[Env seminars] LFEE Seminars (Nov 10) Can Hydrogen be Part of the Near Term "Energy Equation"?

[Karen Gibson]

Environment and Sustainability Seminar Series
Sponsored by the MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment (LFEE)

NEXT TWO SEMINARS:

THIS WEEK -

"Can Hydrogen be Part of the Near Term "Energy Equation"?"

Prof. Ahmed Ghoniem
Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT

Wednesday, November 10
12:00 - 1:30 pm
E40-496

With the debate on the merits and perils of the "hydrogen economy" 
getting "red-hot", other scenarios should be considered in the effort 
to improve fossil-based energy conversion efficiency.  These include 
the "hydrogen" option in other forms, such as hydrogen-enriched 
combustion, reforming through chemical recuperation, cascading cycles 
for waste heat recovery, etc.  The first option promises near-term 
performance enhancements with less onerous demand on the support 
infrastructure, and it could offer gradual and smooth transition 
towards "pure hydrogen", or other "chemical energy carriers" that 
could be synthesized during short or long term shortage of 
fossil-based hydrocarbons.  Furthermore, it enables expanding the 
available energy conversion hardware; the use of "smart" systems; and 
better economic control over emissions.  I will present evidence and 
trends that support this scenario; the technical background 
confirming the benefit of hydrogen enrichment; and work underway to 
take advantage of this development.

NEXT WEEK -

"NGO Proposals to Reform International Trade Finance Rules:  Boon for 
Clean Energy Exports or Boondoggle?"

Peter C. Evans
Center for International Studies, MIT

Wednesday, November 17th
12:00 - 1:30 pm
E40-496

NGOs have been highly critical of the international regime that 
governs official trade finance.  They have challenged the regime for 
failing to sufficiently regulate the negative environmental 
externalities associated with large pipelines, dams, nuclear power 
plants and other energy projects.  Given climate change concerns, 
NGOs have also criticized the substantial credit support that 
exporting governments provide for fossil fuel based capacity 
additions in developing countries compared to the meager support 
provided to renewable energy. 

The industrialized member countries of the Organization for Economic 
Cooperation and Development (OECD) established the regime governing 
official trade finance in the 1970s. These rules were designed to 
curtail trade distortions caused by the subsidization of credits 
issued by export credit agencies (ECAs) and the abuse of Official 
Development Assistance (ODA) through "tied-aid" and other potentially 
predatory trade practices.  These rules now affect approximately $100 
billion in projects financed annually with medium to long-term 
credits backed by OECD governments, including a wide range of energy 
infrastructure projects in the developing world.

In this talk, Peter Evans will examine the criticisms leveled by 
NGOs, the prospects for reforms they propose, and the consequences 
for cleaner energy exports.  Mr. Evans, a Senior Associate at 
Cambridge Energy Research Associated (CERA) from 1996-2003, has 
written extensively about energy and export credit issues.   He is 
currently completing his PhD at MIT's Department of Political 
Science.  His dissertation examines the international regime 
governing official trade finance.

_________________________________________________________________
Part of a series of brown bag talks on issues of energy, environment, 
and sustainability sponsored by the MIT Laboratory for Energy and the 
Environment.  Bring your lunch - cookies and drinks will be provided.


-- 
_________________________________
Karen  L. Gibson
Program Assistant
MIT Laboratory For Energy and the Environment
77 Massachusetts Avenue, E40-469
(1 Amherst St., E40-469 - for DHL and FedEx)
Cambridge, MA 02139  USA
Tel:  1 (617) 258-6368; Fax:  1 (617) 258-6590
http://lfee.mit.edu
http://globalsustainability.org
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