Berkeley Lab report shows how California can meet aggressive emissions reduction targets
- Berkeley Lab states that four types of measures will need to be aggressively pursued to reach the goal of 80% reduction of CO2 levels
On May 24th, 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley, California, U.S.) announced the release of a report which states that California is capable of reaching its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
"California’s Energy Future - The View to 2050", offers a series of energy system "portraits" which show how California can meet these targets despite a projected 49% increase in population and a doubling in energy demand.
“California can achieve emissions roughly 60 percent below 1990 levels with technology we largely know about today if such technology is rapidly deployed at rates that are aggressive but feasible," states the report.
Improvements in electricity delivery system needed
The researchers state that in order to reach this 60% reduction, four types of measures will need to be aggressively pursued: energy efficiency, electrification, de-carbonizing electricity, including greater use of renewables, and de-carbonizing the remaining fuel supply.
The report also emphasizes that to reach these goals California will need to develop an electricity delivery system that is able to balance supply and demand while integrating intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and most solar technologies.
The researchers also noted that renewable energy resources will need to be developed faster to reach this target, and that 1.3% of the state's land area will need to be devoted exclusively to renewable energy generation.
New technologies needed for 20% of reductions
The remaining 20% of emissions reductions will have to come from advances in several technologies still in development.
The report names artificial photosynthesis, more efficient and sustainable biofuels and advanced batteries for vehicles and grid storage among potential technologies that could fill this gap.
2011-05-30| Courtesy: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH
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