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Energy self-reliance
Conference reports
Conference reports Energy self-reliance Report on Canada's Second International Energy Conference, ENERGEX '84, held in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, 14-19 May 1984
The theme of E N E R G E X '84 was the effective integration of energy into a nation's quest for energy self-reliance. The conference discussed the technical, economic and human dimensions of energy, and, in part, produced an overview of science and technoiogy's response to the recent oil glut which arrested the steady rise in energy prices, kept them relatively stable over the past few years and dampened energy conservation efforts. From more than 300 papers (400 submitted) accepted by referees for the conference, a large selection were incorporated in a 1052 page book, edited by F.A. Curtis entitled, Energy Develop-
ments: New Forms, Renewables, Conservation, published by Pergamon Press. There was a strong indication that while researchers had been working under less stress for results, they had, nonetheless, sufficient motivation to attack the challenge of developing energy alternatives as a means of extending the life of conventional energy resources by maximizing energy use, promoting more conservation and developing new energy supply alternatives on all fronts. This report updates the continuing progress in a sample of energy areas discussed at E N E R G E X '84 and points out a number of policy thrusts.
Developments On the search for more economic methods to achieve coal gasification and liquefaction, there are some noteworthy developments. On the use of coal not recoverable through conventional techniques, there was a report on efforts to set up a mechanistic model for combustion at cavity wall for underground coal gasification. On the use of coal that could be brought to the surface, there was a study on feasibility of coal gasification and
ENERGY POLICY December 1984
another report on developments in the liquid solvent extraction (LSE) process for producing gasoline from coal lignite. At the same time, Conference participants were updated on the latest efforts to effect methane gas drainage from underground coal mines as a clean source of energy for heating. Canada is persisting in its quest for better ways of recovering heavy oils through enhanced methods, and utilizing this resource through fuller integration and upgrading by the projected installation of heavy oil upgraders, two of which are proposed to be constructed within the next few years in Regina and Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. A suggested policy thrust is a more accurate determination of residual oil saturation near the wellbore and interwell zones as a major factor in the economic evaluation of enhanced oil recovery. Primary and secondary methods can probably reclaim about 33% of light and medium oil and less than 10% of the heavy oil, with the remaining 90% of the heavy oil being important as exploration for new discoveries. It is estimated that the amount of residual oil that can probably be recovered is about 5-10% of the oil in place in the world. Another suggested policy thrust is utilization of lower quality reserves by incorporating upgrading facilities at appropriately configured existing refineries rather than producing a fully upgraded synthetic crude in a standalone facility. With this approach, capital cost savings amounting to 40% may be attained. The importance of tar sands and heavy oils as an energy supply source was underlined in several papers. In the USA, tar sands resources in place are estimated at 22 billion barrels, while speculative resources in place
may amount to 32 billion barrels. On the other hand, in-place reserves of bitumen and heavy oils in Western Canada are estimated to amount to 469 billion cubic meters. In addition to bitumen and heavy oils, Canada is also exploring the possibility of tapping oil shales which are widespread and known to exist in recoverable quantities in more than 38 countries, of which 14 countries have attempted some form of recovery.
Tidal power On the utilization of tides in the generation of electric power, one paper indicated that under favourable geographical conditions, in locations endowed with large tides and natural tidal basins in close proximity, a linked basin tidal power plant may make a valuable addition to any power system. The SEA-Clam wave energy converter, in operation since 1978 as part of the UK research programme, has been reported to be an operationally viable device at 10 MW rating as part of a 2 GW station. It is suggested that it be a leading device for development and early exploration. At the same time, introduction of self-spacing membranes and permanently sealed stack construction has reportedly eliminated much of the earlier difficulties encountered in electric power generation through reverse electrodialysis. Electric power generation, either for irrigation water pumping or even for electric power co-generation, through windmill devices, is reported to be closer to reality. On solar energy, there seems to have been a pronounced attempt to produce more computer models to evaluate the costbenefit of solar collectors for buildings, homes and farms. Some papers reported additional wrinkles in methods for evaluation. The same attention was indicated by some papers discussing the economics of biomass plantations in the USA and some South American countries. In addition, studies on the utilization of genetically improved hardwoods and aspens as a fuel source, possibly to be grown in unimproved or abandoned Canadian farmlands covering approx-
463
Conference reports imately 31 million hectares, were described. Keen interest was also noted in research on the utilization of solar ponds and improvement of photovoltaic technology.
Wood The use of wood as a major fuel source in developing countries was a point of concern because of adverse environmental implications, especially in developing African countries and other developing nations. While wood used principally for cooking and heating remained the major energy source for the Third World, many of the developing countries are increasing their consumption of conventional fuels as a sign of their economic growth. It was suggested that the time might be ripe for the formulation of a policy for energy use and development for Third World countries, and such a policy should be flexible and geared to the resources and needs of each country. Some developing countries are pursuing solar energy in an attempt to reduce consumption of conventional fuels for electrical power generation. Singapore, for example, is working on ways to utilize solar power to air condition tall buildings. Other research is focusing attention on the development of solar cookers to relieve the pressure to cut down the Third World's vanishing timber resources. In Africa thig is posing problems such as increased desertification and imposed hunger on people who are unable to grow crops on the parched and barren soil. A few other countries are experimenting with solar furnaces.
Solar access The problem of solar access is emerging in countries like the U S A and Canada which are exerting some effort to reduce energy consumption for home heating with the use of flat-plate solar collectors in homes and buildings. Hand-in-hand with this effort are attempts to effect some conservation by energy efficient urban land design. On a different theme, both countries
464
have been assessing how available information promotes energy conservation and what government incentive programmes and policies should be brought on line. Many other topics, including new forms of recoverable energy and conservation were discussed at the conference where the main achievement seemed to be providing a site and an
international forum for the interchange of energy information. On this score alone, the conference was a success.
Ben Lara Former journalist, Philippines and Fred Curtis University of Regina Saskatchewan, Canada
Energy and agricultural production Advancing Agricultural Production in Africa, Arusha, Tanzania, 12-18 February 1984, organized by the Tanzania government and the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux 'Energy is one of the key factors in increasing agricultural production', Dr Keith Openshaw, field director of the US Agency for International Development sponsored project, Energy Initiatives for Africa, reminded some 400 scientists and agriculturalists who were meeting against a background of Africa's most serious food crisis since 1973. The greatest increase in agricultural production, said Dr Openshaw, will have to come from existing agricultural areas and this implies that more energy is needed, either to produce fertilizer or for more intensive cultivation techniques - or possibly for a combination of the two. Crop storage and agricultural processing, if they are to be improved and expanded, also require a greater energy input. Participants agreed that energy availability is also crucial to other links in the task of ensuring food for hungry Africans - if more food is to be grown and distributed to where it is needed, then vehicles are needed to get inputs such as seed and fertilizer to the farmer and to take his produce to market. The dry petrol pumps of Arusha, where the conference was held, were a reminder that in a developing country which does not produce its own oil and which has been hit by economic crisis, petrol is not always available to fuel those vehicles. A key question is whether Africa has the energy that its agriculture needs. Most African countries are
short of foreign exchange and can only import limited amounts of energy. That foreign exchange should be channelled to its productive use Dr Openshaw stressed, and not used to substitute for indigenous energy. While it makes sense to spend foreign exchange to buy fuel for vehicles, it makes little sense importing oil to process tea - wood is a much cheaper source. The benefits of ensuring an adequate supply of indigenous energy and wood products far outweigh the costs. Countries must protect their existing forests and tree stocks and make replanting an urgent task. For Africa, this is a priority, as over half the continent's forests have disappeared this century.
Forests for food Many governments have tended to see their forests as land that could produce food. R. Lal of the Nigeria based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture told the conference that bringing 'new land' into cultivation is not the easy solution it seems. More than one million km 2 of forest had been removed from equatorial Africa in a 'largely misguided effort to increase food production' which had resulted in 'great envrionmental damage and shrinkage of natural resources'. Lal backed the view that improving efficiency on currently farmed lands is the most desirable and least damaging way of increasing output. Fifteen
ENERGY POLICY December 1984
Conference reports Energy self-reliance Report on Canada's Second International Energy Conference, ENERGEX '84, held in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, 14-19 May 1984
The theme of E N E R G E X '84 was the effective integration of energy into a nation's quest for energy self-reliance. The conference discussed the technical, economic and human dimensions of energy, and, in part, produced an overview of science and technoiogy's response to the recent oil glut which arrested the steady rise in energy prices, kept them relatively stable over the past few years and dampened energy conservation efforts. From more than 300 papers (400 submitted) accepted by referees for the conference, a large selection were incorporated in a 1052 page book, edited by F.A. Curtis entitled, Energy Develop-
ments: New Forms, Renewables, Conservation, published by Pergamon Press. There was a strong indication that while researchers had been working under less stress for results, they had, nonetheless, sufficient motivation to attack the challenge of developing energy alternatives as a means of extending the life of conventional energy resources by maximizing energy use, promoting more conservation and developing new energy supply alternatives on all fronts. This report updates the continuing progress in a sample of energy areas discussed at E N E R G E X '84 and points out a number of policy thrusts.
Developments On the search for more economic methods to achieve coal gasification and liquefaction, there are some noteworthy developments. On the use of coal not recoverable through conventional techniques, there was a report on efforts to set up a mechanistic model for combustion at cavity wall for underground coal gasification. On the use of coal that could be brought to the surface, there was a study on feasibility of coal gasification and
ENERGY POLICY December 1984
another report on developments in the liquid solvent extraction (LSE) process for producing gasoline from coal lignite. At the same time, Conference participants were updated on the latest efforts to effect methane gas drainage from underground coal mines as a clean source of energy for heating. Canada is persisting in its quest for better ways of recovering heavy oils through enhanced methods, and utilizing this resource through fuller integration and upgrading by the projected installation of heavy oil upgraders, two of which are proposed to be constructed within the next few years in Regina and Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. A suggested policy thrust is a more accurate determination of residual oil saturation near the wellbore and interwell zones as a major factor in the economic evaluation of enhanced oil recovery. Primary and secondary methods can probably reclaim about 33% of light and medium oil and less than 10% of the heavy oil, with the remaining 90% of the heavy oil being important as exploration for new discoveries. It is estimated that the amount of residual oil that can probably be recovered is about 5-10% of the oil in place in the world. Another suggested policy thrust is utilization of lower quality reserves by incorporating upgrading facilities at appropriately configured existing refineries rather than producing a fully upgraded synthetic crude in a standalone facility. With this approach, capital cost savings amounting to 40% may be attained. The importance of tar sands and heavy oils as an energy supply source was underlined in several papers. In the USA, tar sands resources in place are estimated at 22 billion barrels, while speculative resources in place
may amount to 32 billion barrels. On the other hand, in-place reserves of bitumen and heavy oils in Western Canada are estimated to amount to 469 billion cubic meters. In addition to bitumen and heavy oils, Canada is also exploring the possibility of tapping oil shales which are widespread and known to exist in recoverable quantities in more than 38 countries, of which 14 countries have attempted some form of recovery.
Tidal power On the utilization of tides in the generation of electric power, one paper indicated that under favourable geographical conditions, in locations endowed with large tides and natural tidal basins in close proximity, a linked basin tidal power plant may make a valuable addition to any power system. The SEA-Clam wave energy converter, in operation since 1978 as part of the UK research programme, has been reported to be an operationally viable device at 10 MW rating as part of a 2 GW station. It is suggested that it be a leading device for development and early exploration. At the same time, introduction of self-spacing membranes and permanently sealed stack construction has reportedly eliminated much of the earlier difficulties encountered in electric power generation through reverse electrodialysis. Electric power generation, either for irrigation water pumping or even for electric power co-generation, through windmill devices, is reported to be closer to reality. On solar energy, there seems to have been a pronounced attempt to produce more computer models to evaluate the costbenefit of solar collectors for buildings, homes and farms. Some papers reported additional wrinkles in methods for evaluation. The same attention was indicated by some papers discussing the economics of biomass plantations in the USA and some South American countries. In addition, studies on the utilization of genetically improved hardwoods and aspens as a fuel source, possibly to be grown in unimproved or abandoned Canadian farmlands covering approx-
463
Conference reports imately 31 million hectares, were described. Keen interest was also noted in research on the utilization of solar ponds and improvement of photovoltaic technology.
Wood The use of wood as a major fuel source in developing countries was a point of concern because of adverse environmental implications, especially in developing African countries and other developing nations. While wood used principally for cooking and heating remained the major energy source for the Third World, many of the developing countries are increasing their consumption of conventional fuels as a sign of their economic growth. It was suggested that the time might be ripe for the formulation of a policy for energy use and development for Third World countries, and such a policy should be flexible and geared to the resources and needs of each country. Some developing countries are pursuing solar energy in an attempt to reduce consumption of conventional fuels for electrical power generation. Singapore, for example, is working on ways to utilize solar power to air condition tall buildings. Other research is focusing attention on the development of solar cookers to relieve the pressure to cut down the Third World's vanishing timber resources. In Africa thig is posing problems such as increased desertification and imposed hunger on people who are unable to grow crops on the parched and barren soil. A few other countries are experimenting with solar furnaces.
Solar access The problem of solar access is emerging in countries like the U S A and Canada which are exerting some effort to reduce energy consumption for home heating with the use of flat-plate solar collectors in homes and buildings. Hand-in-hand with this effort are attempts to effect some conservation by energy efficient urban land design. On a different theme, both countries
464
have been assessing how available information promotes energy conservation and what government incentive programmes and policies should be brought on line. Many other topics, including new forms of recoverable energy and conservation were discussed at the conference where the main achievement seemed to be providing a site and an
international forum for the interchange of energy information. On this score alone, the conference was a success.
Ben Lara Former journalist, Philippines and Fred Curtis University of Regina Saskatchewan, Canada
Energy and agricultural production Advancing Agricultural Production in Africa, Arusha, Tanzania, 12-18 February 1984, organized by the Tanzania government and the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux 'Energy is one of the key factors in increasing agricultural production', Dr Keith Openshaw, field director of the US Agency for International Development sponsored project, Energy Initiatives for Africa, reminded some 400 scientists and agriculturalists who were meeting against a background of Africa's most serious food crisis since 1973. The greatest increase in agricultural production, said Dr Openshaw, will have to come from existing agricultural areas and this implies that more energy is needed, either to produce fertilizer or for more intensive cultivation techniques - or possibly for a combination of the two. Crop storage and agricultural processing, if they are to be improved and expanded, also require a greater energy input. Participants agreed that energy availability is also crucial to other links in the task of ensuring food for hungry Africans - if more food is to be grown and distributed to where it is needed, then vehicles are needed to get inputs such as seed and fertilizer to the farmer and to take his produce to market. The dry petrol pumps of Arusha, where the conference was held, were a reminder that in a developing country which does not produce its own oil and which has been hit by economic crisis, petrol is not always available to fuel those vehicles. A key question is whether Africa has the energy that its agriculture needs. Most African countries are
short of foreign exchange and can only import limited amounts of energy. That foreign exchange should be channelled to its productive use Dr Openshaw stressed, and not used to substitute for indigenous energy. While it makes sense to spend foreign exchange to buy fuel for vehicles, it makes little sense importing oil to process tea - wood is a much cheaper source. The benefits of ensuring an adequate supply of indigenous energy and wood products far outweigh the costs. Countries must protect their existing forests and tree stocks and make replanting an urgent task. For Africa, this is a priority, as over half the continent's forests have disappeared this century.
Forests for food Many governments have tended to see their forests as land that could produce food. R. Lal of the Nigeria based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture told the conference that bringing 'new land' into cultivation is not the easy solution it seems. More than one million km 2 of forest had been removed from equatorial Africa in a 'largely misguided effort to increase food production' which had resulted in 'great envrionmental damage and shrinkage of natural resources'. Lal backed the view that improving efficiency on currently farmed lands is the most desirable and least damaging way of increasing output. Fifteen
ENERGY POLICY December 1984