Digitalization uses digital technologies and systems to improve, transform, or create processes, operations, and services. It involves integrating digital tools and technologies, especially computers and
One outstanding feature of historical energy transitions was the change in the cost, power, and efficiency of the energy converters that humans used to perform
Fuels like wood, diesel, and natural gas have shaped human energy history, driven by technological, economic, and environmental forces. Liquid fuels from oil, with their high mass and volumetric energy density, led to their supremacy in transportation. Shifts in fuel types also influence the devices that convert them into energy services.
In 1898, H. Riall Sankey developed a diagram illustrating steam engine efficiency, leading to the widespread use of Sankey diagrams for visualizing energy flows in various systems. They effectively display energy extraction, transformation, consumption, and losses while mapping the roles of primary and secondary energy sources across different usage sectors.
Government policies significantly influence gasoline prices, leading to disparities across countries. Most nations tax gasoline, while some subsidize it, especially oil exporters. Higher income countries typically impose steeper gasoline taxes to harness revenue. There’s a growing call to reduce fossil fuel subsidies to curtail greenhouse gas emissions, advocating for carbon pricing to promote clean technology.
The article examines hydrogen energy as a decarbonization strategy, focusing on its use in district heating systems. It highlights efficiency comparisons between blue and green hydrogen pathways, emphasizing that district heating is generally more efficient and cost-effective. Despite its advantages, high initial costs and regulatory challenges hinder widespread adoption.
Energy historian Roger Fouquet’s analysis of historic energy transitions in household heating in England from 1300 to 2000 reveals interesting trends. The shift from wood to coal and later to natural gas resulted in fluctuations in fuel prices. Despite the increase in energy costs, improvements in technology and air quality led to a significant decrease in the price of heating services by 2000.
In 2023, US drivers consumed 376 million gallons of gasoline daily, with superusers accounting for 35% of usage. Rural areas have more superusers, spending 10.2% of their income on gasoline. They also tend to drive larger, less fuel-efficient vehicles. Electric vehicle policies targeting superusers could reduce energy burdens and emissions, benefiting low-income households.
The shift from fossil fuel-powered internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles is a key strategy for reducing transportation emissions. Various regulations and incentives at the state and national level drive this transition, with California leading in policies and EV registrations. The growth of EV sales is supported by policy, lower prices, improved range, and expanded charging infrastructure.
In 2022, the US consumed 32 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the highest level in 30 years due to increased fracking. Efforts towards carbon-neutral energy may reduce demand, as residential use is gradually being replaced by electrical alternatives. However, industrial demand is anticipated to remain strong in the near term.