Carbon Footprint of Electricity Generation
One of the arguments that have been touted in discussions on actual carbon footprint, be it for or against any particular form of electricity generation, has been the actual CO2 produced during the entire life cycle. Figures are difficult to come by and more important they are difficult to standardise. There is a large variance that needs to be factored-in, nevertheless undoubtedly the figures are quite clear in their general comparison. However, it must be said that environmental and risk factors have rarely been included in a broad-based analysis.
Present Carbon Emissions
That the nuclear industry can not be safe is well know. The probability is low, but when an accident occurs, it can have long-lasting and devastating effects. A little known fact about the PV industry is the pollution that is caused upstream (silicon extraction), which is well hidden and on the other hand the proper disposal of photovoltaic (PV) cells. To this effect wind and concentrated solar power (CSP) have a much better environmental and conversion efficiency record.
Future Carbon Levels
Decisions on future electricity generation may well be determined by a complete carbon picture, something that is not quite part of the discussion. Some of it partially a result of ideological interests and partially as a result of lack of sufficient information. Providing CO2 figures, as is being tested on a few products, may well be instrumental in swinging customer decisions.
The aim must lie in achieving a carbon neutral or even negative carbon emission. Though the latter may sound rather outlandish, it could well be implemented with carbon capture and storage (CCS) methods. Biomass has proven to be one practical small scale implementation of negative carbon emission. Large scale plants using wood as a fuel with combined cycles have proven to be practical. Utopia it may well be, but visions are what drive many in this world and has resulted in solutions that were not considered practical at that time.
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