Chapter 1.

The Energy Problem

Academic Year 2021-22

Table of Contents

1. Fundamental concepts
1. Energy
2. Power
2. Energy and Society
1. SDG
2. The road so far
3. World energy consumption
4. World energy flows
5. Energy Intensity
6. C02 Emissions
7. Global Warming
3. Climate Challenge
4. EU & Climate Challenge
Energy

 Energy, in physics, the capacity for doing work. It may exist in potential, kinetic, thermal,
electrical, chemical, nuclear, or other various forms.
 It is an abstract physical quantity (associated with a scalar number), related to the dynamic
state of a closed system that remains constant over the time.
 Energy can be neither created nor destroyed but only changed from one form to another.
This principle is known as the conservation of energy or the first law of thermodynamics.
 In the International System of Units (SI), energy is measured in joules: One joule is equal to
the work done by a one-newton force acting over a one-metre distance.

https://www.britannica.com/
Power

Power, in science and engineering, rate of doing work

or rate at which energy is delivered, exchanged,
transformed or converted, expressible as:

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑃𝑃 =
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

In the International System of Units (SI), power is

measured in watts (energy per unit): One watt is one
joule per second.

https://www.britannica.com/
Energy and Power Units
International System Units

Energy Joule (Julio) J=N.m (kg.m2/s2)

Power Watt (Vatio) W=J/s (kg.m2/s3)

Other Units

Energy kilowatt.hour (kilovatio.hora) kWh 1 kWh=3,6.106 J

Tonne of oil equivalent
Energy (Toneladas Equivalentes de Petróleo) Toe (tep) 1 tep= 11630 kWh = 41,868 GJ
Tonne of coal equivalent
Energy (Toneladas Equivalentes de Carbón) Tce (tec) 1 tec=8138,9 kWh=29,3 GJ=0,7 tep

Energy Calorie (Caloría) Cal 1 cal=4186 J

Power Caballo Vapor (mks) CV 1 CV= 736 W (g=9.81 m/s2)*

Power Horse Power (Imperial) HP 1 HP=746 W*

*NOTE: A CV is the power required to lift 75 kg weight at 1 m/s.
Depending of gravity constant value, g, CV ranges from 735,4W to 736W
An HP is the power required to lift 33.000 pounds at a 1 feet/minute=745,7 W
What is the meaning of 1 kWh?

1 kWh=1000W.3600 s=3.600.000 J
g=9,81 m/s2≈10 m/s2
1 kWh=360 kg×10 m/s2×1 km

1000m
Machines

• Machine is a device, having a unique purpose, that augments or replaces human or

animal effort for the accomplishment of physical tasks.
• The operation of a machine may involve the transformation of a form of energy (chemical,
thermal, electrical,…), into other one (such mechanical energy).
• All machines have an input, an output, and a transforming or modifying and transmitting
device.

𝐸𝐸𝑖𝑖 𝐸𝐸𝑢𝑢

Input Machine Output

𝐸𝐸𝑖𝑖
Primary source Useful energy
Resource
Fuel 𝐸𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙

𝐸𝐸𝑢𝑢 𝐸𝐸𝑢𝑢
𝜂𝜂 = = ≤ 1 100% 𝐸𝐸𝑢𝑢
𝐸𝐸𝑖𝑖 𝐸𝐸𝑢𝑢 + 𝐸𝐸𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
Energy and Society

• Energy is one of the fundamental pillars of human progress.

• At present, the role of the energy system constitutes one of the priorities of the scientific,
political, economic and social agenda
• Three main challenges:
• The need to evolve to a cleaner and more sustainable generation model
• Climate Change associated to GHG
• Improving the energy efficiency
Recommended references
Energy and Society - SDG

SDG – Goal 7
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and
modern energy
7.1 ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern
energy services
7.2 increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the
global energy mix
7.3 double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
7.4.a enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to
clean energy research and technology
7.4.b expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying
modern and sustainable energy services

SDG – Goal 13
SDG 13 – Climate action
Energy and Society – The road so far…
Primary energy: Energy in the form that it is first
accounted for in a statistical energy balance, before any
transformation to secondary or tertiary forms of energy
• 1775 • 1879

https://ourworldindata.org/energy-production-consumption

• 1885-1900 • 1973
Primary energy sources

Fossil /Non
renewable

Natural
Coal Oil Nuclear
Gas

Renewable

Wind Solar Biomass Geothermal Wave-tidal Hydro

Energy and Society - The road so far … No-Renewable energies

1. 2. 3.
Depletion of reserves of Fossil-based energy GHG emission problematic
fossil fuels price volatility

4. 5. 6.
Gas transportation Nuclear waste Global Warming
issues
Energy and Society - The road so far … Renewable energies

1. 2. 3.
Intermittency of renewable Droughts and water Biodiversity issues
energies shortages

A certain level of predictability with the Climate change is affecting

renewable generation capacity
power generation is needed to avoid the risk
of massive blackouts.

4. 5. 6.
Aesthetic issues Performance & Maturity of technology
Profitability
Energy and Society - The road so far … Sociodemografic

1. 2. 3.
Increase in the world population Dependencies from import Socio-political problems
and the urbanization

4. 5. 6.
Consumption increase
 Energy and Society – World Energy Consumption

• Primary energy consumption fell by 4.5% in

2020- the largest decline since 1945
• Drop in energy consumption was driven mainly
by oil
• Wind, solar and hydro all grew

557.10 exajoules → 154,750 TWh

1 E (exa)=1018 1 T (tera)=1012
BP “Statistical Review of World Energy 2021 | 70th edition”. Available at:
https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/energy-
economics/statistical-review/bp-stats-review-2021-full-report.pdf https://ihsmarkit.com/products/energy-chemical-
economics-handbook.html
 Energy and Society – World Energy Consumption

Enerdata, “Global Energy Statistical Yearbook 2020”. Available at: https://yearbook.enerdata.net/total-energy/world-consumption-statistics.html

Energy and Society – World Energy Flows

Global Energy Flows 2018/2050 from DNVGL’s

Energy Transition Outlook 2020 Available at:
http://www.sankey-diagrams.com/tag/world/

Peta=1015
Energy in Spain – Primary Energy Consumption

World: 154,750 TWh

Spain: 249.991 TWh

(2020)

https://www.iea.org/countries/spain
https://www.ree.es/sites/default/files/publication/2021/06/downloadable/sintesis_ree_2020_0.pdf
 Primary energy forecast

Global demand will increase by 2040, leading by India,

China, Africa and Asia

https://www.iea.org/weo2017

The electrification of the transportation and heat-

cooling sectors will increase the electricity demand
(doubling the consumption from 2016)

https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Industries/Oil%20and%20Gas/Our%20Insights/Global%20E
nergy%20Perspective%202019/McKinsey-Energy-Insights-Global-Energy-Perspective-2019_Reference-
Case-Summary.ashx
Energy in Spain – Consumption data

https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/2f405ae0
-4617-4e16-884c-7956d1945f64/Spain2021.pdf

https://informesweb.idae.es/consumo-usos-residencial/descargas.php
https://www.idae.es/en/studies-reports-and-statistics
Energy in Spain – Electric Consumption domestic data

https://www.ree.es/sites/default/files/interactivos/como_consumimos_electricidad/como-varia-mi-consumo.html
Energy in Spain – Electric Consumption personal data
Energy and Society – Energy Intensity

Energy intensity is a measure used to assess the energy efficiency of a particular economy.
The numerical value is traditionally calculated by taking the ratio of energy use (or energy supply)
to gross domestic product (GDP), indicating how well the economy converts energy into monetary
output.
Energy Intensity UE
Units → Joules or ktoe / € (normalised value)
Energy and Society – CO2 Emissions

https://yearbook.enerdata.net/co2/emissions-co2-data-from-fuel-combustion.html
Energy and Society – Global Warming
Climate Challenge

The Intergovernmental Panel on

Climate Change (IPCC) is a
scientific and intergovernmental
body under the auspices of the
United Nations, providing the
world with a clear scientific view
on the current state of knowledge
regarding climate change and its
potential environmental and
socio-economic impacts.

Provides periodical Assessment

Reports (AR)
Conference of Parties (COP)

Conference of Parties (COP)

Year Location Session
1997 Kyoto, Japan COP 3
1998 Buenos Aires, Argentina COP 4
1999 Bonn, Germany COP 5
2000 The Hague, Netherlands COP 6
2001 Bonn, Germany COP 6-2
2001 Marrakech,Morocco COP 7
2002 New Delhi, India COP 8
2003 Milan, Italy COP 9
2004 Buenos Aires, Argentina COP 10
2005 Montreal, Canada COP 11
2006 Nairobi, Kenya COP 12
2007 Bali, Indonesia COP 13
2008 Poznan, Poland COP 14
2009 Copenhagen, Denmark COP 15
2010 Cancun, Mexico COP 16
2011 Durban, South Africa COP 17
2012 Doha, Qatar COP 18
2013 Warsaw, Poland COP 19
2014 Lima, Peru COP 20
2015 Paris, France COP 21
2016 Marrakech,Morocco COP 22
2017 Bonn, Germany COP 23
2018 Katowice, Poland COP 24
2019 Madrid, Spain COP 25
2021 Glashow, UK COP 26
Climate Challenge

The Kyoto Protocol (1997) is the

first milestone in the career to a
cleaner and more sustainable
world, the world's first
greenhouse gas emissions
reduction treaty.

The Protocol legally binds

developed countries to emission
reduction targets - an average of
5% by the period 2008-2012 with
wide variations on targets for
individual countries.
Climate Change

The COP21-Paris Agreement on fighting

climate change is the first-ever universal,
legally binding global climate deal.

The objective of the agreement is to maintain

the increase in global temperatures well below
two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial
levels (CO2 450 ppm), whilst making efforts to
limit the increase to 1.5º degrees.

The agreement aims to ensure global

greenhouse gas emissions peak as soon as
possible, and to balance emissions and
removals of greenhouse gases in the second
half of this century.
 Climate Challenge

The European Union Emissions Trading System, the world's first and largest emissions trading
scheme, is launched as a major pillar of EU climate policy (2005).

Further info: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20170213STO62208/the-eu-emissions-trading-

scheme-ets-and-its-reform-in-brief
 UE & Climate Challenge

• EU has agreed in considering climate change as a defining challenge for this generation
• The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, has been requested by the European Council –
Behind 1,5º special report from IPCC.
• To deal with it, a long-term strategic vision to create a modern, competitive and climate neutral
economy by 2050 has been created

There is a great public awareness on

energy and environmental issues
EC COM(2018) 773 final: “A Clean Planet for all. A
European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous,
modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”
Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52018DC0773 Brussels,
28.11.2018
UE & Climate Challenge

• The strategy outlines a vision of the deep

economic and societal transformations
• Digital transition:
• Industry 4.0
• Electromobility
• New energy infrastructure
• Energy communities
• Net zero plus buildings
• Renewable energy development
UE & Climate Challenge

Southern and central Europe are seeing more frequent heat waves, forest fires and droughts.
The Mediterranean area is becoming drier, making it even more vulnerable to drought and wildfires.
Northern Europe is getting significantly wetter, and winter floods could become common.
Urban areas, where 4 out of 5 Europeans now live, are exposed to heat waves, flooding or rising sea
levels, but are often ill-equipped for adapting to climate change.
EU & Climate Challenge
EU & Climate Challenge
 EU & Climate Change

The European Commission’s vision outlines seven main strategic building blocks:
• Maximise the benefits of energy efficiency, including zero emission buildings;
• Maximise the deployment of renewables and the use of electricity to fully decarbonise Europe’s
energy supply;
• Embrace clean, safe and connected mobility;
• A competitive EU industry and the circular economy as a key enabler to reduce GHG emissions;
• Develop an adequate smart network infrastructure and interconnections;
• Reap the full benefits of bioeconomy and create essential carbon sinks;
• Tackle remaining CO2 emissions with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

EC, “Going climate neutral by 2050”. Available at: https://op.europa.eu/o/opportal-

service/download-handler?identifier=92f6d5bc-76bc-11e9-9f05-
01aa75ed71a1&format=pdf&language=en&productionSystem=cellar&part=
EU & Climate Challenge

GHG emissions trajectory in a 1,5º scenario

 EU & Climate Challenge

Further info: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-

2024/european-green-deal_en

European Climate Law

The Green Deal

EC COM/2019/640 final: “The European Green Deal” Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-

content/EN/TXT/DOC/?uri=CELEX:52019DC0640&from=EN Brussels, 11.12.2019
Plan Nacional Integrado de Energía y Clima (PNIEC) 2021-2030

Objectives PNIEC 2021-2030:

1) to become a carbon-neutral country by 2050 by decreasing the
gross total GHG emissions in the electricity, transport, industry sectors ;
2) to promote energy efficiency thanks to the penetration of
renewable energy in final energy consumption, efficiency measures
to the transport, industry and building sectors, energy saving targets;
3) to ensure energy security by the diversification of the national
energy mix, the use of indigenous sources and increase the flexibility
of the national energy system;
4) interconnectivity, energy transmission infrastructure, integration of
the internal energy market;
5) to strengthen technology transfers, promote public-private
partnership and business research and innovation, etc.
 Área de Ingeniería Eléctrica
ETSI Telecomunicación
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Jesus.fraile.ardanuy@upm.es