IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2018 - 4

from the editor

Michael Henderson

electric for all
scenario analyses for reducing carbon emissions

W

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MPE.2018.2824098
Date of publication: 18 June 2018

4

ieee power & energy magazine

as batteries and electrically
produced fuels, and new demand-response technologies all playing key roles in
meeting requirements for
ancillary services, peak shaving, and valley filling.

In This Issue
this issue of IEEE Power &
Energy Magazine summarizes the scopes, assumptions, methods, and results
of scenario analyses achieving low-carbon futures. the
studies clarify several of
the challenges that could be
posed by various futures
and suggest ways they could
be successfully resolved. a
common theme is the need
for end-use electrification as a way of
reducing carbon emissions.
guest editor Mackay Miller compiled seven well-written articles that
summarize the means of conducting
scenario analyses and explore the technical and economic feasibility of "electrifying everything." as described in
the "guest editorial," the issue provides
critical insights into studying power
system futures, including
✔ approaches for conducting scenario analyses and understanding counterintuitive results
✔ ways of evaluating and priorititizing changes to the supply and
demand mix
✔ the identification of potential advantages of electrifying heat and
©istockphoto.com/John1179

W h at a n exciti ng
time to be in the electric
power industry! as members of the ieee, we stand
ready to deal with the rapid
growth of state-of-the-art
technologies, the major
transformation of the grid
to one with ever-more re newable resou rces, a nd
challenges arising from
interactions between the
bulk system grid and the
distribution system. given
all this activity, how do we
conduct long-term strategic
planning, ensure that complex issues can be suitably
addressed, and meet targeted reductions of carbon emissions?
Scenario analysis can identify many
of the key issues needed to inform policy makers and industry stakeholders.
the simulation of a variety of futures
can show the implications of potential
policies and the conceivable need for
changes in technologies and markets
to make the policies a reality. there
is real value to establishing common
frameworks for technical challenges
that must be addressed.
the reduction of carbon emissions
remains a primary policy worldwide as
a means of addressing climate change.
these policies have contributed to the
widespread growth of energy efficien-

cy, wind and photovoltaic resources,
and, more recently, electric vehicle development. although many established
power systems currently experience
low growth of demand, scenario analysis shows increased electrification will
be required to significantly reduce the
total societal carbon emissions. One of
the most economical means of lowering carbon emissions can be achieved
by converting a number of end users
of fossil fuels to electric loads supplied
by zero-emitting renewable resources.
targeted loads include transportation vehicles, heating plants, and some
industrial processes. Future power systems, however, could look very different with a considerable expansion
of the grid, storage technologies such

july/august 2018
http://www.istockphoto.com/John1179
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2018
