Our World Foundation

c.Kartik Shinde UNEP /Topham Picturepoint

Solutions

'Despite world scientists identifying the need to reduce CO2 emissions by 60% on 1990 levels this century - emissions are projected to increase by 70% on today's levels by 2030. This would constitute nearly a 90% increase on 1990's emissions. (WEO2002/IEA)

We have to change our source of energy and electricity from fossil fuels, oil, coal and gas, to RENEWABLE ENERGY to stop our world warming irretrievably..

c.1999 Topham / UNEP

Renewable Energy

Despite the damage that is currently being caused to our world's atmosphere and climate - and the complexity, range and extent of the repercussions caused - the ultimate solution to global warming and climate change is essentially simplistic - We largely only have to change our source of energy to renewable energy to stop our world warming.

Fossil fuels - oil, coal and gas, used to supply the world's energy including electricity and transport, are releasing carbon dioxide into our atmosphere thus causing our world's temperatures to rise and the climate to change with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Renewable energy - solar, wind, wave, tidal, marine current, wave, biomass, geothermal and hydro are provided within Nature, but do not cause the damage of fossil fuels . They simply utilise the energy within nature to supply energy to Man.

We need to change our source of energy and electricity to renewable energy and the number of people changing to renewable energy supplies has to be significant or the tide of change may not occur in time.

Renewable Energy Sources

Renewable energy could perhaps be better phrased as CLEAN NEW ENERGY - taking the energy that exists within Nature to power our world.

Renewable energy includes those forms of energy that we cannot deplete or that are quick to regenerate and include solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, biofuels, ocean energy and hydrogen power. Some are as cheap as oil, coal and gas whilst others need an increase in demand to bring down the price to make them cost-effective with fossil fuels.

When considering cost however - we should also perhaps consider what is our world worth - atmosphere, bearable temperatures, flood or drought free territories, human life, biodiversity and species can not be costed for they are irreplaceable -

Solar Energy

In forty minutes enough energy reaches Earth from the sun as is required for our world usage in a whole year. If we can harness this energy economically it can provide all the energy Mankind needs.

SOLAR ELECTRIC OR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS convert some of the energy in sunlight directly into electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made predominantly of silicon and produce an electrical current when sunlight strikes them. Such systems need little maintenance and have a lifetime of 20-30 years. Small PV systems can be used particularly in developing countries providing electricity in rural regions.

Hitherto solar photovoltaic power has proven too costly because of the present limited demand which relates back to cost - if production could be significantly increased then costs would fall. Greenpeace undertook a report which found that if a 500 MW solar plant were built producing 5m solar panels annually at a capital plant cost of £0.5bn then the cost of the solar panels could be cost effective with fossil fuel sourced electricity supplies.

SOLAR THERMAL systems concentrate heat and transfer it to a fluid. The heat is then used to warm buildings, heat water, generate electricity, dry crops or destroy dangerous waste. The German Aerospace Centre DLR's research found that if 1% (140 miles x 140 miles) of the area of North Africa were covered with solar thermal mirrors this could provide 130% of global electricity at competitive prices. (FOE Cymru)

Wind Power

c. Neil Crumpton, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Wind energy uses the power of the wind to generate electricity, charge batteries, pump water or grind grain. Modern wind turbines produce electricity, which is used by utility companies. Small domestic turbines can be used by homeowners and remote villages to help supply energy. In 1800 there were over 10,000 windmills operating in the UK - they are again beginning to gain popularity today.

Wind turbines capture the wind's energy with two or three blades that are set upon a rotar to generate electricity. The turbines sit on top of high towers - the turning rotor then generates electricity.

Greenpeace affirms that offshore wind could provide three times the UK's electricity needs. Windpower is the world's fastest growing energy technology.

Ocean Power

c.1999 Topham Picturepoint

The world's oceans could provide Mankind with vast amounts of natural energy.

The ocean provides thermal energy from the sun's heat as well as mechanical energy from the tides, currents and waves.

THERMAL ENERGY - The oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface and absorb thermal energy, the sun's heat. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Systems convert this thermal energy into electricity whilst often also producing desalinated water as a byproduct.

TIDAL POWER - Tidal power uses the power contained in the tides to generate electricity. Tidal energy traditionally involves building a dam across a tidal basin or can also involve the building of a circular lagoon.

The dam or lagoon has a sluice, which opens so that the tide flows into the basin. The sluice is closed and as sea level drops, hydropower technologies are used to generate electricity from the higher water in the basin.

WAVE POWER - There are three different systems of wave power - channel systems that direct the waves into reservoirs, float systems which power hydraulic pumps and oscillating water column systems which use the waves to compress air in a container. The power created from these different types of systems activates a generator or transfers to a working fluid, air or water, which then turns a turbine/generator.

MARINE CURRENT TURBINES use the ocean's tidal currents to generate electricity using turbines in the sea to harness the energy streams of the world's oceans. This has the potential to produce extensive amounts of clean power.

Bioenergy

Bioenergy technologies use renewable biomass to produce electricity and to provide fuels and heat. Biomass includes energy crops and trees, agricultural food, agricultural crop wastes, wood wastes, aquatic plants, animal wastes, municipal wastes and other waste materials. Fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, methanol, hydrogen and methane can be produced from biomass.

Approx 10% of global energy comes from this source of energy providing power to over one third of the world population.

Hydropower

Hyrdropower takes the energy from running water and turns it into electricity. The most popular hydropower plant dams a river in order to store water in a reservoir. As water is released from the reservoir, it flows through a turbine turning it and activating a generator to produce electricity. Other hydropower plants use just a small channel to funnel the water through a turbine. Another type of plant called a pumped storage plant stores power - water is pumped from a river or lower reservoir to an upper reservoir where the power is stored. When extra power is required, the water is released from the upper reservoir back down into the river or lower reservoir, spinning turbines and so activating generators to produce electricity.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is energy from the heat of the Earth. Geothermal energy can be found in shallow ground and in hot water and hot rock found miles beneath the Earth's surface - deeper still is molten rock or magma. Geothermal heat pumps tap into the energy found in the upper ten feet of ground whilst hot dry rock three to five miles deep can be accessed by injecting cold water down a well, letting it circulate through hot rock fissures and extracting the heated water from another well. At present the high temperature magma is with current technologies inaccessible. In time, however, this may provide another source of renewable energy.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is always found combined with other elements such as water from hydrogen and oxygen. Hyrdrocarbons in fuels such gasoline, natural gas, methanol and propane also contain hydrogen, which can be separated by applying heat. Hydrogen is an excellent energy source and produces almost no pollution when burnt - NASA has used liquid hydrogen for the last thirty years to send the space shuttle and other rockets into space using hydrogen fuel cells which produce water as a by product, which the crew drank. A fuel cell is much like a battery that is constantly replenished by adding fuel to it but never loses its charge - Fuel cells can be used as a source of heat and electricity for buildings and as an electrical power source for electric vehicles. Although they would ideally run off pure hydrogen, it is likely that in the near term they will be fuelled with natural gas, methanol, or even gasoline. In the future hydrogen could also join electricity as an important energy carrier - hydrogen can be stored until it is needed and can be transported to where it is needed.

Some believe that the future will be driven by a a hydrogen economy.

Cost Comparisons

The tables below shows the comparative costs of the different energy sources as provided by different parties:

Electricity Generating Costs For Various Alternatives

Euro cents/kWh (1990 values)	Coal*	Gas Combined Cycle	Bioenergy	Wind	Solar PV	Nuclear
Austria	3.6	3.4	3.6	7.2	64.0	5.9
Belgium	3.2	2.8	3.7	7.2	64.0	4.0
Denmark	3.6	2.9	3.9	6.7	85.3	5.9
Finland	3.2	2.6	3.9	7.2	85.3	3.8
France	3.2	3.2	4.0	7.2	51.2	3.4
Germany	3.2	3.5	4.3	6.8	64.0	5.1
Greece	3.5	3.5	4.0	7.2	51.2	4.6
Ireland	3.2	3.2	4.5	7.2	85.3	4.7
Italy	3.2	3.4	4.0	7.2	51.2	5.0
The Netherlands	3.6	2.6	4.0	7.2	64.0	5.1
Portugal	3.2	3.4	4.3	7.2	51.2	5.9
Spain	3.6	3.5	4.3	7.1	51.2	4.7
Sweden	3.6	3.3	3.4	7.2	85.3	4.7
United Kingdom	3.2	2.6	3.8	7.2	64.0	4.3

* Pressurised Fluidised Bed Combustion
Note: Production costs are for power generation at 7,000 hours and exclude excise taxes and subsidies.
Source: Commission of the European Communities (2000)

Future Power Generation Cost Estimates

Technology	2020 cost p/kWh
Solar PV	10-16
Onshore Wind	1.5-2.5
Offshore Wind	2.0-4.0
Energy Crops	3.0-4.0
Wave	3.0-6.0
CCGT	1.8-2.1
Fuel Cells	Unclear
CHP	1.6-2.4
Micro CHP	2.0-3.0
Coal (lGCC)	3.0-3.6
Fossil generation with CO2 C&G	3.0-4.5
Nuclear	3.0-4.5

Source: Performance & Innovation Unit UK Government

Energy Review Advisory Group 2001

Renewable Energy Projections

Despite the critical need for global society to transfer to renewable energy to imminently significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions the rate of transfer to renewable energy is relatively slow and projections to 2030/2050 suggest little may change by then -

The International Energy Outlook 2003 projects world energy consumption will increase by 58% between 2001 to 2025, with renewable energy projected to only increase by 1.9% pa during the same period.

The International Energy Agency projects that with continuation of present government policies and no major breakthroughs in technologies, renewables would grow by 1.3% pa (below the 1.7% overall growth of the total energy demand) over the next 30 years. In this scenario the world share of renewables would decline from 13.8% in 2000 to 12.5% in 2030 due to world energy growth exceeding renewables growth.

The World Energy Council projects that by 2050 renewable energy will supply at best only 35% of global primary energy, at worse 22%. By 2050 they project fossil fuels will still be the dominant source of global energy.

All of these projections anticipate that renewable energy is not likely to take over from fossil fuels in the coming decades or even by 2050 which would mean CO2 levels will continue to rise as we increase our use of fossil fuels based on increased energy consumption.

Within the EU the European Parliament has now formally accepted the new Renewables Directive which sets voluntary targets for EU countries towards an overall goal of obtaining 12.5% of the EU electricity from renewables by 2010. These figures exclude large hydro.

EU countries renewables targets (% of electricity generated renewably)

	1997 actual (including hydro)	2010 targets (excluding hydro)
Denmark	Not available	29
Finland	24.7	21.7
Portugal	38.5	21.5
Austria	72.7	21.5
Spain	19.9	17.5
Sweden	Not available	15.7
Italy	16	14.9
Greece	8.6	14.5
Netherlands	3.5	12
Ireland	3.6	11.7
Germany	4.5	10.3
UK	1.7	9.3
France	15	8.9
Belgium	1.1	5.8
Luxembourg	2.1	5.7

Source: European Commission

The above targets are for electricity generation but electricity is only a fraction of total energy consumption - in the UK electricity accounts for approx 1/6 of total energy consumption - hence a target for example of 10% of electricity from renewable energy in fact is no more than 1/10 x 1/6 = 1/60 of total energy supply which is less than 2% of total energy consumption - If the majority of our energy and electricity and transport fuels continue to come from fossil fuels our world will continue to warm ...

It is necessary for decadal energy rather than electricity targets to be set to 2050 by which time developed countries need to procure approx 60-80% of their energy from sustainable energy sources rather than fossil fuels. It is necessary for developed nations to lead in the transfer to alternative energy sources before developing countries expand using fossil fuels.

Energy Efficiency

Renewable energy may be considered the primary solution to global warming and climate change for unless we stop using fossil fuels and signifincantly transfer to renewables our world will continue to warm in the critical century ahead.

The saving of energy does have an important role to play however in slowing the global warming process - if we use less energy, we produce less greenhouse gas emissions and therefore climate change is stalled. Nevertheless developed nations should not rely primarily on energy efficiency as their means of reducing their emissions, for if developed nations do not significantly transfer to renewable energy in the decades ahead then the developing world will continue to expand using oil, coal and gas and we will not stop climate change. In the decades to come these developing countries are projected to become the majority consumers of global energy and hence developed nations must take the lead in transferring to renewables, to set the lead and example with the objective that this will prompt an energy switch in developing countries.

Saving Energy

If less energy is used then less greenhouse gases are produced -

1. THE INDIVIDUAL

Every house in the UK releases 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year but each individual can play his/her part in reducing the energy they use by :

Using energy efficient light bulbs in the home which use a quarter of the energy of conventional bulbs and last eight times as long
Turning off lights when not in a room
Buying energy efficient domestic appliances - washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ovens and stoves - some of which use only 50% of the electricity of conventional appliances
Either waiting till there is a full load for the washing machine or running it on a half load programme - More energy is conserved if a lower temperature is used which works just as well - higher temperatures are only necessary with difficult stains
Running a dishwasher on lower temperatures
Turning the thermostat down 1C
Replacing a boiler if more than fifteen years old - a new boiler would reduce bills by 20% -
Also heating controls can save energy and money - a reduction of 1C on a thermostat can reduce electricity bills by 10%
Using the right size pots and pans with just enough water inside and putting the lid on saves energy
Insulating walls, lofts and draught proofing doors and windows can save up to 20% off electricity bills
Shutting the fridge door quickly - if the fridge is open for one minute it takes three minutes to then regain the temperature inside the fridge once the door is closed
Using a shower rather than a bath, as a shower uses only two fifths of the water that a bath uses
Putting a jacket on the hot water tanks
Using only as much water as is needed in the kettle rather than boiling a whole kettles worth
Switching off the stereo, TV or video when they are not being used
Using recycled paper products - note pads, printer paper, writing paper and envelopes as well as low grade recycled toilet paper
Walking, biking or using pubic transport when you can instead of using the car
Car sharing with colleagues/parents working or driving to schools in the same locality

2. BUSINESS & INDUSTRY

Business and industry can save energy by :

Transferring the electricity supply to a renewable energy supplier which will also exempt the business from the climate change levy in the UK.
Ensuring there is adequate insulation in buildings and efficient heating and cooling systems
Using compact fluorescent energy efficient light bulbs
Using Lightswitch which provides rebates for small businesses up to £6,000 in the UK for installation of efficient lighting controls
Using combined heat and power systems
Using Powershift which gives grants to support help with the purchase of vehicles that are proven to offer emission benefits

3. TRANSPORTATION

Emissions can be reduced in transportation by :

Using lightweight materials - plastics, composites, lightweight metals, ceramics and catalysts to build cars
Reducing vehicle miles travelled
Using public transport, biking or walking rather than using private cars
Sharing car trips where possible

Please go to www.est.co.uk - the Energy Savings Trust and www.thecarbontrust.co.uk which will give further details of how to save energy and the grants that are available to assist both domestic and business consumers.

4. ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Vehicle emissions are responsible for 20-25% of global carbon dioxide emissions and is a growing sector. Fuels that replace fossil fuels or part replace fossil fuels will reduce these emissions. This is possible by:

4.1 Using improved petroleum based fuels and vehicles

4.2 Alternative fuels such as natural gas, ethanol, methanol, propane, hydrogen

4.3 Alternative fuel vehicles that are powered by fuel cells

Carbon Sequestration

Another means of reducing green house gas emissions is carbon sequestration - capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions.

Carbon dioxide can be captured either by removing it from flue gases in power stations or the fossil fuel feedstock in a gasification plant can be converted to carbon dioxide and hydrogen using steam. The carbon dioxide can then be removed and hydrogen can be used as a fuel.

Carbon can be stored or sequestrated either by pumping it into old oil or gas wells or deep saline reservoirs or coal seams. It has also been proposed that it could be pumped into the deep ocean albeit this requires further research.

Carbon sequestration may be considered perhaps a short term measure whilst we make the transfer to renewable energy - it can help to reduce existing carbon dioxide emissions at a cost.

Nuclear Energy

We are at an energy crossroads - our past energy source being fossil fuels has proven to be damaging and has to be replaced - the clean, safe alternative is renewable energy - using the energy that exists within Nature to power our world. Nuclear energy may be considered as an assistance in the interim maintaining its use at the present level and utilising existing nuclear materials until renewables come fully on line. However nuclear power should not be considered a long term solution for the following reasons :

NUCLEAR ENERGY IS NOT SAFE

Both technical and human errors within nuclear plants have caused internal and external leaks of radiation.

There is at present no fail safe -
HUMAN DEATHS AND CANCERS

Leaks from nuclear plants have been held responsible for cancers and human deaths as well as deformities in developing foetus' and babies, radiation of the environment, crops and animals.
NUCLEAR PLANTS & FUELS ARE OPEN TO TERRORIST ATTACK

The danger of terrorists flying a plane into a nuclear plant following the US September 11th incident is now a clear possibility and could cause a nuclear accident 44 times as serious as Chernobyl if directed at Sellafield in the UK.

The risk of terrorists obtaining uranium/plutonium to build a nuclear bomb is further heightened by an increase in the number of nuclear plants whilst it is also relatively easy for a disgruntled employee to sabotage a nuclear plant or steal materials for terrorist use.
NUCLEAR PLANTS ARE OPEN TO NATURAL HAZARDS

Nuclear plants are open to natural hazards such as earthquakes and creates a natural hazard which could cause significant radiation leaks.
NUCLEAR WASTE IS DANGEROUS

Plutonium has a half life of 24,000 years which means after 24,000 years only half of it has decomposed. Also the storage of nuclear waste is expensive and is also open to terrorist assault.
NUCLEAR POWER HAS PROVEN EXPENSIVE

Nuclear power has not been cost effective in the past and has had to receive vast public subsidies to support the industry whilst these monies could be re-directed to properly support a renewable energy future.
WHY DEVELOP NUCLEAR WHEN RENEWABLE ENERGY IS CLEAN AND SAFE

The greatest reason why we should not further develop nuclear power with the justification of its ability to reduce greenhouse gases is that we have a clean and cost effective alternative in renewable energy.

At this energy crossroads we must create a society that is safe and clean rather than a nuclear future which is dangerous and produces radioactive waste.

IF WE ARE TO CREATE CHANGE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE BEFORE

GLOBAL TEMPERATURES RISE TOO HIGH WE NEED THE MASS PUBLIC

AND ENERGY CONSUMER TO

PLEASE TAKE ACTION