Rethinking Future Energy Systems

...Given that society requires electricity, heating, and transportation fuels, the best way to develop the most economic and environmentally friendly solution is to consider a holistic approach in which the production of heat, electricity and transportation fuels are considered simultaneously. A range of sources of primary energy need to be considered. If biomass is used for the production of electricity or transportation fuels, this can compete with food production and create additional demands on water sources. Systems need to be flexible and to integrate storage of both power and heat. The design of such systems requires a framework that will allow the production of electricity, heat and transportation fuels to be optimized simultaneously.