Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Outline
1. Introduction
-- What is the challenge?
2. Problems of energy
3. Impetus/context to renewable energy
regime/drive :
4. Energy resources
5. Conclusion
Introduction
What is the challenge
- Dependence on fossil fuels. vs. desire low-carbon
- The problem of political will?
Energy Problems I
The Environmental Dimension
Transport- oil spills eg. 1989, 10 million gallons of
crude oil leaked from Exxon Valdez tanker
off Alaska.
use -Greenhouse gas effects, from carbon dioxide
produced in the burning of fuels has effect on
climate change
Disposal- fuel rods used in nuclear plants disposed of
as radioactive wastes [high exposure to
humans can cause birth defects, cancer, death]
Energy Problems II
The Economic Dimension
Industrial economy,
Social conveniences
The National Security Dimenion
Rise of militant nationalism in worlds gas
stations
Vulnerability among worlds leading oil
consumers
Impact 1973 OPEC embargo
Depletion/supply concerns
- Oil-rich nations using more energy
and cutting imports
- Not shortage
- Political sources: energy indep.
Sources of Energy
Coal
Uses: electricity, heating, cooking, industry?
Advantages: abundant, cheap.
Environmental impacts of Coal
[the high cost of cheap coal; i.e. the politics of costing: who counts]
Air pollution
SO2, NOx,
CO2 emissions
Most carbon intensive fuel
High percentage of global CO2 emissions
Mining impacts
Safety.
Health water around the mines
Disposal of byproducts
Clean coal: technology = Carbon sequestration
Issues: Cost; escape and safety, diverts resources
Natural Gas
Cleanest burning of all fossil fuels
Most efficient
World production and reserves continue to rise
Largest reservoirs: Russia [former Soviet] 31%, Mid.
East 31%.
Known reserves 60 year supply at current use rates
Dependence on foreign countries
Environmental Impacts of Natural Gas
-Pipeline construction and leaks
-Emissions of greenhouse gas:
- Flares
Nuclear Power
About 5% global energy consumption.
Problems in its development
- Decline in public acceptance
- High cost [U.S., govt heavy subsidy, especially insurance liability]
Env. impacts of Nuclear Energy
Does not emit NOx, SO2, CO2
Accidents:
-Three Mile Island plant, PA (1979)
- Chernobyl (1989)
- Proponents: 19th C. Britain over 100,000 died in coal mines.
Nuclear Waste [big debate, but also, source of revenue to some]
On site storage
Russias Far East
Yucca Mountain site?
Nuclear waste trade
Oil
% Global world production
e.g.- Saudi Arabi 25; Iraq 9; UAE 9;Iran 9
Kuwait 10; Venezuela 7; US 2.8; Mexico 4.7
Environmental Impacts of oil
Gas flaring
Pipeline leaks
CO2 emissions
Air pollution: SO2, NOx, O3
Oil spills: Exxon Valdez [1989]
- almost assured because of distributional
conflicts e.g. Niger Delta Oil
Energy Efficiency
Constraints on Energy Efficiency
Policy Failures
- Subsidies and artificially low prices
- Not regulating externalities: e.g. pollution
- Electoral politics-special interests problem
Limited access to ICT [Information, Communication,
and Technology]
- Income/markets, information flow
Collective action problems
-hence policy failures persist
- Sectors
-agriculture, small industry, homes, schools, and
other community needs.
Wind
Fastest growing worlds renewable energy resource
- 28 % worldwide in 2007.
- Annual capacity additions increased: 40 % higher in
2007 cf to 2006.
- Europe leads world in installed capacity
- 1991 US DOE three states: N. Dakota, Kansas, and
Texas had enough to satisfy national electricity needs.
Advance in turbine tech. suggests more [not just
electricity]
-
Criticism/Fears of Biofuels
Long-term effects on
agriculture.
And the environment
- process of producing biofuels
cultivation, fertilisation, harvesting,
transportation could introduce parallel
carbon emissions.
What could a price war with fossil fuel mean?
Promising trends
Provisions in US Energy Bill.
- meet certain greenhouse gas emissions requirements.
-emission reductions have to be based on lifecycle studies
- administrator should re-evaluate conditions annually
and adjust the fuel mandate and
emissions requirements
Similar views elsewhere mirror U.S. view
eg. Brazil Forum consensus
Other Example
- Jatropha
Conclusions
What policies are needed to
advance renewable energy?
- reduce subsidies for
conventional energy and
incorporate external costs
(leveling the playing field)
Question of Political will and the right policies [who
is the problem?].
- Promising examples
- Tanzanial Fuel briquettes.
- Chinas cow-dung
methane power plant