Renewable Energy

The International Energy Agency recognises that the world’s energy system is at a crossroads:

“Current global trends in energy supply and consumption are patently unsustainable – environmentally, economically, socially... It is not an exaggeration to claim that the future of human prosperity depends on how successfully we tackle the two central energy challenges facing us today: securing the supply of reliable and affordable energy; and effecting a rapid transformation to a low-carbon, efficient and environmentally benign system of energy supply.  What is needed is nothing short of an energy revolution.

On current trends, energy-related emissions of carbon-dioxide and other greenhouse gases will rise inexorably, pushing up average global temperatures by as much as 6ºC in the long term.  The Kyoto Protocol runs out in 2012, having achieved only mixed results. The States Parties need to negotiate a new robust global-climate policy regime and to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions when they meet to replace Kyoto in Copenhagen later this year.  The energy sector must play a central role in curbing emissions – through major improvements in efficiency and rapid switching to renewables and other low-carbon technologies, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS).  Key to any successful change to the global energy system is effective implementation.  Any scenario for irreversibly controlling climate change involves major future investment in the use of renewable resources.

Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources which are naturally replenished.  Climate change concerns, coupled with concerns about future energy security and scarcity are driving national and local governments to invest heavily in the sector through direct financial support, legislative action, incentives and commercialisation.  As the momentum builds, there is clearly an opportunity for change:

“Renewable energy provides our planet a chance to reduce carbon emissions, clean the air, and put our civilization on a more sustainable footing.  It also offers countries around the world the chance to improve their energy security and spur economic development.