Introduction
Implementation of renewable energy will work towards strengthening the economy and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. There is need for developing carbon free sources of energy that are friendly to the environment and sustains a viable economy. The types of renewable sources of energy will include: solar energy, wind energy and the use of biomass fuels among others.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom government had previously made an effort to sustain and provide energy through signing an agreement with the EU in March 2007. The agreement allows the EU to supply 20% of the UK’s energy from renewable resources and cut the consumption of energy by 20% by year 2020. This are among the measures in EU that are aimed to reduce the emission of CO2 and restrict the global rise of temperature to level below or equals to 20C above the levels of preindustrial. The UK government aims to get 15% share of renewable resources by 2020.
On the other hand, the Renewable Obligation was established in the year 2002 as the main support strategy for the generation of renewable in the United Kingdom. The proportion of the country’s supply of adequate renewable sources was expected to increase by 15.4% from 3% by 2015. This will help the government to reach its target of 20% renewable energy by 2020 and in the future.
Currently, the government has purchased a specified renewable electricity level that is compliant to Ofgem Renewable Obligation Certificates. Each of the certificates is designed to represent a megawatt hour of unit output.
France
France has focused on its future development of compliment and future renewable energy mainly on the offshore. Currently, the French government is studying the projects to establish an offshore wind plant located 2-20 kilometers from the coastline. The first operation on this project will be opened in Normandy along the coast of Veulettes-sur-Mer.
In 2011, the French president Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed the establishment of the country’s 5 offshore wind power plants which were estimated to generate 3GW. The project commenced at along the Atlantic coast in the middle of Dieppe and Saint-Nazaire. Earlier in 2012, the government commenced another second round of established plant that is expected to generate another capacity of 3GW.
Germany
German government has renewable energy as its main pillar in the future supply of energy. The government responded to the European Union directive by adopting the national renewable energy action plan that was aimed at providing the steps towards an energy concept of a reliable, affordable and an environmental friendly energy supply. The administration decided reduce the lifespan of nuclear energy plants that linked to the grid as an impact of the Fukushima incident and provide political support to renewable energies.
The energy concept strategy main agenda is to support renewable energy in both short and long term goals. The goals include: renewable energies to contribute to 35% to the total gross electricity in 2020, 50% by 2030 and above 80% by 2050. The gas emissions from green house must be reduced by 40% by 2020 when comparisons are made in reference to 1990. There are nine sectors that consider the technical and economic impact to the current economy and also a positive progress of the entire society.
German chancellor, Angela Merkel said that the country aims to stop depending on nuclear energy and turn to renewable sources of energy. The government targets a 35% production of renewables by 2020. By mid-2012, the country had generated more than 25% of its total gross electricity through wind, solar energy and many other alternative renewable sources. This indicates that the target set by 2020 would have been met. Electricity from renewable energies was 6.3% on the year 2000 but this has increased drastically. There are development of small and medium enterprises dealing with renewable energies and they have employed more than 350,000 citizens.
United States of America
Current statistics shows that renewable energy account for more than 14.3% of the domestic electricity generation. North Dakota, Lowa and California generate their 10% electricity from solar power, geothermal power and solar power. In the USA, the leading renewable energy is hydroelectricity. Baker (2011, p.76) stated that, the United States wind power generates more than 3% of the total gross electricity and its capacity exceeds 48600 Mega Watts. Texas leads in development of wind power with Lowa and California following. In 2009, president Obama set a target to double renewable energy in a span of three years. In 2012, he restated his goal of increasing renewable energy to 10,000 MW to all public lands.
A number of technologies is used in the rationale for renewable energy and include: multiple rays of technologies (heating and cooling systems, solar photovoltaic, wind energy, ocean power systems, geothermal power plants, solar thermal power plants, hydroelectricity and finally the use of biomass.
America was in need of the coordination of federal and state policies that had a goal to expand the market for renewable markets. The implementation of new technologies aimed at increasing opportunities for use of renewable sources of energy. This was a report from a journal titled,” outlook on renewable energy in America, 2007. “
In a nutshell, renewable energy sources are growing at very higher pace than before. There are policies to guide the future implementation of renewable energies because of numerous environmental, social, economic and security motives.
References
HM Treasury (2008), Stability and Opportunity: Building a Strong Sustainable Future, PN1, 12 March. www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_08/press_notices/bud_bud08_press01.cfm
David R. Baker (2011). "Brown signs law requiring 33% renewable energy". San Francisco Chronicle.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance (2010) "Fossil Fuel Subsidies Outpace Renewables” RenewableEnergyWorld.com
