چگالی انرژی و ردپای فضایی از سیستم های توان الکتریکی مختلف

Conventional and renewable power generators have been evaluated in order to determine their energy densities and spatial footprints on a life-cycle (or ‘cradle-to-gate’) basis. The nuclear fuel cycle (both with diffusion and centrifuge enrichment) was found to have the highest energy density, with bioenergy plants having the lowest. Onshore wind power exhibited a relatively promising energy density; being greater than that for its offshore counterpart. The energy density of the latter fell below that of solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays. Thus, renewables produce ‘dilute electricity’ overall with a spatial footprint that is orders-of-magnitude higher than for conventional sources, although there are many other sustainability criteria that will determine their usefulness in the transition towards a low carbon future.