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.

 

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.