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A framework for the exergy analysis of future transport pathways: Application for the United Kingdom transport system 2010-2050


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Gasparatos, A 
Serrenho, AC 

Abstract

Exergy analysis has been used to quantify the historical resource use efficiency and environmental impact of transport systems. However, few exergy studies have explored future transport pathways. This study aims to, (a) develop a conceptual framework for the exergy analysis of multiple future transport and electricity pathways, (b) apply this framework to quantify future resource consumption and service delivery patterns, (c) discuss the policy-relevant results that exergy studies of future transport systems can offer. Multiple transport and electricity pathways developed by the UK Government are used to explore changes in energy use, useful work delivery and greenhouse gas emissions. In passenger transport, ambitious electrification results in a 20% increase of useful work delivery, whilst reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption by 65%. For freight, international shipping and aviation, smaller exergy efficiency improvements make useful work delivery and greenhouse gas emissions highly dependent on transport demand. Passenger transport electrification brings a step-change in useful work delivery, which if accompanied by low-carbon electricity, significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The efficiency of low-carbon electricity systems is significant for useful work delivery, but not dominant across the scenarios explored. High penetration of renewables and electrified transport is the most resource-efficient combination in this context.

Description

Keywords

Exergy analysis, Transport, Useful work, Scenario analysis, GHG emissions, UK

Journal Title

Energy

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0360-5442
1873-6785

Volume Title

88

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K011774/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N02351X/1)
EB was supported by Newcastle University with funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). AG acknowledges funding through a Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship (Project ABioPES, 302880) offered by the European Commission. AS commenced the research in this paper whilst at IN+ Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, Instituto Superior Técnico - University of Lisbon with funding from FCT (PhD grant SFRH/BD/46794/2008), and finalized it while at the University of Cambridge (EPSRC grant EP/K011774/1).