Engineers learn the methodology for solving problems during their studies at

university. First, you define the system and then state what must be found, and
above all – know what problem you are trying to solve. Time is wasted, and
creativity stifled, if you try to jump to a solution. But it is so tempting to over-
simplify the problem and jump to a solution.

Simple, sustainable energy solutions are easily found in a search on the

internet. Is the problem that people aren’t using enough sustainable energy,
or is the problem that they are using too much unsustainable energy?

Sustainability has been a stated goal by most organizations and businesses for
more than 30 years. The Internet is full of green technology stories attracting
thousands of Facebook shares and likes. It would be irrational for a politician
in any party to say that he or she is fighting against sustainability. Business
leaders would not call for the elimination of sustainability.

There are two mega-challenges for energy systems: the global warming
caused by combustion of fossil carbon, and the social and economic issues
of oil supply. The term mega challenges (Winston 2014) is used because all
sectors of the economies and societies of all nations are affected on a large
scale for an undeterminable time into the future, and the effects are not
positive.

I entered engineering at university in 1981. I was passionate about

sustainability and especially about sustainable energy. The Four Corners
Power Plant had been built in the previous decade and had caused serious
pollution and acidification of mountain lakes and streams in the remote and
unpopulated wilderness of its surrounding region. I wanted to figure out
how to fix polluting cars and power plants and how to change to renewable
energy.