CLIMATE ALTERATION - A GLOBAL ISSUE FOR THE ELECTRIC-POWER INDUSTRY IN THE 21ST-CENTURY

Development of global electric generation and distribution systems will be central to mankind's economic and social well being. However, electricity is likely to be produced mainly from fossil fuel combustion for the foreseeable future. As a consequence, this global energy sector will contribute to growing carbon dioxide emissions, with a potential for climate alteration. Concern for potentially adverse climate effects has led to consideration of strategies for managing GHG emissions. With present technologies, extreme reduction strategies will be costly and may create significant stress on the projected world economic and energy systems. Technological options have been evaluated to a modest degree. These range from conventional emission control approaches to geo-engineering opportunities and biospheric carbon management. To be practical, these options need to be developed further and demonstrated to properly assess their operational characteristics.