AIChE Develops Energy Metrics

AIChE’s Energy Initiative and Institute for Sustainability are developing an energy system metrics project.  The objective of the project is to develop a set of metrics that will provide technical, sustainability and societal perspectives on energy system choices.  The product of this work would allow comparison of diverse energy systems, would provide a common basis for evaluation and would inform technology development and public policy.  Currently, without a reference set of metrics, different parties compare technologies and come to different conclusions as a result of using different baselines, data, and systems (problem boundaries.  This workgroup aims to identify a set of target metrics (i.e. the parameters, not a target value) to be considered for a case study based on the boundaries selected. 

The approach selected by the Energy Metrics Scoping Team was to focus on a specific energy system – biomass to energy.  Many different views (including technical and policy) are expressed with regard to this much-debated energy system.  Thus it provides a constructive reference case.  To kick off this project, a task team developed a simplified representation of the biomass to ethanol energy system.  This workgroup is meeting on a periodic basis to encompass a fairly complete framework to address the aspects and impacts that need to be considered in developing metrics (e.g., value chain of supply, production, use and fate, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability, context of resources, time and location). 

If you would like to know more, please subscribe to our newsletter or ask to become involved by emailing us at energy@aiche.org.