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Title Scale and centralization in energy systems
Creator/Author Lovins, A.B.
Publication Date1976 Dec 01
OSTI IdentifierOSTI ID: 7325228
Other Number(s)CODEN: PENRB
Resource TypeJournal Article
Resource RelationProf. Eng. (Wash., D.C.) ; Vol/Issue: 47:12; From a paper presented at the Future Strategies of Energy Development symposium in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, October 1976
Subject290100 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Analysis & Modeling ;290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology ;530100 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Social & Economic Studies-- (-1989); ;ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT-- SIZE;ENERGY SOURCES-- SYSTEMS ANALYSIS;POWER SYSTEMS-- SIZE; EFFICIENCY;ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Description/Abstract Arguments usually articulated in favor of large-scale energy systems include: reduced unit capital cost; increased reliability; central high-volume delivery of primary fuel; ability to use and finance the best high technologies available; and several others.^While admitting that these contentions are not devoid of merit, Mr. Lovins suggests that ``many of the advantages claimed for large scale may be doubtful, illusory, tautological, or outweighed by less tangible and less quantifiable but perhaps more important disadvantages and diseconomies.`` As an example, he cites the fact that large electrical generators often lose in reliability what their size gains in unit cost; and that there is mounting evidence that most types of power stations can have lower busbar costs in sizes of order 10/sup 8/ W than of 10/sup 9/ W. A further diseconomy of large scale, from a security standpoint, is that central energy systems reliant on a few large facilities are more vulnerable, and harder to restore when damaged, than dispersed systems.^Other examples of the potential technical and economic advantages of small scale are cited.^Many of the points of this paper were drawn from Mr. Lovins` article in the October issue of Foreign Affairs, ``Energy Strategy: The Road Not Taken`` (for abstract, see EAPA 3:566).^(LMT)
Country of PublicationUnited States
LanguageEnglish
FormatPages: 25-27
System Entry Date2001 May 13

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