Session 8: Renewable Sources of Energy

TWC is the first lesson I've had since recess week! Been a good week. This weeks class is not a new topic. Countless journals, news articles and academic pieces have tried to address the growing issue of a detioriating earth coupled with rising energy consumption amongst a whole myriad of other problems.

Many environmentalists, specialists come to the conclusion that we currently possess all the technology required to switch COMPLETELY to renewable energy sources, and are able to present beautifully their analysis. After the talk, guests mingle with the speaker over wine, giving compliments to the speaker on how well pitched his thesis was. Going on to the second glass of wine, many speakers lose the optimism and vigour that they had an hour ago in front of the listening crowd.

First world countries used to invest billions of dollars into R&D of green technologies. Those countries, however, have now moved on to a metaphorical second glass of wine. The optimism is waning. Developing countries such as China are thus able to catch up to these first world countries in terms of R&D investment. Today, the problems remain unsolved.

While we see many applications in harnessing energy from hydroelectric, solar, biofuel and wind energy, they have their respective shortcomings. However, too much time has been spent on deliberating what is good and what is not. There is a lack of action today, attributed to a lack of governmental support in the fear of losing the people's mandate. Corporations take no action as costs are too high and profitability is in qestion. Consumers are unwilling to pay a whole lot over a certain price. Finger pointing and solution synthesis are useless without action. The world needs to be convicted. This would probably take a catastrophic event, the end of the world's oil supply for example.

However, we also see Germany's positive example in the widespread adoption of solar panels and a power grid, which are concrete steps taken towards an economy running on renewable energy. Clearly, money talks. With the German Government providing economic incentive for the country to move into solar energy, it is proving to be effective!

All in all, my thoughts are that each country has its respective unique situations eg perceived political instability in the Middle East, and therefore require unique solutions to these problems. While Desertec is one of the applications in which solar energy can be harnessed, soil treatment technology could also be worked on to save this arable land, and restore it to a healthy state for organisms to flourish. TED.com also talks it up as one of the solutions to look out for in the near future.



Class in TWC has shown me different angles in adopting technology. A personal topic of interest, this week was 9/10 for me.