Renewable Energy

- Power for a Sustainable Future

Diana Ma, Ph.D.

Vice President, SunPower Corp.

October 24, 2009

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Contents
1. The Vital Natural Processes:

2. The Imbalance of Nature Processes due to Mankind

3. Climate Changes: The Fundamental Challenges Confronting Humanity

4. Renewable Energies: Green Powers for a Sustainable Future

Solar Thermal
Solar Photovoltaic
Bioenergy
Wind

5. Reduce Consumption of Energy Services

6. Executive Takeaways

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What is CO2 and Why Does It Matter?
CO2 plays an important role during Photosynthesis process, is vital for life
CO2 is a product of respiration by plants, human ,animals, and microorganisms
CO2 is a by-product from combustion of organic matters (e,g. fossil )
CO2 is stored in 3 major reservoirs: atmosphere, lands, and ocean
72%~77%% of total greenhouse gases is CO2

Atmosphere Greenhouse Gases: CO2, CH4, NOx, etc.

CO
2
CO2

Land

burns CO2
Organics CO2 Ocean: CO2 dissolve: CO2+H2O H2CO3
CO2 +H2O Sugars + O2

CO2 in 3 reservoirs was well balanced in pre-industrial days

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What is Greenhouse Effect?

CO2, CH4, NOx, CFC, etc

Infrared (IR)
radiation is Sunlight (UV,
given off by the Visible) passes
Earth to outer through the
space and cools atmosphere and
the Earth warms the Earth

Greenhouse effect balances sunlight in and out and makes the earth
surface suitable for life
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 When More CO2 Emitted to Atmosphere

Atmosphere Greenhouse Gases: CO2, CH4,NOx, CFC, etc

CO2

CO2

Land

CO2
burns Ocean: CO2 dissolve: CO2+H2O H2CO3
Organics CO2
CO2 +H2O Sugars + O2

CO2 in atmosphere has increased from 280 ppm < 1900s to 387 ppm in
2007, and 50 ppm was increased in the recent 35 years
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 Less IR Radiation Transmitted Out

CO2, CH4, NO2, CFC-12, etc

Some IR is Infrared (IR)
radiation is given off
trapped by
by the Earth to outer
increased space and cools the
Greenhouse Earth
gases
Sunlight (UV,
Visible) passes
through the
atmosphere and
warms the Earth

Increased level of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere traps IR and

reduces the cooling effect on earth, causing climate changes
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The Natural Processes are Out of Balance
- Upset Balance of The Natural Processes by Industrial Activities
and Modern Life Style
Greenhouse Preindustrial Current Level Increased Radiative
Gas level since 1750 Forcing
(W/m2)
Carbon Dioxide 280 ppm 387 ppm* 104 ppm** 1.46
(CO2)*

Methane (CH4) 700 ppb 1,745 ppb 1,045 ppb 0.48

Nitrous Oxide 270 ppb 314 ppb 44 ppb 0.15

Halocarbons 0 533 ppt 533 ppt 0.17

CFC-12
Source: Green Gases by Wikimedia
* CO2 current level is at its highest for at least 800,000 years.** 50 ppm was increased from 1973 to 2006

The usage of fossil fuel and excess deforestation all contribute to

the acceleration of CO2 emission
The Greenhouse gas levels will be 2X of the pre-industrial level by
2050 if no action taken, warming up the earth by ~1.8C-6.4C
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What Are the Impacts of Climate Changes?
2007
2C rise in global temperature will have serious
negative effects on our environmental, food, water
supplies, and health:
Many ecosystems irreversibly decline. 1981

20-30% of species face extinction.

Sea levels rise due to thermal expansion and ice
melt.
More frequent and extreme whether events such as
heat-waves, floods, storms, wildfires, and droughts
occur around the world.
Regional food shortages, mass migration and
poverty increase, threatening the survival of the
most vulnerable population. (source: IPCC 2007)
Patterns of disease change with wide areas of the
world becoming at risk.

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 What Are the Actions Taken?

1. Internationally, countries have been negotiating a global agreement through United

Nations, such as the Kyoto Protocol of 1990s.

2. New international negotiations are to be concluded by 12/09 at the Climate Change

Conference in Copenhagen

3. Numbers of countries are setting a national CO2 reduction targets over 2008~2012, 8%
for EU, 7% for the US, 6% for Japan, 8% for Australia, and 10% for Iceland.

4. However, significantly more intensified efforts must be taken in order to stabilize the
atmospheric CO2 level at < 50% above its current level (e.g. < 450ppm), CO2 emission
must be reduced by >80% by 2100

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 World Electricity Generation by Fuel Type (2007)

Solar
<1%
World Fossil Fuel Reservation:
Other
renewables Natural gas Coal: 200 years
18% 19% Oil: 40 years
Natural gas: 60 years
Nuclear
16% Source: BP 2003

Coal
40%
Oil
6%
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration 2007

Fossil fuel combustion is the biggest source of CO2 emission (coal

energy: 1000gCO2/kWh).
Renewable energies greatly reduce CO2 emission (20~80gCO2/kWh)
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What Are the Main Techniques?
1. Reduce the consumption of energy services
2. Increase the efficiency of energy conversion or utilization
3. Switch to lower carbon content fuel, e.g. natural gas instead of
coal
4. Enhance the sinks for CO2, e.g. forests, soils, and ocean which
draw-down CO2 from the atmosphere
5. Use energy sources with very low CO2 emission, such as
renewable energy or nuclear energy
6. Capture and store CO2 from heavy CO2 emission sources, e.g.
fossil fuel combustion
Source: IEA Report Putting Carbon Back into the Ground , 2001

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CO2 Capture & Storage into Ground & Ocean

Source: Putting Carbon Back into the Ground, IEA, 2001 Source: Ocean Storage of CO2, IEA, 1999

CO2 Capture & Storage is under investigation and may provide short term cost
relatively effective (2X of current cost) CO2 emission reduction without much
impact on the existing energy infrastructure.
However, the long term environmental impacts are of great concerns and need
to be further investigated.
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 The Primary Source of Renewable Energy
- Incoming Solar Radiation
Renewable is defined
as energy obtained
from the continuous
currents of energy
recurring in the natural
environment.

The primary source is

the incoming solar
radiation

Among the 5.4M

exajouls (Ej) per year
incoming radiation,
3.8M Ej available,
>10,000 time than
needed
Source: Renewable Energy G. Boyle, 2004

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Renewable Energy for CO2 Emission Reduction
Examples of Global
Primary Energy
1600 Solar
80% by 2100
1400 Wind
Biomass
1200 Solar Geothermal
1000 50% by 2050 Hydroelectric
800 Wind Nuclear
20% by 2020
Fossil Fuel
600 Biomass
400

200

0
2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 2090 2100
Source: Don Aitken adapted from Bull and Billman, NREL 2004

Solar, Wind and Biomass Energies will play significant roles in stabilizing CO2
in atmosphere (80% CO2 emission reductions by 2100)

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Solar Thermal Energy
- Convert Sun Thermal Energy to Heat and Electricity
Applications
Water and Space Heating
Electricity
Technology
Heating: utilize energy-saving building
design or use heat collector
Electricity: Utilize high temperature oils
or salts as heating medium and mirrors
to concentrate lights
Cost & Complexity
Heating: cost effective and fast return
Electricity: high upfront capital cost but Kramer Juction, CA
relatively low running cost
Environmental Impact Source: G. Boyle, Renewable Energy 2004
50X less CO2 emission than fossil
energy
Large land demand for power plant

Drawbacks
Local climate dependent
Require high upfront investment for
power plant Source: G. Boyle, Renewable Energy 2004

Combined with energy-saving building design, low temperature solar heating

contributes as significant benefits as a solar thermal or PV power plant
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Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy
- Convert Sunlight to Electricity

Chung Tai Zen

Center Rooftop

Zen Picture
Solar Power Plant In
Nellis Air Force Base
If PV modules of 20% average efficiency were
installed on 0.05% of the earth surface, ~
0.65% earths total desert area, it would meet
current world energy demand

Source: SunPower Marketing

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Solar PV Energy
Applications
Power for residential and commercial rooftop , as well as power plants (grid
connected), and rural electrification for developing countries (non-grid connected).
Technologies
Si and polysilicon solar cell
Thin-film on glass or flexible substrate
Cost & Complexity
High in upfront capital
Lowest running cost
Easy to install
Environmental Impact
20X lower CO2 emission than conventional coal electricity
Can leverage low value land
Flexible in sizes, suitable for homes, big cities or small rural villages
Drawbacks
~5-10X higher cost than conventional

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 Electrification for Rural Areas
- Solar PV in an Isolated Village of Amazon, Brazil
By 2012, 500,000
village scale PV
systems will be installed
- EU Plan for Take off

By 2020, Solar PV
power will be provided
to 1B off-grid people
- European PV Industry
Association and
Greenpeace

Electricity also allows

isolated villages to
access solar-powered
medical clinic, water
pump & satellite internet
access
Source: SunPower Marketing

Solar PV has the potential to meet the need of the worlds poorest with
affordable clean energy Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale 18
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 How to Close the Cost Gap

Federal Tax Subsidies Reduce solar PV system cost

Reduce development cost and timeline
Lower PV financing cost
$0.15/kwh
Economic Viability

$0.10/kwh
Increase production cost due to
Fossil Electricity resources depletion
Add carbon mitigation cost

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Solar Panel Cost Reduction Factors
- Conversion Efficiency
- Manufacturing Scale
- Silicon Utilization
- Manufacturing Yield

>20% efficiency module

Source: SunPower Q209 Earning Call, July, 2009

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 Bioenergy
- Convert Biomass into Heat, Power and Fuel

Biomass of all the living earths

matter is an enormous energy
store

Through photosynthesis
processes the biomass energy
store is continuously replenished

Naturally, biomass experiences

numerous energy exchanges via
chemical, physical and biological
processes

Bioenergy have been used since

mankind began The bioenergy cycle on the local scale
Source: G. Boyle, Renewable Energy, 2004
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Bioenergy
Applications
Mainly for heating, fuels (e.g. ethanol) and electricity (most suitable for small scale
locate generation or operating as combined heat and power (CHP) plants)

Biomass Sources
Energy crops : the purpose-grown energy crops (e.g. corn, sugar cane)
Wastes (energy from wastes): unwanted products from human activities

Technologies
Combustion
Anaerobic digestion
Gasification

Cost & Complexity

Upfront equipment capital for electricity is high.
Fuel cost can be significant

Environmental Impact
CO2 emission: 93gCO2/kWh (combustion), 25 gCO2/kWh (gasification).
Increased other greenhouse gases and air pollutants: NOx , CH4, and SO2 .
Energy consumption for some processes can be high
Land-greedy and energy crops compete with agricultural land

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Biomass Energy

Extraction of landfill gas (CH4) Straw-fired power station

G. Boyle, Renewable Energy, 2004

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Wind Energy
- Convert Wind Energy to Electricity
Applications
Power plant

Technology Maturity
One of the earliest alternative energies
Horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines

Cost & Complexity

The most cost effective and competitive with fossil
energy

Environmental Impact
Lowest CO2 emission with minimal pollution
Minimal water and energy consumption.
Noise
Electromagnetic interference
Birds fatal collisions
Visual
Source: G. Boyle, Renewable Energy, 2004
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Integrated Wind and Solar Energies to Building

Source: G. Boyle, Renewable Energy, 2004

A future building concept that maximizes two main natural energy resources.

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Increasing Electricity Demand
Countries Canada / USA Europe 3rd World
(China/India)
Annual per capita 12,000 14,000 2000 8000 < 2000
electricity use (kWh) Spain Australia
Source: SVTI, 2008

Average Annual Percentage Change in Net Electricity Consumption (2003 2030)

Source: US Department of Energy - EIA

Choice of our lifestyle has great impact of energy demand

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Reduce Consumption of Energy Services
>40% of current CO2 emissions are caused by the choices we make
~ 25 consumer electronic products in every US household now vs 3 in 1980
Consumer electronics consume 15% power demand and will increase by 3X in the
next 2 decades
More and bigger cars and houses
Eating more meats
Waste more water
More wastes generated: electronic wastes, plastic bags, papers
.
Choosing a green and low emission lifestyle is the most cost effective and
fastest action we can take to reduce CO2 emission
Become a vegetarian (at least one day a week)

We must jumpstart a fundamental transformation of global economics, politics,

social responsibility and low emission lifestyle towards a global climate-
resilient, green-low emission and more sustainable future

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 Executive Takeaways
Mankinds industrial activities and modern lifestyle have upset the
natural balance.
Global climate change is threatening the earths well-being and
endangering our sustainable future.
Intensified efforts must be taken across the globe in all aspects,
technically, economically, politically, and socially in order to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions
Renewable energy and other energy efficiency improvements are
crucial to reduce CO2 emissions
Reducing energy consumption is the most cost effective and fastest
solution that everyone can contribute
Be part of the solution!

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Backup

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 Other Renewable Energies
Renewable Technology Cost CO2 Environmental
Energies Maturity Emission impacts

Hydro Matured and Comparable Low Large dams

being used for environmental and
years social impacts can
be significant
Geothermal Maturing and Comparable Relatively Relatively low
being used Low

Marine Emerging High Similar to Relatively low

( Waves, Tidal) PV (under study)

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