Basic Drives

This article discusses various technological innovations to develop energy infrastructure that could result in fewer carbon emissions. A number of technologies are in development with emissions reductions in mind. They range from gasification of coal and other hydrogen-bearing fuels to an eventual transition to a hydrogen economy. Advocates of an economy run on hydrogen observe that it makes the primary source of fuel irrelevant. Hydrogen can be extracted by various processes from natural gas, petroleum, coal, possibly even wood chips left by the sawmill, just like syngas. Processes based on reforming fossil fuels represent the most economical way to produce hydrogen today and account for 95 percent of the hydrogen produced worldwide. Deregulation of electricity markets has spurred activity to make nuclear reactors more competitive. Designs are in the works to make plants cheaper to build and operate, generally by making them smaller and simpler, ideally so they can be composed of factory-built modules. The Canadians, meanwhile, are working toward the next generation of their Candu reactor, with the aim of making it simpler and cheaper to build and run.