scholarly journals Opportunities and Challenges of Allocation of Alternative Energy Resources in Japan

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Snyder
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Energy Security ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Japanese Government ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Photovoltaic Power

In the case of Japan, which lacks any significant fossil fuel reserves (Gasparatos & Gadda, 2009, pp. 4038-4048) some alternative forms of energy production have been implemented. Japan has implemented alternative energy options such as nuclear power, photovoltaic power, hydroelectric power, and other various energy alternatives and renewable resources. These alternatives have the potential to lessen climate change. Japan is becoming an example of the economic and environmental outcomes associated with alternative energy sources. Following the Fukushima disaster, the Japanese government addressed the possibility of removing nuclear power from the energy mix entirely by 2040 (Hong et al., 2013, pp. 418-424). In May of 2012, a governmental advisory board announced its plans to replace nuclear power with a combination of renewable sources and imported fossil fuels by 2030 (Hong et al., pp. 2013, 418-424).  Japan intends to supply ten percent of the country’s primary energy using renewable resources by 2020, under the Strategic Energy Plan of Japan (Japan Energy Report, 2013, pp. 1-31). As reported by the Japan Forum on International Relations in 2006, increased energy demands in Asia, accompanied with pressure to reduce carbon emissions, has created uncertainty surrounding Japan’s energy security since it has a large reliance on imported fossil fuels (Nasu & Faunce, 2013, pp. 68-74). The major goals of energy policy in Japan are energy security, economic development and environmental sustainability. To reach these goals, feed-in tariffs were approved by the Japanese government in the summer of 2012, in order to incentivize the use of renewable resources, especially photovoltaic power, and accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies (Frishberg, 2013, pp. 5-6). Since implementing these tariffs, Japan’s supply of solar generated power has grown by forty percent (Frishberg, 2013, pp. 5-6). There are many criteria that need to be met for efficient and useable sustainable energy technologies, such as accessibility to remote locales, user friendliness, adaptability to local conditions, efficiency and reliability (Balachandra et al., 2010, pp. 1842-1851). This criterion can be difficult to attain for large, growing populations. 

The prioritization of renewable energy technologies in Pakistan: An urgent need

2021 ◽  
pp. 81-103
Author(s):  
Leezna Saleem ◽  
Imran Ahmad Siddiqui ◽  
Intikhab Ulfat
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Resource ◽  
Energy System ◽  
The Past ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Environmental Criteria ◽  
Populous Country ◽  
Selection Of

Pakistan is the world's sixth most populous country, currently facing the worst energy crisis. Although rich in renewable resources, Pakistan's energy system relies mainly on fossil fuels and imported energy for its energy needs. This study aims to use an analytical hierarchy pro-cess to prioritize six renewable technologies for Pakistan, with four criteria and thirteen subcriteria. The results indicate that solar power is particularly well suited for Pakistan, as it gained 42% priority weightage in the final aggregation. Wind energy is ranked second with a priority weight of 24%, followed by hydro 13%, biomass 9%, ocean 8% and geothermal en-ergy 3%. Solar and wind energies accounted for nearly 66% of the total weightage. This result highlighted the significance of economic criteria for the selection of renewable technologies in Pakistan, with around 43% priority weightage. Environmental criteria gained 19% whereas socio-political criteria registered 14% and technical criteria 23% priority weightage. During the potential assessment of the research, it was concluded that although renewable resource development has not been allocated sufficient attention in Pakistan in the past, if the correct decisions are taken regarding the exploitation of these resources, this can remedy the country's hazardous dependence on fossil fuel and imported energy.

Power Generation for the Near Future

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kau-Fui Vincent Wong ◽  
Guillermo Amador
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Traditional Methods ◽  
Alternative Energy Sources ◽  
The Us ◽  
Near Future

As society continues advancing into the future, more energy is required to supply the increasing population and energy demands. Unfortunately, traditional forms of energy production through the burning of carbon-based fuels are dumping harmful pollutants into the environment, resulting in detrimental, and possibly irreversible, effects on our planet. The burning of coal and fossil fuels provides energy at the least monetary cost for countries like the US, but the price being paid through their negative impact of our atmosphere is difficult to quantify. A rapid shift to clean, alternative energy sources is critical in order to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. For alternative energy sources to replace traditional energy sources that produce greenhouse gases, they must be capable of providing energy at equal or greater rates and efficiencies, while still functioning at competitive prices. The main factors hindering the pursuit of alternative sources are their high initial costs and, for some, intermittency. The creation of electrical energy from natural sources like wind, water, and solar is very desirable since it produces no greenhouse gases and makes use of renewable sources—unlike fossil fuels. However, the planning and technology required to tap into these sources and transfer energy at the rate and consistency needed to supply our society comes at a higher price than traditional methods. These high costs are a result of the large-scale implementation of the state-of-the-art technologies behind the devices required for energy cultivation and delivery from these unorthodox sources. On the other hand, as fossil fuel sources become scarcer, the rising fuel costs drive overall costs up and make traditional methods less cost effective. The growing scarcity of fossil fuels and resulting pollutants stimulate the necessity to transition away from traditional energy production methods. Currently, the most common alternative energy technologies are solar photovoltaics (PVs), concentrated solar power (CSP), wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, tidal, wave, and nuclear. Because of government intervention in countries like the US and the absence of the need to restructure the electricity transmission system (due to the similarity in geographical requirements and consistency in power outputs for nuclear and traditional plants), nuclear energy is the most cost competitive energy technology that does not produce greenhouse gases. Through the proper use of nuclear fission electricity at high efficiencies could be produced without polluting our atmosphere. However, the initial capital required to erect nuclear plants dictates a higher cost over traditional methods. Therefore, the government is providing help with the high initial costs through loan guarantees, in order to stimulate the growth of low-emission energy production. This paper analyzes the proposal for the use of nuclear power as an intermediate step before an eventual transition to greater dependence on energy from wind, water, and solar (WWS) sources. Complete dependence on WWS cannot be achieved in the near future, within 20 years, because of the unavoidable variability of these sources and the required overhaul of the electricity transmission system. Therefore, we look to nuclear power in the time being to help provide predictable power as a means to reduce carbon emissions, while the other technologies are refined and gradually implemented in order to meet energy demand on a consistent basis.

Linking Solar Energy Systems to Sustainable Development Goals in Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 64-84
Author(s):  
Ademola A. Adenle
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Energy Security ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Development Goals

Energy was not stated as one of the millennium development goals (MDGs) but played an indirect role in helping meet the MDGs especially in the areas of housing, health, education, and poverty reduction in Africa. In contrast, the United Nations’ 2030 agenda includes 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), one of which is devoted to energy. SDG7 seeks to ensure “access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all,” thereby creating a vital role for the energy sector to join in the task of achieving SDGs. Renewable energy including solar energy will play a significant role in improving energy security in Africa and diversifying the energy mix by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This chapter examines the advantages of solar technologies in the context of social, economic, and environment benefits using case studies from Kenya and South Africa. This chapter also examines some of the key challenges that are associated with the application of solar energy technologies in these countries. Finally, the chapter discusses how solar energy technologies can help meet SDGs and summarizes policy and programs targeting the promotion of solar energy technologies for the implementation of SDGs.

scholarly journals BIOFUELS AS PROMISING FUELS

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladan Mićić ◽  
Pero Dugić ◽  
Zoran Petrović ◽  
Milorad Tomić
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Technical Issues

The use of fossil fuels results in global warming and pollution. In comparison with fossil fuels biofuels represent an eco-friendly, biodegradable, sustainable, cost-competitive and promising alternative energy source. They contain high energy content and do not contribute to greenhouse effect. Therefore, using cheap or renewable resources as the feedstock for biofuels production has a great potential in terms of a major contribution to future energy supply. The production and use of biofuels is already well established and a further promotion of these fuels such as lipid biofuels (bioethanol, pure plant oils and biodiesel) and gas biofuels (biomethane, biohydrogen) mainly depends on non-technical issues, such as policies and cost–effectiveness. Biofuels will definitely stay for the foreseeable future and still can continue to provide the earth and the human population with a relatively clean source of energy with several benefits such as economic benefits of providing employment and health benefits of reduced carbon emissions, leading to cleaner air. With increasing sophistication of technology and intense research and development done, one can safely infer that biofuel will become more appealing and applicable for use on a globally commercial level. As such, biofuel is acknowledged as the Earth’s future energy source. Until a newer and cleaner energy source is discovered, scientists will definitely persist in researching and enhancing biofuels to make them more cost-effective, while still being environmentally friendly.

scholarly journals Hydrogen: Technologies, Policies and Challenges

2012 ◽  
Vol 260-261 ◽  
pp. 28-33
Author(s):  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Lu Cheng Ji ◽  
Bo Jin
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Hydrogen Energy ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Hydrogen Economy ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Large Scale Production ◽  
Social And Economic Development

Hydrogen energy has been considered as a clean alternative energy source substituting fossil fuels. Many countries consider it as the ultimate solution to the energy and environmental problems, even draw up the blueprint of “hydrogen economy” and heavily invest for research and development. However, after decades of research, the hydrogen energy technologies are still being prospective and explored, and haven’t been put into large scale production by now. This article begins with expatiation on the essence of hydrogen energy, makes analysis of various big challenges for hydrogen energy technologies, and reaches the conclusion that we should hold the rational and cautious attitude towards hydrogen energy source because the transition to hydrogen economy of unclear prospect must pay a very high cost, which is unbearable for the social and economic development status of developing countries.

scholarly journals Comparative effectiveness of environmental regulation instruments: Case of the Moroccan electricity mix

AIMS Energy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1097-1112
Author(s):  
Soufiyan Bahetta ◽  
◽  
Nabil Dahhou ◽  
Rachid Hasnaoui ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Environmental Regulation ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Carbon Tax ◽  
Electricity Sector ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Emission Standards ◽  
Electricity Mix ◽  
The Impact

<abstract> <p>Fossil fuels dominate the electricity mix of Morocco, the country is placing renewable energy at the heart of its energy strategy, to improve the security of supply and ensure environmental sustainability. However, the penetration of renewable energy technologies (RET) in the Moroccan electricity mix remains low due to an excess of investment in conventional energy technologies. This study first explores the characteristics of the Moroccan electricity mix before studying the dynamic effects of environmental regulatory instruments, in particular the carbon tax and the emission standards. To do so, we analyzed scenarios using a bottom-up linear and dynamic optimization model « OSeMOSYS» . We will therefore assess the impact of the carbon tax and the emission standards on RET adoption in the Moroccan electricity mix, over a period from 2015 to 2040. Our results suggest that environmental regulation in the electricity sector will lead to a large diversification of the Moroccan electricity mix with a large penetration of RET thus reducing the overall production of conventional energy technologies. Therefore, it follows that the carbon tax encourages the adoption of RET in the Moroccan electricity mix with significant reductions on fuel costs and operating &amp; maintenance (O &amp; M) costs of conventional energy technologies compared to emission standards.</p> </abstract>

Developments in Nuclear Power and Radioactive Waste Management

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaufui V. Wong ◽  
Sarah Dia
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Nuclear Fission ◽  
Power Development ◽  
The Past ◽  
Nuclear Power Development ◽  
The Many

Currently occupying only a small portion of the energy sector, nuclear power is increasingly becoming a promising contender for energy resources of the future. With growing concern of climate change and excessive carbon emissions from fossil fuels, nuclear is widely being pursued as an alternative energy resource that does not produce carbon dioxide. Nuclear power has been the source of environmentally hazardous byproducts of its own, however, and issues with radioactive waste have in many ways halted progress in nuclear power development and implementation. New advances now attempt to solve the many issues of the past, associated mostly with nuclear fission. Some of these developments, including the promising use of nuclear fusion, are evaluated as a means of solving the energy crises as well as the radioactive waste issues.

scholarly journals Methodology for Calculating the Energy Security Index of the State: Taking into Account Modern Megatrends

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3621
Author(s):  
Andriy Stavytskyy ◽  
Ganna Kharlamova ◽  
Olena Komendant ◽  
Jarosław Andrzejczak ◽  
Joanna Nakonieczny
Keyword(s):  
Energy Security ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Practical Interest ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Security Assessment ◽  
Alternative Energy Sources ◽  
Security Index

Energy issue stays a top priority for the national security of most countries. Despite numerous international forums, large-scale geoeconomic research, international and national projects, and the development of appropriate strategies, the issue of energy security assessment and understanding of its terminology is not a universal practice. The presented study has an ambitious goal to develop a methodology that can provide an objective picture of the energy sector on an international scale with cross-country comparisons under the influence of modern megatrends. Based on 29 indicators, according to the World Bank data since 1991, the energy security index is calculated for the set of world states with further analysis of the cluster dynamics of their common trends in energy security. The index showed its objectivity and resistance to existing shocks in geoeconomic dynamics. An important feature of the proposed index is the possibility to compare the energy security index with 1. This value is, in fact, a European average: if a country has an energy security index greater than 1, it means that its energy level is currently better than the European average, and if it is lower than 1, it means that it is inferior to the level of energy security currently achieved on average in Europe. The concept of calculating the index of energy security of the state is based on a unified comparison of all countries, which allows us to move away from the use of signaling approaches and eliminate subjectivity in calculations, as well as provide a basis for dynamic comparison of energy security. The vital aspect of the index is that it takes into account changes in the energy paradigm, the transition to alternative energy sources, and the comprehension of the role of energy efficiency, in particular, of fossil fuels. The study identifies clusters of countries that have consistent similarities in energy security, which can usually be of practical interest in developing energy strategies and understanding the similarity of geoeconomic interests of these states. Thus, this article contributes not only to the development of scientific approaches to the assessment of energy issues, in particular, through the methodological development of a representative index, but also through the presentation of statistically sound results for further effective management decisions at the state level.

From Chernobyl to Fukujima - A Perspective of Nuclear Safety that “Taoism Co-Works with Ziran (Nature)” - My Perspective on Nuclear Safety

2012 ◽  
Vol 512-515 ◽  
pp. 882-889
Author(s):  
Tong Fa Bao ◽  
Fei Fei Chen ◽  
Jia Xin Cao
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Nuclear Safety ◽  
Nuclear Accidents ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Electronic Industry

Nuclear energy, to some extent, has made great contributions to the electronic industry when the fossil fuels are decreasing. Therefore, scientism drives man indulged in his discoveries about nuclear energy, naively believing the nuclear power as an alternative energy for it is reliable, clean, secure and economical. After the nuclear accidents which happened in the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, especially March 2011, the world-shocking earthquake happened in Japan as well as the nuclear leakage in Fukushima nuclear plant led us to reconsider the development and application of the nuclear energy. From our perspective, how to develop the nuclear energy depends on people’s attitude towards modern science and technology. Man should step out of the limit of scientism, be aware of how much science and technology can do on human beings’ progress under the guideline of the holism that complies with nature, and how application of the nuclear energy goes well with the whole ecological system rather than partially exaggerate its achievements against nature.

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.

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