Solar Energy: Difference between revisions

As previously stated, the world population has increasing energy demands, and more resources are needed to provide this energy. At the current rate of population growth, by 2050 there will be an estimated 9 billion people on earth (Geitmann, Sven: Erneuerbare Energien und alternative Kraftstoffe, Kremmen 2004), all needing energy. The amount of energy required per person is also increasing, as people seek greater independence, freedom and mobility – all factors which result in globalisation. For example the world’s fleet of cars actually grows faster than the human population does, and industrialisation continues to march on. However it is worth noting that energy consumption in industrial countries is disproportionate to that of developing nations. The industrial countries consume more than half of the world’s energy resources, despite constituting just one-seventh of the world population. For example, the USA accounts for 5% of the world population however they consume 26% the crude oil produced worldwide (Geitmann, Sven: Erneuerbare Energien und alternative Kraftstoffe, Kremmen 2004). And because of the progression of industrialisation in the less developed countries, combined with the fact that energy expenditure in the industrial nations is not regressing, new ways of creating energy must be developed.

Individual countries have the potential capacity to use sustainable energy, the disadvantage however is that sustainable energies are still more expensive than the conventional ways of generating energy – oil, gas, etc., despite recent increases in the price of electricity (in Germany). This is due to the high build costs of the technology, and despite the costs involved in, for example, decommissioning a coal power station and replacing it with a solar farm, the long term financial rewards and environmental benefits make it arguably a viable solution. The disposal of by-products is also cheaper and more eco-friendly than for example, radioactive waste (Hennicke, Peter: Erneuerbare Energien, München 2007). So the system for getting solar energy is not perfectly mature yet and it is still very expensive. Because of this, the costs of production are still very high. In Germany people how buy electricity from wind stations pay 6-8 cent per kilowatts. From solar energy it is about 20 cent per kilowatts ((www.solarenergysystems.eu (16.01.2010)).  

Technologies for using sustainable energies are getting encouraged and the politicians and a lot of people invest in this kind of technology. In 2006 about 5.8 billion Euros were invested, already 23 % more than in 2005 (Hennicke, Peter: Erneuerbare Energien, München 2007). Also some countries pass renewable energy laws. In Spain all new buildings are committed to build solar collectors for creating their own warm water. Especially because of the higher oil prices, the politicians try to support people in using sustainable energy (Hennicke, Peter: Erneuerbare Energien, München 2007).  It is hard for poor countries to support their land with money. They just don‘t have the possibility to subsidise their population.  

The „International Energy Agency“ thinks if there will be a cost cutting for the technology of sustainable energy more people would build it and use it. In their opinion it is also important to really have the will to decrease the CO₂-emission (Hennicke, Peter: Erneuerbare Energien, München 2007). In 2007 in Germany the emissions were 861 Million tone, at least 56 Million tone less than 2001 (http://www.iwr.de/ {30.12.2009}). One point of the decreasing CO₂--emission is probably because in Germany already big and influential energy companies have invested in the sustainable energy systems.  „E.ON“ wants to build offshore wind-mill plants for 500 MW until 2011 (Hennicke, Peter: Erneuerbare Energien, München 2007).  „EnBW“ will create the first energy system from waves. The commissioning date will be 2010 / 2011. By then they plan to get electricity for at least 120 households (http://www.enbw.com/ (30.12.2009)). A small number but at least a beginning into the right direction.

So companies, the politicians and most of the people know the problem and know how important it is to use sustainable energy. The need of supporting and developing sustainable energy systems is known world-wide. But there are still big and important countries like India where most of the people live in unsustainable areas. So it is the job of all the other countries to clarify the importance of sustainable living. It is also important that he politics really assure their population of living sustainable and using renewable energy. They shouldn't support the big oil companies; the countries should invest in alternative energy systems and should also make it lucrative for the population. They could for example support building companies who work with sustainable materials. Even if there are so many opportunities to encourage our world, there is still a lot of work to do, for every one of us.

*Geitmann, Sven: Erneuerbare Energien und alternative Kraftstoffe, Kremmen 2004.

*Hennicke, Peter: Erneuerbare Energien, München 2007.

*Morrison, Craig;: Zukunftsenergien, Hannover 2005.

*http://www.handelsblatt.com

*http://www.ht-handelsagentur.de

*http://www.iea.org

*http://www.iwr.de

*http://www.solarenergysystems.eu

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