Indigenous fossil-fuel: Coal | ? | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Indigenous fossil-fuel: Oil | ? | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Indigenous fossil-fuel production: Gas | ? | 1 | 2 | 3 |
? | Question marks take you to one page descriptions of each choice |
1 | The least effort possible on this choice. |
2 | Viewed as ambitious, but reasonable by most experts. |
3 | Viewed as unlikely without significant change from the current system and/or significant technological breakthroughs |
4 | The upper end of what is thought to be physically plausible by the most optimistic observer. |
GW of conventional gas electricity generation plant has been assumed to have been built by 2050, to cover the gap between average electricity demand and the amount of low carbon generation selected in this pathway.
This tool does not model the hourly, daily or even seasonal operation of the electricity grid. It presents annual averages. Therefore it does not correctly represent the peaks and troughs of electricity demand.
To go some way to addressing this flaw, the tool applies a simulated stress test to your pathway of five cold, almost windless, days. This is described in more detail here. In this case, the stress test implies that GW of additional peaking plant may be required for supply to meet demand over that period.
You can influence the amount of peaking plant by changing your choice level of 'storage, demand shifting & interconnection' below right,or by reducing the amount of intermittent renewable generation, or by reducing the demand for electricity
The calculator assumes that any available biomass is preferred over fossil fuels and that domestically produced fuels are preferred over imports.It assumes that fossil fuels are imported to cover any shortfall.
2010 | 2050 | ||||
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Imports | TWh/yr | % | TWh/yr | % |
There may be a benefit from maintaining a diversity of energy sources:
Proportion of energy supply | 2010 | 2050 |
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