Changing technology

This session shows that, while one would expect the energy sector to know only limited and slow technological change, dramatic changes have occurred in recent decades.

Course reference:

• Chapter 8
• To follow the presentation, go to the next step

(Session realized on 05/18/13 by May and Renaud Gicquel)

Changing technology

• technological innovation: key to our energy future
• oil exploration and production
• combined cycles
• energy conservation
• decrease of unit quantities of pollutants

• development of new energies

  • controlled fusion
  • fuel cells
  • solar technologies

Drivers of technological change

• limitation and uneven distribution throughout the world of fossil fuel resources
• environmental impact of energy technologies
• progress in other fields

Transfer from other fields

• theoretical and numerical modeling
• real time electronics and control
• progress on materials

Technological progress

• specific energy consumption decrease
• efficient electrical techniques
• decline of energy consumption of homes
• more energy efficient vehicles
• energy savings on household appliances

Conservation supply curves

1: fix leaks, adjust compressor controls

2: install sequencer

3: initiate predictive maintenance

Changing technology

This session provided an overview of the changes experienced by the energy sector in recent decades.

Faced with uncertainty about the future of energy in the world, technological innovation appears as one of the main keys to the long-term energy transition.