Evaluating energy systems using resource exergy analysis (REA) is key to ensure that climate targets are reached in time.
The reason for this effect is wastefulness. Wastefulness in otherwise GHG-free energy systems increases the amount of GHG-free energy supply required to cover a considered demand. That means that wastefullness leads to reduced availability of GHG-free energy converters for the rest of the energy system and overall fossil fuel use is increased.
REA allows to assess wastefulness comprehensively and thus obtain a key indicator in addition to GHG emissions, that is grounded in science, namely resource exergy consumption.
This publication provides guidelines to the application of resource exergy analysis (REA) with a focus on energy systems evaluation.
REA is a well-tested application of exergy analysis to the field of technology comparison that can replace the less comprehensive primary energy analysis and reduce the risk of suboptimal decisions.