encompasses all raw energy sources. Notably, hydroelectric, wind, and solar energy figures are adjusted to equate with the lower average efficiency of fossil fuels, which is often below 40%.

The lower right box represents the energy services we actually use, such as heating water, cooking food, and powering our commutes. It’s evident that only about one-third of the primary energy, roughly 32 out of 97 quads—where a quad equals a quadrillion BTU—contributes to our energy services.

However, our focus is on the upper right box: rejected energy. This represents the energy that is essentially wasted, and it's alarming that approximately two-thirds of the primary energy globally is discarded, predominantly as waste heat from burning fossil fuels. Many nations have similar visualizations of energy waste, but the U.S. diagram effectively illustrates the problem. Reducing rejected energy compared to energy services is a vital strategy.

Subsection 1.1.1: Transportation and Energy Efficiency

Our gasoline and diesel vehicles squander about 80% of the energy in the fuel they consume, primarily as waste heat, even during cold seasons. This inefficiency significantly affects overall energy use. In contrast, electric vehicles can utilize around 80% of the electricity fed into them.

Airplanes and ships are examples of relatively efficient engines, converting about 50% of their fuel into motion under optimal conditions. However, they face substantial inefficiencies during takeoff and landing. The upcoming segment on battery electric aircraft will showcase their superior efficiency both in the air and on the ground.

We can transition inland shipping to electric options on rivers and lakes, and a significant portion of short-sea shipping can also be electrified, as electric vessels boast efficiency rates exceeding 50%. While biofuels are derived from solar energy inputs, they fall short compared to electric drivetrains, making them suitable primarily for long-distance aviation and maritime transport.

Chapter 2: The Power of Heat Pumps

Currently, we rely on electricity or natural gas for heating water and air in our homes and workplaces, as well as for industrial heating. While both natural gas and electricity are effective heat sources, the introduction of heat pumps revolutionizes this process.

Heat pumps don’t create heat; they simply transfer and concentrate it. Much like a refrigerator moves heat from inside to the surrounding room, heat pumps can efficiently extract warmth from outside into our spaces. For every unit of electricity consumed, heat pumps can deliver three units of heat, a stark contrast to the efficiency of natural gas heating.

The first video, "The Electrification of Everything: From Sky to Sea," explores how comprehensive electrification can transform our energy systems and enhance efficiency across various sectors.

Despite misconceptions that heat pumps are ineffective in colder climates, they can indeed generate heat at temperatures reaching 200° Celsius (390° Fahrenheit) and produce steam for industrial applications. They can provide domestic heating at temperatures sufficient for everyday needs, proving their efficiency even in northern European countries like Norway and Sweden.

These capabilities allow heat pumps to address nearly all commercial and residential heating requirements, covering 45% of industrial heating needs. Thus, heat pumps are a powerful tool for reducing energy demand.

While improving insulation is beneficial, it pales in comparison to the impact of electrification. A UK study involving 55,000 insulated homes revealed no significant reductions in natural gas consumption within four years—illustrating Jevon's Paradox, where efficiency gains can lead to increased energy use for comfort. In the realm of heating, electrification stands out as the true champion of efficiency.

The second video, "Electrifying Equitably," discusses the importance of equitable access to electrification and its potential to drive sustainable energy solutions.

Hydrogen production using electricity, while useful for specific industrial applications, results in significant energy loss when used as fuel, leading to inefficiencies comparable to traditional fossil fuels.

The overall conclusion is that as we transition to an electrified system, the amount of rejected energy diminishes, and the required primary energy significantly decreases. With a complete shift to renewable energy sources, the U.S. could meet its energy needs using only about half of the primary energy currently consumed. This highlights that the challenges we face are more manageable than they may appear.

In summary, the essential climate actions that can lead to meaningful change include:

• Electrifying everything
• Expanding renewable energy generation
• Creating extensive electrical grids and markets
• Implementing pumped hydro and other storage solutions
• Increasing tree planting efforts
• Modifying agricultural practices
• Improving concrete, steel, and industrial processes
• Enforcing aggressive carbon pricing
• Phasing out coal and gas generation
• Ending fossil fuel financing and subsidies
• Eliminating HFCs in refrigeration
• Staying focused on impactful actions