C-MACC Weekly “CRETER” (Climate etc.)
The Power (and Constraints) of Power – Why Transition Matters
- The ultra-clean solutions for transport fuels, chemicals, plastics, other industrial processes, and indoor temperature control need vast quantities of low-cost power.
- Electrochemistry R&D we see today is targeting ideas that look interesting and important, fuels as well as materials, but the power needs are too high for now.
- Bio-based alternatives are a stopgap and may have a permanent role once the infrastructure is in place, but input constraints limit how much they can do.
- Transition alternatives such as CCUS and continued use of natural gas for power generation will be critical to lower emissions while power investments advance.
- Otherwise, we discuss more evidence that recycling economics are in trouble, the cost of carbon and CCS, and the variability of solar power and pipelines.
See PDF below for all charts, tables and diagrams