PRACTICAL AND MORAL OUTCOMES with Renewable Energy

Transcription

1 PRACTICAL AND MORAL OUTCOMES with Renewable Energy Energising the future: Redcliffe College and JRI 12 February 2011 John Twidell AMSET Centre

2 Why practical? Because nothing energy lives moves communicates is heated or is made... without a supply of

3 Without supplies of energy, there is.. economic... commercial... domestic... biological....death

4 Why moral? Because. the context is sustainability. the enrichment of global society. safeguarding future generations. ecological integration. minimum pollution. energy security. i.e. stewardship

5 So. choice of energy supply is both practical and moral. for governments, institutions, commerce, schools, churches. for your home and mine

6 Definition Renewable Energy is energy from the natural and persistent currents of energy in the environment..e.g. sunshine, wind, rainfall Green Energy intrinsically non-polluting

7 Just think about it Using renewable energy makes us part of natural ecology; we divert energy already passing by and return it to the environment. We are not using mined materials that are intrinsically antagonistic to ecology and leave a legacy of pollution and harm.

8 Per capita renewable energy: kilowatt continuous/person on Earth solar equivalent of 20,000 one-bar heaters for each man, woman and child Reflected 8,000 kw Solar worldwide radiation per person Absorbed 20,000 kw Geothermal heat Gravitational potential 13,000 kw 50 kw absorbed as heat 7,000 kw wind, waves 5 kw heat 500 kw tides 0.2 kw water evaporation, rain & hydro flow photosynthesis (plants, crops) The Sun provides more energy to the Earth in one hour than the world population uses in one year. Efficient UK needs <4 kw/person radiation to outer space

9 So there is no shortage of renewable energy.if we have available technologies to harness it. for heat, fuels and electricity

10 Renewable energy technologies Solar radiation Geothermal heat Gravitational potential Solar water heaters, Solar buildings Concentrator power Hydro-electricity; very large (GW) to very small (100 W) Wind turbines, Wave power Fuel wood, biomass biodiesel, bioethanol, wastes Heat pumps Tidal range power; e.g. Severn estuary & Tidal stream power Photovoltaic solar cells

11 Of which the BIG THREE are: solar biomass wind There is no habited place without at least 2 of these 3 as significant resources

12 Renewable energy technologies for heat, electricity and transport fuels solar buildings solar water heating solar thermal electricity solar cell photovoltaic electricity concentrator solar thermal power solar driers solar refrigeration hydroelectricity micro-hydro wind turbines wave power biomass crops pyrolysis biofuel oils biogas sewage gas urban waste geothermal heat ground-source heat pumps tidal range power tidal stream power fuel cells

13 each of these technologies is being improved by modern science. Photovoltaics by solid-state physics, nanotechnology, mechanisms of photosynthesis.. Wind turbines by composite materials, multi-pole generators, power electronics, frequency domain control, micrositing. Solar buildings by thermal modeling, advanced glazing, heat recovery, insulating aerosols. Solar water heating by selective surfaces, stratified tanks. Biofuels by biochemical lignin and waste processing Etc.

14 Quote: This is a scenario that it is technically possible to achieve almost 100% renewable energy sources within four decades WWF Worldwide Report Feb % Renewable Energy by 2050

15 WWF reasons for 100% renewables 1.4 billion have no electricity now Oil and gas running out Climate chance already a reality (e.g. 37% species committed to extinction ) so rapidly reduce fossil CO 2 Hence dramatically reduce coal Nuclear is unethical and expensive More efficient use of energy easily possible Already in 2009: > 50% European & US new power capacity from renewables Encouraging growth in all renewables Reducing meat consumption increases crop-land Biofuel from wastes and constrained biomass crops, hence allowing adequate food production

16 with electric vehicles W W F s c e n a r I o

17 Renewables now. significant growth worldwide Top down EU 20% all energy, renewables by 2020 UK legal commitment for 90% reduction in fossil-carbon by 2050 Global carbon trading slowly happening China committed to renewables and energy efficiency, much manufacture Economies adapting Bottom up Feed-in tariffs for microgeneration in majority of industrialised countries; growth follows Trade skills training Lifestyles adapting

18 REN21 : World Status Report N.B. Total global energy use little changed 2008/20010; nuclear decreasing, fossil-fuels static, renewables increasing BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2010

19 Global electricity

20 Wind power

21 Solar photovoltaic electricity

22 Solar water heating

23 Vehicle biofuels

24 Business investment is vital Global investment PEW Bloomberg 2009 report

25 Growth rate and total of operating renewables in year 2009: REN21 Global Status Report grid solar PV...53 %/y wind power 32 %/y solar hot water 21 %/y geothermal power..4 %/y hydropower 3 %/y ethanol fuel 10 %/y biodiesel 9 %/y total 22GW total 159GW total 180GW th total 11GW total 980GW

26 World employment

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29 photovoltaic solar cell electricity. 3 kw max solar water heater Solar energy chez John and Mary Twidell, midland UK. Annual production ~ 50% electricity and ~ 50% hot water Solar water heater installed 1997, payback by PV installed 2003, payback ~2030

30 local wood fuel; domestic heating cooking dry wood store pellet stove enclosed wood-stove house boiler for radiators, heating & hot water you are all invited

31 Conclusions: renewables proven technologies most are in the market place credit for environmental and sustainable benefits favoured by world, European, national & local policies but still much to do