{"id":328,"date":"2022-02-10T16:15:02","date_gmt":"2022-02-10T16:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/?p=328"},"modified":"2022-02-10T16:25:24","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T16:25:24","slug":"societies-potential-new-lifeline-to-sustainability-100-renewable-energy-in-our-lifetime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/2022\/02\/10\/societies-potential-new-lifeline-to-sustainability-100-renewable-energy-in-our-lifetime\/","title":{"rendered":"Society’s potential new lifeline to sustainability \u2013 100% renewable energy in our lifetime?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By William Loughlin –\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018Renewable\u00a0 technologies\u00a0 are\u00a0 considered\u00a0 clean\u00a0 sources\u00a0 of\u00a0 energy, optimal\u00a0 use\u00a0 of\u00a0 these\u00a0 resources\u00a0 minimise\u00a0 environmental\u00a0 impacts\u2019\u00a0 [1]. With\u00a0 increasing\u00a0 threats\u00a0 of\u00a0 climate\u00a0 change\u00a0 is\u00a0 renewable\u00a0 energy \u00a0(RE)\u00a0 really\u00a0 up\u00a0 to\u00a0the\u00a0 task\u00a0 of\u00a0 filling \u00a0our \u00a0insatiable\u00a0 thirst\u00a0 for\u00a0 energy? Furthermore, the current\u00a0 global\u00a0 energy\u00a0 demand\u00a0 being\u00a0fulfilled\u00a0 \u201814%\u2019 [2] by\u00a0 renewable\u00a0 energy\u00a0 (RE)\u00a0 resources\u00a0 such\u00a0 as\u00a0 \u2018solar,\u00a0 hydropower,\u00a0 wind\u00a0 power,\u00a0 geothermal\u00a0 energy\u00a0 and\u00a0 bioenergy\u2019 [2] (Image 1).\u00a0 How\u00a0 can\u00a0 our\u00a0 societies\u00a0 make \u00a0global\u00a0 efforts\u00a0 by\u00a0 achieving\u00a0 100%\u00a0 green\u00a0 energy\u00a0 in \u00a0our\u00a0 lifetimes\u00a0 or\u00a0 is\u00a0 this\u00a0 an\u00a0 impossible\u00a0 task?\u00a0 This\u00a0 blog\u00a0 will\u00a0 explore\u00a0 this\u00a0 question\u00a0 to\u00a0 help \u00a0understand\u00a0the \u00a0challenges\u00a0 and\u00a0 what\u00a0 we,\u00a0 as\u00a0 a\u00a0 global\u00a0 community,\u00a0 can\u00a0 do\u00a0 about\u00a0 them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 1: Renewable energy sources (Getty images)<\/p><\/div>\n

To\u00a0 understand\u00a0 whether \u00a0RE\u00a0 can\u00a0 uptake\u00a0 the\u00a0 full\u00a0 energy\u00a0 demand\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 global\u00a0 community\u00a0 We\u00a0 must\u00a0 firstly\u00a0determine\u00a0 the\u00a0 extent\u00a0 of\u00a0 current\u00a0 levels\u00a0 of\u00a0 (RE) \u00a0and\u00a0 whether sources\u00a0\u00a0 can\u00a0 be\u00a0 changed\u00a0 to\u00a0 increase\u00a0 the\u00a0 uses\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 future. A paper in Energy Policies<\/em>\u00a0 considers\u00a0 current\u00a0 rates\u00a0 of\u00a0 RE \u00a0[2].\u00a0 The authors \u00a0\u00a0researched\u00a0 into\u00a0current\u00a0 rates\u00a0 of\u00a0 RE\u00a0 usages\u00a0 to\u00a0 determine\u00a0 whether\u00a0 future\u00a0 energy\u00a0 sources\u00a0 will\u00a0 be\u00a0 fully\u00a0 RE.\u00a0 They\u00a0 have\u00a0 achieved\u00a0 this\u00a0 by\u00a0 using\u00a0 archived\u00a0 data\u00a0 of\u00a0 percentages\u00a0 of\u00a0 RE\u00a0 to\u00a0 show \u00a0the\u00a0 trends\u00a0 in\u00a0 outputs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Table\u00a0 1\u00a0 shows \u00a0(RE)\u00a0 levels\u00a0 are\u00a0 currently\u00a0 low. However it\u00a0 does\u00a0 show\u00a0 increasing\u00a0 usage\u00a0 over\u00a0 time\u00a0 due\u00a0 to\u00a0 new\u00a0 technology.\u00a0 Ultimately\u00a0 requiring\u00a0 \u00a0increased\u00a0 time\u00a0 for\u00a0 new\u00a0 engineers\u00a0 to\u00a0 become\u00a0 more\u00a0 efficient\u00a0 at\u00a0 building\u00a0 these\u00a0 techniques \u00a0therefore\u00a0 becoming\u00a0 cheaper\u00a0 over\u00a0 time.\u00a0 The\u00a0 main\u00a0 fact\u00a0 is,\u00a0 the\u00a0 primary\u00a0 research\u00a0 shown \u00a0in \u00a0the\u00a0academic\u00a0 paper\u00a0 [2]\u00a0 gives\u00a0 decisive\u00a0 evidence\u00a0 that\u00a0 renewable\u00a0 resources\u00a0 are\u00a0 effective\u00a0 but\u00a0 are\u00a0 a\u00a0 new\u00a0technology\u00a0 in\u00a0 our\u00a0 present. \u00a0\u201cRenewable\u00a0 energy\u00a0 (RE) offers\u00a0 the\u00a0 strongest\u00a0 prospect\u00a0 for\u00a0 both\u00a0 mitigating\u00a0 climate\u00a0 change\u00a0 and\u00a0 replacing\u00a0 fossil fuels.\u201d [2].\u00a0 Due\u00a0 to\u00a0 the\u00a0 rising\u00a0 RE\u00a0 rates\u00a0 shown\u00a0 by\u00a0 table\u00a0 1.\u00a0 It\u00a0 could\u00a0 be\u00a0 argued\u00a0 that\u00a0RE\u00a0 has\u00a0 been\u00a0 implemented\u00a0 into\u00a0 our\u00a0 society, \u00a0during\u00a0 the \u00a0last\u00a0 decade\u00a0 and\u00a0 seems\u00a0 at\u00a0 the\u00a0 moment,\u00a0 our\u00a0 best\u00a0 strategy\u00a0 against\u00a0 climate\u00a0 change.\u00a0 \u201cHowever, \u00a0RE \u00a0sources \u00a0differ \u00a0in \u00a0many \u00a0important \u00a0ways \u00a0from \u00a0fossil \u00a0fuels, \u00a0particularly \u00a0in that \u00a0they \u00a0are \u00a0energy \u00a0flows \u00a0rather \u00a0than \u00a0stocks.\u201d [2].<\/span><\/p>\n

Efficiency\u00a0 is\u00a0 another\u00a0 important\u00a0 factor, \u00a0that \u00a0must\u00a0 be\u00a0 raised\u00a0 in \u00a0order\u00a0 to\u00a0 judge\u00a0 whether\u00a0 current\u00a0 RE\u00a0 techniques\u00a0can\u00a0 upkeep\u00a0 future\u00a0 energy\u00a0 sources.\u00a0 The\u00a0 paper\u00a0 also\u00a0 researched\u00a0 the\u00a0 efficiency\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 global\u00a0 energy\u00a0 network\u00a0 into\u00a0 where\u00a0 all\u00a0 RE\u00a0 is\u00a0 being\u00a0 put\u00a0 into.\u00a0 Asking\u00a0 the\u00a0 question,\u00a0 is\u00a0 this\u00a0 energy\u00a0 output\u00a0 being\u00a0 fully\u00a0 utilised?\u00a0 Figure\u00a0 1\u00a0 from\u00a0 [2]\u00a0 research\u00a0 paper\u00a0 demonstrates\u00a0 a\u00a0 visual\u00a0 representation\u00a0 of\u00a0 current\u00a0 energy\u00a0 output\u00a0 flows\u00a0 through\u00a0 a\u00a0 flow\u00a0 chart \u00a0giving\u00a0 a\u00a0 visual\u00a0 representation\u00a0 of\u00a0 RE\u00a0 output\u00a0 efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n

To\u00a0 conclude,\u00a0 the\u00a0 research\u00a0 into\u00a0 RE\u00a0 future\u00a0 potential\u00a0 by\u00a0 looking\u00a0 at\u00a0 archival\u00a0 data\u00a0 of\u00a0 percentages\u00a0 of\u00a0 RE\u00a0 and\u00a0 measuring\u00a0 the\u00a0 efficiency\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 global\u00a0 RE network\u00a0 proves\u00a0 RE\u00a0 is\u00a0 the\u00a0 next\u00a0 step.\u00a0 For\u00a0 the\u00a0 public,\u00a0 it\u00a0 represents\u00a0 a\u00a0 solution\u00a0 to\u00a0 fossil\u00a0 fuel\u00a0 power;\u00a0 cleaning\u00a0 our\u00a0 air\u00a0 and\u00a0 reducing\u00a0 overall\u00a0 climate\u00a0 impacts.\u00a0 Finally\u00a0 putting\u00a0 our\u00a0 minds\u00a0 at\u00a0 rest\u00a0 about\u00a0 our\u00a0 overall\u00a0 power\u00a0 usages \u00a0effects,\u00a0 on\u00a0 our\u00a0 planet.<\/span><\/p>\n

References and further reading<\/u><\/p>\n

[1] \u00a0Panwar, N.L., Kaushik, S.C. and Kothari, S., (2011). \u2018Role of renewable energy sources \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0in environmental protection: A review.<\/em>\u00a0Renewable and sustainable energy reviews\u2019,\u00a015(3), pp.1513-1524.<\/em><\/p>\n

[2] \u00a0Moriarty, P. and Honnery, D., (2016). \u2018Can renewable energy power the future?.\u00a0Energy \u00a0policy,\u00a093, pp.3-7.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

[3]\u00a0 BP, B.P., (2018). BP statistical review of world energy (2018).\u00a0https:\/\/www. bp. com\/en\/global\/corporate\/energy-economics\/statistical-review-of-world-energy. html (accessed on 26 Nov 21 ). <\/em>Sustainability,\u00a010(3195), p.17. [26.11.21].<\/p>\n

[4]\u00a0 iStock by Getty images., (2004) Renewable resources: Biomass, Hydro, Solar, Wind stock photo. https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/biomass-hydro-solar-wind [26.11.21].<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By William Loughlin –\u00a0 \u2018Renewable\u00a0 technologies\u00a0 are\u00a0 considered\u00a0 clean\u00a0 sources\u00a0 of\u00a0 energy, optimal\u00a0 use\u00a0 of\u00a0 these\u00a0 resources\u00a0 minimise\u00a0 environmental\u00a0 impacts\u2019\u00a0 [1]. With\u00a0 increasing\u00a0 threats\u00a0 of\u00a0 climate\u00a0 change\u00a0 is\u00a0 renewable\u00a0 energy \u00a0(RE)\u00a0 really\u00a0 up\u00a0 to\u00a0the\u00a0 task\u00a0 of\u00a0 filling \u00a0our \u00a0insatiable\u00a0 thirst\u00a0 for\u00a0 energy? Furthermore, the current\u00a0 global\u00a0 energy\u00a0 demand\u00a0 being\u00a0fulfilled\u00a0 \u201814%\u2019 [2] by\u00a0 renewable\u00a0 energy\u00a0 (RE)\u00a0…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1374,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[56,17],"class_list":["post-328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-renewable-energy","tag-renewable-energy","tag-sustainability"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1374"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=328"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":333,"href":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328\/revisions\/333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/lec101blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}