The future of renewable energy

Renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies. It is a well known fact that currently governments throughout the world are exploring the various possibilities of renewable energy, seeking for the best way to incorporate them into their total energy budget. But still, questions such as feasibility and cost remains.

First, let’s review some of the common renewable energy which are suggested today:
1. Solar Energy – Can be used directly for heating and lighting homes and other buildings, for generating electricity, and for hot water heating.
2. Wind Energy – Captured with wind turbines and generate electricity.
3. Ocean Energy – Tidal or wave energy, which are driven by both the tides and the winds.
4. Geothermal Energy – Uses the Earth’s internal heat for electric power production
5. Bioenergy – The energy from any decomposed organic matter. Has the potential to greatly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
6. Hydrogen Energy – Can be found in many organic compounds, as well as water. Once separated from water, hydrogen can be burned as a fuel or converted into electricity.

In the UK, The total of all renewable electricity sources provided 11.3 % of the electricity generated in 2012, and predicted to rise up to 15 % by 2020. In the US, renewable electricity sources provided 13.2 % of the domestically produced electricity in 2012, using the different sources as shown in this following diagram.

US renewable energy resources - 2012 — US renewable energy resources – 2012

Latest statistics indicates that the use of renewable energy is gradually growing yearly, though will it ever replace conventional sources?. To my opinion probably not, due to renewables reletivly high cost and availability. The general world trend in energy production seems to be a combination of all the different resources such as fossil fuels, nuclear and renewable energies.
In the future, with advanced and cheeper technologies, renewables will probably be more affordable and hopefully will increase their portion as a resource and replace the use of fossil fuels.

Watch this interesting video to learn more about the future of energy:

6 Responses to "The future of renewable energy"

Richard says:

November 6, 2014 at 5:54 pm

This video from Cambridge is a great, easy to understand summary of the issues and the opportunities. Unfortunately public debate and press interest has polarised into those who just want to ignore the issue (or deny it exists) and those who want to push a particular technical solution. The right way forward will be a balance of solutions. Electrical generation needs to be de-carbonised, transport will probably need to be electrified and renewable heat options developed. In addition the cutting and burning of carbon sinks ie forests and the pollution of the oceans needs to be stopped ASAP so plants can continue to soak up and “recycle” CO2. Even if we become more efficient users or energy electrical usage is likely to continue to rise so 100% renewable will be very difficult to achieve – I believe a balance of 33% renewal, 33% nuclear and 33% gas with CCS would be a sensible target. There is no place for coal in my view.
But we need to hurry up as the longer we leave it the more expensive it will become! I have found a book called 2052 by Prof Jorgen Randers to be very useful in understanding how the world will change in the next 40 years – have a look at it.

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Lee says:

February 23, 2014 at 3:11 pm

I very much enjoyed your video, and I agree that all the renewable energy sources should be thoroughly explored and used, depending on the locations and circumstances so that we can phase out or at least very much decrease our use on fossil fuels. However, while this is necessary, I feel that the main cause of global warming, and one that no-one ever mentions, is population increase, and until someone brave focusses on that the dangers facing us will probably continue.

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Eric Attias says:

February 15, 2014 at 6:39 pm

Hi Judy & Laura,

I agree with you both. Renewable energy will probably improve and be more economical in the future, but it’s still won’t answer all of the world increasing demand for energy, unless the way we utilize energy will fundamentally change. I also think that nuclear power is the most cost effective and clean way to produce energy that we currently have. Focusing on the Fukushima disaster as an example for the “merits” of nuclear power is probably biased and wrong. We can take example from countries like France that 75% of its annual energy comes from nuclear power plants, or Germany with about 20%. When nuclear power plants are well maintained and evidently aren’t situated in tectonically active zones, they are safe and efficient energy suppliers, at least to my view.

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Laura says:

February 15, 2014 at 1:45 pm

I agree with the previous sentiments. In order to really make a change reguarding the choices we use to provide and generate energy. It would be almost impossible to only exist using renewable forms of energy unless the way people use energy is changed also.

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Judy Hemingway says:

February 14, 2014 at 9:33 pm

Renewable energy video: Yes, renewables undoubtedly have their place in future energy supply as do the other variables mentioned (better and new technologies, changing demand etc). The video, however, only presented a well-rehearsed binary argument (fossil fuels bad, renewables good) and captured only one extremely brief comment on nuclear power.

I know that Week 2 of the MOOC has stimulated discussion surrounding the negative effects of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster which was caused by an earthquake and associated tsumani, but I think the positive aspects of nuclear power shouldn’t be as underplayed as they were in this video. On the other hand, perhaps they’ve not picked up any research funding for investigations into nuclear power at Cambridge University.

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1. Judy Hemingway says:
  
  February 14, 2014 at 10:14 pm
  
  Forgot to mention in my posting above that the contribution on changing demand (re-using steel girders, making things last longer etc.) did go some way to challenging an otherwise two-sided argument. However, in many less affluent countries these things are already done.
  
  Attitude change is important, though. Not so long ago, I saw posters in the London Underground promoting 5-a-year holidays (instead of 5-a-day portions of fruit and vegetables). Challenging such levels of consumerism would impact on energy consumption.
  
  Reply

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