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Renewable Energy
EnergyEnergy is used each day
by every human being on earth in one form or another. Its use
lies at the core of every aspect of societal development.
Energy is the capacity to perform work. It can be kinetic or potential.
Kinetic energy is the energy which a body possesses by virtue
of being in motion - the motion of waves, electrons, atoms, molecules,
substances and objects. Solar energy, wind energy and geothermal
energy are all forms of kinetic energy.
Potential energy is the energy possessed by a body by virtue of
its position or state. Potential energy is the energy stored in
the nucleus of an atom, or in the bonds of atoms and molecules,
as well as energy stored in objects by the application of a force.
It is also the gravitational energy conferred to a body by virtue
of its position or place. The energy derived from biomass, petroleum,
natural gas or coal is a form of (chemical) potential energy.
Nuclear power is a form of (nuclear) potential energy, while hydropower
is a form of (gravitational) potential energy. is
stored in a range of energy sources, which can be renewable or
non-renewable. Renewable sources of energy are those that can
be replenished in a short period of time, as opposed to non-renewable
sources of energySolar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy
and the energy derived from plants (often referred to as biomass),
from water funnelled through a dam, and from tides and waves are
all renewable sources of energy. Energy from oil, natural gas,
and coal (often referred to as fossil fuels), and from the nuclear
fission of uranium ore are all non-renewable sources of energy..
The use of renewable sources of energy is less polluting, compared
to that of non-renewable sourcesThe
use of non-renewable sources of energy generates greenhouse gas
emissions (from the combustion of fossil fuels) and radioactive
waste (from the fission of uranium ore). The environmental impacts
of renewable sources of energy arise mainly from the materials
used to manufacture solar and wind energy components (heavy metals
in particular) and the fragmentation of ecosystems caused by damn
development.. Specifically, increased reliance on renewable
sources of energy is a key element of efforts to avert climate
changeIt is now widely acknowledged that anthropogenic emissions
of greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide, are interfering with
the Earth's natural climate. The energy sector accounts for about
three-fifths of all emissions of greenhouse gases (land use changes
are responsible for about one-fifth, while the rest come from
agriculture practices and, to a lesser extent, waste management
and certain industrial processes).
Replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources of energy would
reduce the energy sector's contribution to carbon dioxide generation.
Expected savings from fuel switching are forecast at 10 percent
by 2050 compared to a 'business as usual' scenario (end use energy
efficiency could reduce emissions by as much as 45 percent over
the same period).
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Renewable sources of energy today make an insignificant contribution
to total energy useSolar and wind
energy accounts for less than two percent of total energy use
- a figure which seems to paint a bleak future for these technologies.
However, given that the capital stock turnover in the energy sector
is very slow - most generating facilities have 40 to 60-year operating
lives - these figures say little about today's technology choices
and even less about the future energy mix. Mostly, they give a
picture of the technology options that were available in the 1950s
through 1970s, when most of today's plants were built.
To get perspective on the current and future role of sustainable
energy technologies in the energy mix, it is more useful to look
at today's investment trends. Renewable energy accounts for a
far more significant share of power generation investment (US$
21.5 billion, or 18 percent) than it does of installed capacity
(2 percent). Renewable energy will take an increasing share of
the power sector as the US$ 25 billion in additional investment
in technology and manufacturing feeds through into installed capacity.
, compared to that of non-renewable sources. A range
of barriers hamper the widespread deploymentIn addition to issues of social acceptance and a range of administrative hurdles, renewable energy technology deployment typically has to overcome financial barriers: compared to investments in energy efficiency technologies, the pay-back times for renewable energy technologies are longer and the up-front costs are much higher. Not surprisingly, then, project developers place high importance on the stability and transparency of regulations governing power purchase agreements and, where available, feed-in tariffs.
of renewable energy technologies.
The United Nations Environment Programme helps developing country
governments break down barriers to the deployment of renewable
energy technologies:
- It undertakes assessments of solar and wind energy resources,
and commissions research studies to inform public and private
sector decision-making - with a view to breaking down information
barriers
- It works with local banks to set up end-user financing mechanisms
for renewable energy technologies and works with the international
finance industry (including banks and insurance companies) to
lower risks for larger projects - with a view to breaking down
financial barriers
- It provides advice to developing country governments on broad
policy approaches to bolster renewable sources of energy and
supports the creation of an enabling environment for small-
and micro-businesses in the area of renewable energy - with
a view to breaking policy and institutional barriers.
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All renewable energy resource assessments and associated document,
including maps and country reports, are available at swera.unep.fr
Partners
UNEP’s core partners in this work are:
The German Aerospace
Centre (DLR)
The Risoe National
Laboratory at the Danish Technical University
The United States
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
The United States
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
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