Potential for Industrial Energy-Efficiency Improvement in the Long Term (Eco-Efficiency in Industry and Science, 5)

This book does not give a prediction of what the efficiency will be of the energy use of industrial processes in the future. However, it does give an exploration of limits to the efficiency of current processes and an indication of what might be achieved if new technologies can be developed. At the Department of Science, Technology and Society of Utrecht University research had been done to the opportunities for improvement of the energy efficiency in the short term since the 1980's. This had resulted in a comprehensive database on energy efficient measures. This database and a possible application are described in Chapter 3 of this book. The use of the database induced new research themes around efficiency improvement, e.g. concerning barriers for implementation of measures. It was around 1993 that I did a preliminary study to the potential for efficiency improvement in the long term. Historical analysis had shown us that the short term potential stayed constant over the years. It seemed to be replenished by the introduction of new technologies. This lead to the question whether there are limits to the efficiency, taking into account both thermodynamic considerations and ideas on the development and dissemination of new technologies. We need to know what opportunities there are and what limits exist to the improvement of energy efficiency, since this is the most cost-effective way to abate greenhouse gas emissions. This book presents a method whereby promising technologies can be identified and characterised that can contribute to an improvement of energy efficiency in the long term. An objective measurement of maximum improvement is provided by an analysis of the theoretical minimum specific energy demand. A descriptive inventory is then given of new and conceivable technologies that can improve efficiency, extending beyond the standard lists found in the literature. The method is applied to three main energy consuming branches of industry: paper and board, iron and steel, and nitrogen fertilizer. Each of the studies provides an in-depth analysis of the industry and an extensive survey of options for its improvement "This book presents a method to identity and characterize promising technologies that can contribute to an improvement of the energy efficiency in the longer term. An analysis of the theoretical minimum specific energy demand provides an objective measure for maximum improvement. Next, an inventory is made of new and conceivable technologies that can improve the efficiency, trying to go beyond the standard lists that can be found in literature. All these technologies are extensively described. The method is applied to three main energy-consuming industrial sectors: the paper and board industry, the iron and steel industry and the nitrogen fertilizer industry. Each of these studies provides an in-depth analysis of the industry and an extensive overview of improvement options."--Jacket Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction....Pages 1-12 Towards a Method for Assessing Long-Term Opportunities for Energy-Efficiency Improvement....Pages 13-42 Sectoral Potentials for Energy-Efficiency Improvements in the Netherlands....Pages 43-65 Long-Term Energy-Efficiency Improvements in the Paper and Board Industry....Pages 67-91 Future Technologies for Energy-Efficient Iron and Steel Making....Pages 93-166 Fixing Atmospheric Nitrogen with Less Energy....Pages 167-224 Conclusions....Pages 225-229 Back Matter....Pages 231-254