CHARACTERISTICS

Many new electrotechnologies allow the substitution of an electric process and/or electrical equipment for applications using other fuels or less-efficient electric equipment. Electrotechnologies use the electromagnetic, electrochemical and/or electrothermal effects in industrial, commercial and residential processes in place of the direct use of fossil fuels. Electrotechnologies include electrical appliances for the home, electric heating and cooling systems for commercial buildings and electric control systems and motors for industrial processes.

Where the energy chain involved in electricity production, transmission, and distribution results in lower total emissions than a current alternative, electrotechnologies will provide a net benefit to the environment.

Electrotechnologies offer high efficiencies, precise energy control capabilities, high rates of production and processing, and in many applications, increased speed. In addition, electrotechnologies may offer reduced investment and operating costs, improved product quality, and improved convenience of use. Current applications of electrotechnologies are primarily in the commercial and industrial sector; however, the number of residential applications is increasing.

SIZE:
All sizes from multi-kW residential systems to multi-MW industrial systems.

FEATURES:
Offer high efficiencies and precise controls.

COST:
Costs will vary according to replaced/replacement technology. Many options that increase efficiency may be economic regardless of their ability to reduce GHG emissions.

CURRENT USAGE:
Mostly commercial and industrial applications.

POTENTIAL USAGE:
The number of residential applications is increasing.

ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING ACTION

• There is a need to demonstrate that efficiency improvements for the overall system are made. Electrotechnologies that may appear to be very efficient could result in system inefficiencies that actually increase GHG emissions.
• The cost of equipment can be high, and a substantial up-front investment to add metering and interconnection equipment is required.
• Because of limited information and experience with new technologies, the perceived risks and uncertainties regarding their performance can deter the use of electrotechnologies.
• End-users may not have the proper incentives (either because energy is a small percentage of their expenses or their energy expenses are subsidized) to use electrotechnologies or may not be aware of their benefits.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT

EMISSION EFFECT:
    

CONDITIONS FOR EMISSIONS MITIGATION:

• The higher efficiencies of electrotechnologies will reduce carbon/GHG emissions by decreasing energy use when compared with fossil-fueled processes. The exact amount of emissions avoided will depend on the replaced/replacement technologies employed. For example, a battery-driven electric lawnmower uses less energy and produces fewer emissions than a conventional gasoline-powered lawn mover.
• The GHG advantages of electrotechnologies arise from the ability to use economies-of-scale of large electric power plants to produce and distribute electricity at higher efficiencies than can be achieved by small end-use devices. However, not all electrotechnologies or applications of the technologies will result in system efficiency (and GHG) advantages.

EMISSION ESTIMATE:
Varies with each specific model and type of electrotechnology. For instance, an electric lawnmower can reduce CO₂ by approximately 75% compared to gas-powered lawn mower.

COST-EFFECTIVENESS:
N/A

SECONDARY EFFECTS:
Varies with each specific electrotechnology. For instance, switching from a gas-powered to an electric lawn mower can reduce NO_x by as much as 87%.

RESOURCES

• U.S. Department of Energy programs include:
  1. National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, Economics (NICE³) is a cost-sharing program that gives grants to state and industry partnerships for projects developing and demonstrating advances in energy efficiency and clean production technologies. After provision of the initial grant (of amounts up to $400,000), awardees are expected to commercialize the technology.
  2. Motor Challenge promotes the use of efficient electric motors, drives and driven equipment, and effective electric motor system integration. Participants are provided with technical publications, education and training, an information clearinghouse, and decision software.
  3. Industries of the Future targets seven energy-intensive industries (steel, aluminum, metal casting, chemicals, refining, forest products, glass) to improve competitiveness. Through partnerships between the industries and government, advanced technologies are developed for manufacturing and process technologies.
  4. National Clean Industry Initiative and Mainstreet Program to demonstrate electrotechnologies and move them to more widespread acceptance and use.
• The U.S. electric power industry has sponsored the EnviroTech Investment Fund, a venture capital fund for electrotechnologies and renewable energy technologies. The Fund has over $52 million to invest in companies developing commercially viable electric and renewable energy technologies that are more energy-efficient than those currently in the market.
• The Electrification Council, designs products and services to help increase effectiveness of utility sales and marketing, and also sponsors partnerships for areas of lighting and process technology to discuss marketing issues of key concern and to develop products through the Electrification Council.

CONTACTS

Electrification Council
Susan Mitchell
Washington, DC
Tel: (202) 508-5901
Fax: (202) 508-5335
tec@eei.org
http://www.eei.org/CSM/tec/

EnviroTech Investment Fund, LLP
Steve Rosenstock
Edison Electric Institute
Washington, DC
Tel: (202) 508-5571
Fax: (202) 508-5335
srosenstock@eei.org

U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Industrial Technologies
Washington, DC
Tel: (202) 586-9232
Fax: (202) 586-9234
http://www.oit.doe.gov/

U.S. Department of Energy
Motor Challenge Information Clearinghouse
Olympia, WA
Tel: (360) 956-2238
Fax: (360) 586-8303
motorline@energy.wsu.edu