Energy and Transportation Challenges for the Chemical Sciences in the 21st Century (2003) / Chapter Skim
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14. Future Challenges for the Chemical Sciences in Energy and Transportation
14. Future Challenges for the Chemical Sciences in Energy and Transportation
Pages 80-90
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From page 80... ...
(Nathan Lewis) iThese future needs were identified by the committee based on the Workshop presentations.
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From page 81... ...
(Nathan Lewis) Fossil fuels will remain abundant and available, but limitations on their use will arise because of worldwide constraints on carbon dioxide emissions.
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From page 82... ...
KEY CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED AT THE WORKSHOP ON ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION The needs of the energy and transportation sectors provide a number of challenges over the next century that the chemical sciences are uniquely suited to play a critical role. Many of the issues discussed in Workshop on Energy and Transportation, from increased energy efficiency from fossil fuels, to reduction of pollution, to sequestration of carbon dioxide, to development of new materials for vehicle fabrication, to new low cost renewable energy technologies, if not wholly chemical in nature, contain significant chemical science content.
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From page 83... ...
Since potential limitations on carbon dioxide emissions may restrict their utilization in the long term, it is imperative that chemical sciences research and engineering focus on making significant increases in the energy efficiency and chemical specificity of fossil fuel utilization.3 Professor Bell identified new multifunctional highly selective catalysts and membranes and corresponding process technologies as key research areas where opportunities will exist for major steps forward. These new catalysts and materials will allow much greater process efficiency (reduced carbon dioxide)
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From page 84... ...
Research and development into methods to cost effectively capture and geologically sequester carbon dioxide is required in the next 10 to 20 years.5 As noted in Professor Pacala's presentation, effective management of the increasing anthropogenic output of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere will be a significant challenge for the chemical sciences and engineering over the 21st century. Development of sequestration technology to address this issue will require a thorough understanding of carbon dioxide chemistry and geochemistry along with an elaboration of the mechanisms involved in carbon dioxide absorption, adsorption, and gas separation.
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From page 85... ...
While a number of potential sources of renewable energy show promise for meeting part of this increased demand, including wind, biomass, geothermal, and expanded use of hydroelectric sources, solar power is most likely to meet the largest portion of this need. However, in order for use of solar power to increase substantially over the 21 st century, new discoveries in photovoltaic and photochem~cal energy technologies must be made to reduce costs, increase conversion efficiency, and extend operating life.
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From page 86... ...
TRANSPORTATION Vehicle mass reduction, changes in basic vehicle architecture, and improvements in power trains are key to improved vehicle efficiency. The that present fuel cell systems are being piloted for distributed generation backup power.
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From page 87... ...
Reduced material cost is key to widespread use of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cellos As with other materials challenges, selective and energy-efficient separations are a highly desirable characteristic in many areas of energy and transportation research and engineering.
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From page 88... ...
Others are increased energy efficiency of fossil fuel processes, delivery of chemically designed fuels to new vehicle power systems, and direct conversion of natural gas into liquid fuels and Hydrogen-2. Another is the discovery of less expensive catalysts for the electroreduction of i5Venki Raman, Air Products and Chemicals, presentation to the Workshop on Energy and Transportation.
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From page 89... ...
While it is not possible for chemical scientists to have a comprehensive knowledge of other disciplines, it is necessary for those in the chemical sciences to have a broad understanding of the nature of the interface in order for its impact to be fully appreciated. When working to address these challenges, chemical scientists must always be watchful for unintended consequences.
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