Transitioning to Renewable Sources of Electricity: Motivations, Policy, and Potential

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea Schelly
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Good News ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Renewable Sources ◽  
Transmission Grid ◽  
Electricity Infrastructure

The electricity grid in the United States may be the largest, most pervasive technological system ever constructed to meet the needs and comforts of human beings (Nye 1997). Although it is less than 150 years old, the electricity infrastructure of this nation is ubiquitous; power lines stretch across deserts, forests, states, highways, and the entire nation in order to provide electricity to residences, businesses, and communities. The electricity carried by these transmission lines is generally produced using fossil fuels (mostly coal; see US Energy Information Administration 2012) and is most commonly generated at a monstrously large facility (a coal plant, a nuclear facility, or a hydropower dam). Our electricity infrastructure was constructed to carry enormous amounts of electricity across vast geographical expanses, based on the massive generation facilities and concentrated fossil fuel based energy sources that defined the system and its use. However, there are increasing concerns regarding the sources of our energy supply. Many of these concerns are related to climate change and how carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels contribute to rising global temperatures and the climate instability of the planet (Brown 2003). Additional concerns include the host of other environmental damages caused by the use of coal (Epstein et al. 2011), nuclear energy (Slovic et al. 1991), and hydro-electricity (Dincer 1998); other debates involve worries about nearing or reaching peak energy supplies (Brown 2003), energy security (Yergin 2006), and the aging transmission grid (Amin 2003). For a multitude of reasons, many would agree that it’s time to rethink our dependence on fossil fuel based forms of energy and move toward alternative, renewable energy sources (Brown 2003, pp. 116–135). The good news is, the renewable energy industry gets bigger every year, with more energy from renewable sources being produced, sold, and used (Sherwood 2011). Some US states have enacted renewable energy standards requiring that a certain percentage of their electricity supply come from renewable sources. Tax incentives, subsidies, and various forms of rebates, in financially incentivizing renewable energy adoption, also provide evidence that we are indeed moving in the direction of clean, renewable sources of energy.

scholarly journals The Potential of Using Renewable Energy Sources in Poland Taking into Account the Economic and Ecological Conditions

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 7525
Author(s):  
Mariusz Niekurzak
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Technical Specification ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Renewable Sources ◽  
Starting Point

The aim of the manuscript was to present the collective results of research on the profitability of using various renewable sources in Poland with the greatest development potential. In the paper, the economic parameters of various investment projects were determined and calculated, i.e., Net Capital Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and the Period of Return on Invested Capital (PBT). The economic assessment of the use of RES technologies was supplemented with the assessment of environmental benefits. The ecological criterion adopted in the study was the assessment of the potential and costs of reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a result of replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy technologies. On the basis of the constructed economic model to assess the profitability of investments, it has been shown that the analyzed projects will start to bring, depending on their type and technical specification, measurable economic benefits in the form of a reduction in the amount of energy purchased on an annual basis and environmental benefits in the form of reduction of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. Moreover, the calculations show a high potential for the use of certain renewable sources in Poland, which contributes to the fulfillment of energy and emission obligations towards the EU. The analyzes and research of the Polish energy market with the use of the presented models have shown that the project is fully economically justified and will allow investors to make a rational decision on the appropriate selection of a specific renewable energy source for their investment. The presented economic models to assess the profitability of investments in renewable energy sources can be successfully used in other countries and can also be a starting point for a discussion about the direction of energy development. Due to the lack of collective, original and up-to-date research on the domestic market, the manuscript provides the reader with the necessary knowledge regarding the legitimacy of using renewable energy sources, investment and environmental profitability.

scholarly journals Chinese experience in implementing renewable energy sources as a possible scenario for the Krasnoyarsk Territory

2020 ◽  
pp. 59-79
Author(s):  
Sergey Nikonorov ◽  
Konstantin Papenov ◽  
Denis Sergeyev
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Renewable Sources ◽  
Modern Economy ◽  
To Come ◽  
Developing Area

Renewable energy is a rapidly developing area of the modern economy. As many experts forecast, global electricity consumption will double by 2050, while the share of renewable sources in energy generation will be 50%. For most states, the main incentives for the development of renewable energy are the ability to eliminate the consumption of fossil fuels and reduce the level of emissions of pollutants, while ensuring sustainable development of the country. At the same time, Russia, which has significant reserves of natural resources, is in no hurry to switch to the use of energy from renewable sources since it is believed that the country’s subsoil can provide it with cheap energy resources for many generations to come. Therefore, introduction of renewable energy sources that are unable to compete with traditional energy without a developed energy infrastructure and established production is impractical. In our study we try to evaluate the efficiency of the introduction of renewable energy sources in the Krasnoyarsk Territory of Russia using the example of the Chinese experience.

scholarly journals Renewable Energies as a Substitute for Fossil Fuel Resources in Poland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksander Wasiuta
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Transmission Grid ◽  
The Impact

Abstract BackgroundThe characteristic feature of modern energy sector in the EU is the development of environmentally friendly technologies based on renewable energy sources (RES). The use of alternative and RES contributes to resolving not only energy efficiency issues, but many of the environmental, economic and social problems. RES are also one of the priorities of the world's low carbon policy and reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Growing electrical energy consumption and increasing integration of RES in power systems have led to new challenges, thus it is required to investigate and properly analyze the impact of integrated RES on the power system as a substitute for fossil fuel resources.ResultsThe aim of the article is to show the possibilities of developing RES in Poland in the context of environmental protection, energy self-sufficiency and international obligations. The depletion of primary energy sources and the increase in emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere forces undertaking certain activities, aimed at seeking substitutes for fossil fuels. According to the author’s analysis, RES are the best and safest substitutes for traditional energy resources such as fossil fuel.ConclusionsThe author examines electricity production mix in EU counties and compares it to Polish energy sector. Taking into consideration the transmission network density in Poland, while energy sector changes its structure and expands, the mix of technologies deployed to produce electricity determines the associated burden on transmission networks. Polish energy sector development in the context of modernization of transmission grid provides an opportunity for investors to prepare the energy system for increasing the share of renewable energy sources. In the process of implementing the appropriate solution, the experiences of other countries that have significantly increased the share of renewable energy in the past could be used. This article presents the main areas of action that may facilitate the further integration of different energy sources in the specific context of Poland's changing energy system. Not all integration options will be important for Poland at the same time.

scholarly journals Trends in Scientific Literature on Energy Return Ratio of Renewable Energy Sources for Supporting Policymakers

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Leonardo Rana ◽  
Mariarosaria Lombardi ◽  
Pasquale Giungato ◽  
Caterina Tricase
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Alternative Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Economic Systems ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Academic Literature

The scarcity of fossil fuels and their environmental impact as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, have prompted governments around the world to both develop research and foster the use of renewable energy sources (RES), such as biomass, wind, and solar. Therefore, although these efforts represent potential solutions for fossil fuel shortages and GHG emission reduction, some doubts have emerged recently regarding their energy efficiency. Indeed, it is very useful to assess their energy gain, which means quantifying and comparing the amount of energy consumed to produce alternative fuels. In this context, the aim of this paper is to analyze the trend of the academic literature of studies concerning the indices of the energy return ratio (ERR), such as energy return on energy invested (EROEI), considering biomass, wind and solar energy. This could be useful for institutions and to public organizations in order to redefine their political vision for realizing sustainable socio-economic systems in line with the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies. Results showed that biomass seems to be more expensive and less efficient than the equivalent fossil-based energy, whereas solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy have reached mature and advanced levels of technology.

CUSTOMER EMPOWERMENT STRATEGY AND SHAPING MARKETS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-31
Author(s):  
Ivan Krnić
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Credit Rating ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Prices ◽  
The World ◽  
Energy Companies

A large number of energy companies in the world today a faced with global transformative trends which devastatingly affect their business results. Therefore, energy companies in the world were very slow in investing and adopting renewable energy sources and become significantly overcapacitated by coal and gas fired power plants which are now unprofitabile due to low marginal costs of renewables and their priority dispatching into a power system. Also increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the structure of electricity generation, the decline in primary energy prices (fossil fuels) the stagnation of consuption and the surplus of supply in relation to electricity demand caused a drop in wholesale electricity prices by half compared to 2008. Furthemore, the operation of coal fired power plants is burdened with carbon dioxide emissions. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in revenues, falling stock values andthe collapse of credit rating of many energy companies in the world. This article analyzes the implementation of the strategy of empowering customers and shaping markets that the E.ON Group has carried out as a „response“ to global transformative trends in the energy market environment by which the former company was divided into two less dynamic and more focused companies into a new or conventional energy world. This strengthens the competitiveness of all previous business activities due to stronger focus on the development of necessary skills and process. Furthemore, from on investor perspective it has been shown that the risk profiles associated with conventional energy production differ from those related to the „new“ energy world, ie the activities covered by the business portfolio of the E.ON Group, and the activities covered by the business portfolio of the Uniper Group attract different types of investors.

scholarly journals Renewable Energy: Non-environmental Reasons to Make the Transition

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-48
Author(s):  
Andrew Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Renewable Sources ◽  
Oil Companies ◽  
Renewable Energy Technologies ◽  
Alternative Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Technologies

Environmentalists continuously push for us, as a country, to decrease our fossil fuel usage and transition to a society powered by renewable energy. The money of oil companies and other corporations persuade our government to continue investing in fossil fuels as opposed to renewable energy. There are, however, other reasons which should convince us as a nation to invest in alternative energy sources. Eliminating our dependence on fossil fuels will benefit the nation economically and prepare us for a rapidly changing future. We, as Americans, should increasingly pursue renewable sources of alternative energy not only for the documented environmental reasons but also because investing in renewable energy technologies will provide jobs for Americans, decrease our dependence on other nations, and benefit the health of all Americans while decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels.

scholarly journals How renewable energy affects our planet’s future?

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (07) ◽  
pp. 1396-1405
Author(s):  
Udit Veerendra Bagdai ◽  
◽  
Rahul B ◽  
Raksha Channappa ◽  
Sanjay B Y ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Renewable Sources ◽  
Economic Issues ◽  
Visual Impact

Renewable energy is considered an infinite source of energy. Although they have unlimited potential towards making our environment self-sustainable, they are currently insufficiently exploited and unevenly distributed. The major hindrance to exploiting these renewable sources is economic issues. Some countries, that possess these sources are currently developing or are still in the under-developed scenario. Hence, these resources are not being exploited to their full potential. We are aware of the severe consequences of burning up fossil fuels and their adverse effect on our environment Rarely do we think of the consequences on the environment due to renewable energy sources. Although they have a very small impact on our environment, in the future it might lead to some devastating issues. Some of the renewable energy sources have a visual impact on the nature of our earth and also to some extent it can affect the ecosystem of a particular area. This paper intends to analyze the current types of renewable sources (solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric) and their impact on our planet.

Renewable Energy for Robots and Robots for Renewable Energy – A Review

Robotica ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
pp. 1576-1604
Author(s):  
Ahmed A. Hassan ◽  
Mohamed El Habrouk ◽  
Samir Deghedie
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Viable Solution ◽  
Production Environments ◽  
Recent Developments

SUMMARYFossil fuel sources are well suited to fulfill the energy needs of human beings. Unfortunately, there are some limitations and disadvantages pertaining to fossil fuels, some of which are drastic. The main issues are: firstly, there is a finite supply of these fuels, eventually this supply will be exhausted; secondly, burning fossil fuels contributes to global warming, leading to disastrous consequences for the environment and the health of humans. Switching to renewable energy sources is the viable solution to the aforementioned issues. Robots bring numerous benefits in a wide variety of applications. Introducing robots to production environments and other applications results in a remarkable improvement in terms of productivity and efficiency. In this paper, the integration between robots and renewable energy sources is discussed. In other words, two main points are investigated: (1) how can renewable energy be a viable source of energy for robots and (2) how can the renewable energy industry benefit from utilizing robots in the execution of renewable energy-related tasks. Some of the recent developments concerning the integration between robots and renewable energy are reviewed. In addition, more opportunities and expected advancements are also discussed.

scholarly journals Likelihood of climate change pathways under uncertainty on fossil fuel resource availability

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2482-2496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iñigo Capellán-Pérez ◽  
Iñaki Arto ◽  
Josué M. Polanco-Martínez ◽  
Mikel González-Eguino ◽  
Marc B. Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Entire Range ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Fuel Resource ◽  
Climate Action

The consideration of the entire range of revised estimates of fossil fuels resources shows that their depletion is likely to occur during the 21st century accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources but not alleviating the need for urgent climate action.

scholarly journals Advanced Energy Resources

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 4317-4319
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Renewable Sources ◽  
Fundamental Point ◽  
Greenhouse Effects

The consumption of energy increases due to population increased day by day. This is necessarily in each step of life. Energy resources are of two types, one is renewable energy sources and other is non renewable energy sources. But we know that non renewable sources will exhausted. The importance of renewable sources cannot be underestimated. According to utilization of renewable sources , the fundamental point is impact on environment . In this paper we discuss about the some pros and cons of renewable sources and future trends . In recent years, the more prices of fossil fuels and greenhouse effects have built the opportunities in the production of renewable energy resources. Renewable energy is considered a more better source of fuel than nuclear power now a days because they are more safe than non renewable energy sources.

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