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Clean Energies or Renewable Energies
In a global effort to reduce the greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions, a new wide range of energy options for climate
change mitigations are available. They are the clean or renewable energies,
only some of which are
cost effective compared to conventional fossil fuel energy
production. The usual
problem faced is the enormous cost, the initial up-front investments
necessary to jump-start the
energy efficient technology. But it will
save money and environment over the long haul. There is no other
option except to take this necessary first move. US President Barack Obama in May 2010, announced the new focus on his new policy on energies. He said, "Around the globe, countries are seeking an advantage in the global marketplace by investing in new ways of producing and saving energy. From China to Germany, these countries recognize that the nation that leads in the clean energy economy will lead the global economy, and I want America to be that nation,"
Through the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, new energy efficiency investments in developing countries and capacity upgrade in developed countries open vast opportunities for mutual benefits. The battle for energy will be won by those that have the foresight to wait no more. They will ultimately benefit from the new energy mechanisms while engaging to protect the global climate. Increasing access to renewable energy options offers multiple benefits:
The renewable energy options are varied and numerous. Each has its own green credentials and shortcomings too. None is without impact on the environment. The choice depends on resource suitability and availability, the mode of development, existing infrastructure and policies. In general, a diversified spectra of energy supply, including renewables and even fossil fuels is preferred.
Hydroelectric projects can be categorized as mini, micro and mega. One of the most controversial hydropower dam is the mega Three Gorges Project of China, which is considered to be the world's largest reinforced concrete hydropower dam. The project has been fervently criticized as a threat to environment, disrupting the ecosystems and habitats, source of environmental catastrophe and may endanger the millions who live near-stream. The primary objective is for control of the devastating floods which have been plaguing river bank inhabitants for the past 2000 years. The Yangtze flood in 1998 caused 4,000 lives, and 24 billion dollars worth of damage. What is wrong for China to stop the massive flooding, for generating a cleaner energy to reduce emissions! Use other options? Has not China been venturing into other options too?!
Usually, besides being utilized as a gas for cooking or other energy generation purposes, excess methane from landfills and other natural producers of methane are burned so that preferably carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere instead of methane. Releasing methane will have 25 times more potent effect than carbon dioxide over 100 years on climate change.
Wind energy is particularly popular in the EU. In China too, wind power generation increases by 7-fold with capacity of more than 6 GW as at end of 2007. Green Peace, in a research report, forecasts that by 2020, wind-generated electricity in China may reach 14% of the global wind energy output.
Environmental Impact and Drawbacks A World Bank research report published on
July 2008 found that from June 2002 to June 2008 "biofuels and the related
consequences of low grain stocks, large land use shifts, speculative
activity and export bans" accounted for 70% - 75%
of total price rises. The study said that "...large increases in biofuels production
in the United States and Europe are the main reason behind the steep
rise in global food prices"
Former US President Bush at a renewable energy
conference in Oct. 2006 at St. Louis, said, " Nuclear power is
renewable."
Here are some interesting core findings of a report on green energy technology, titled: Rising Tigers, Sleeping Giant: Asian Nations Set to Dominate Clean Energy Race by Out-Investing the United States released in November 2009 by the Breakthrough Institute and Information Technology and Innovation Foundation : The report examines the competitive position of each nation in renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, and nuclear power, carbon capture and storage, hybrid vehicles, biofuels and high-speed rail. The report also analyzes governmental strategies and participation towards clean technologies. In core, Asia's rising "clean technology tigers" -- China, Japan, and South Korea -- have already passed the US in the production of virtually all clean energy technologies, and that over the next five years, the governments of these nations will out-invest the US 3:1 in these sectors. These nations will attract a significant private investments, totaling a whooping trillions of dollars in clean technologies. While some U.S. firms will benefit from the establishment of joint ventures overseas, the jobs, tax revenues, and other benefits of clean tech growth will overwhelmingly accrue to Asia's clean tech tigers. Government investments in R&D, clean energy manufacturing capacity, the deployment of green and clean energy technologies, and the establishment of supporting infrastructure, will allow these Asian nations to capture economies of scale, learning-by-doing, and innovation advantages before the United States, where public investments are smaller, less direct, and less coordinated.
References and related news:
Renewable Energy
Sources
EIA.DOE.GOV
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