LAPSE:2019.0257v1
Published Article
LAPSE:2019.0257v1
Exergy Accounting: A Quantitative Comparison of Methods and Implications for Energy-Economy Analysis
Jack Miller, Timothy J. Foxon, Steve Sorrell
February 5, 2019
Assessments of the feasibility of decoupling energy consumption from economic growth could benefit from an improved understanding of the size, nature and value of different energy flows. This understanding may be enhanced by focusing upon so-called “useful exergy”—a measure of both the quantity and “quality” of energy (defined here as its thermodynamic ability to perform physical work) at the “useful” stage of the energy conversion chain. Useful exergy flows within national economies are increasingly being quantified and their role in economic activity explored. However, this so-called “exergy economics” field currently lacks a consistent methodology. This paper contributes to the development of a more consistent approach. By constructing a “useful exergy account” for the United Kingdom covering the period 1960⁻2012, we explore how different methodological choices influence estimates of useful exergy for different categories of end-use as well as estimates of total national useful exergy consumption. Specifically, we evaluate the sensitivity of estimates to: (a) the method of estimating the exergy efficiency of different end-uses; (b) the boundaries between end-use categories; and (c) the method of estimating the primary exergy associated with renewable electricity. We also improve upon the current method of accounting for industrial uses of heat. This leads to suggestions for best practice when constructing useful exergy accounts, and the identification of areas where further methodological development is required.
Keywords
decoupling, economic growth, Energy, Energy Efficiency, Exergy
Suggested Citation
Miller J, Foxon TJ, Sorrell S. Exergy Accounting: A Quantitative Comparison of Methods and Implications for Energy-Economy Analysis. (2019). LAPSE:2019.0257v1
Author Affiliations
Miller J: Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand and Sussex Energy Group, Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9SL, UK [ORCID]
Foxon TJ: Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand and Sussex Energy Group, Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9SL, UK
Sorrell S: Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand and Sussex Energy Group, Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9SL, UK
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Journal Name
Energies
Volume
9
Issue
11
Article Number
E947
Year
2016
Publication Date
2016-11-14
Published Version
ISSN
1996-1073
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PII: en9110947, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2019.0257v1
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doi:10.3390/en9110947
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Feb 5, 2019
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CC BY 4.0
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Feb 5, 2019
 
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Calvin Tsay
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