Whether Renewable Energies Can Make a Major Contribution to the Global Energy Budget and Further Policies Needed To Achieve This.
The question of whether investment in renewable energy production will help reduce the global expenditure on energy production should be viewed on economic, social, and environmental perspective. Economically, expenditure on renewable energy production is currently higher than energy production from most non-renewable sources (Wengenmayr and Bührke, 2011). This explains why subsidies are often being offered to promote production from renewable sources. A study by the institute of physics at the University of Oldenburg found that the average investment cost for wind installation in Germany is 1400 $/KW (Wengenmayr and Bührke, 2011). On the other hand, the study established that the average investment cost for coal-fired plants ranges from1200 to 1400$/KW (Wengenmayr and Bührke, 2011). Similarly, according to the Great Britain (2008), the cost of wind power still remains higher than the cost of coal-powre and nuclear power. In this case, the cost of three non-renewable anergy forms averages around 4 pence per KWh while the cost of onshore wind stands at 7 pence per per KWh (Great Britain, 2008). These illurtrations show that wind power source is still more expensive than the common non-renewable sources. However, the social and environmental cost of non-reneable energy sources may prove to be quite less costly than the non-renewable sources.
The global expenditure on efforts ained at dealing with the consequences of carbon gas emmission as a result of overreliance on fossil fules and other non-renewable enrgy sources is likely to rise i future. For instance, installation of systems meant to prevent th release of carbon gas to the atmosphere on the production plants will add on to the cost of installtion of non-renewable energy production. Furthermore, extreme weather conditions that continue to escalate will eventually result in high cost of agricuture and high expenditure on disater management. indeed, I agree with comments given by number 1 that cheap, sustainable, and reliable to everyone. Considering the impending environmental effects on reliance on non-reneable sources, her view is quite valid. In terms of the social effects of reliance of non-renewable sources, i also concur with number 1 that reduced supply in non-renewable ernergy sources will result in conflicts that will further affect the global budget.
Several policies can help promote the use of renewable energy sources. First, incentives should be increased on renewable energy sources. Furthermore, more resources should be channelled towards facilitating research aimed at exploring the global renewable energy sources and how they can be exploited. In terms of efforts being made to promote renewable energy production, I agree with number 3 that UK has made many efforts.
References
BOCKRIS, J. O. (2009). Renewable energies feasibility, time and cost options. New York, Nova Science Publishers. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=339285.
GEHRKE, R. (2009). Renewable energies for your home: real-world solutions for green conversions. New York, McGraw-Hill.
Great Britain. (2008). The economics of renewable energy. London, TSO.
GUERRERO-LEMUS, R., & MARTINEZ-DUART, J. M. (2013). Renewable energies and CO₂ cost analysis, environmental impacts and technological trends-- 2012 edition. London, Springer. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4385-7.
Wengenmayr, R., & Bührke, T. (2011). Renewable Energy: Sustainable Energy Concepts for the Future. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
