2502: (Allied Science) Renewable Energy
Books:
1. Renewable Energy Resources, By John Twidell, Tony Weir
Global Energy Inventory
1. Energy Sources:
Non-Renewable Energy:
- Coal:
- Accounts for around 27% of global energy consumption
(2023).
- Global coal reserves: 1.1 trillion tons (enough for over
100 years at current consumption rates).
- Oil:
- Accounts for around 31% of global energy consumption
(2023).
- World oil reserves: 1.7 trillion barrels (estimated to last
for about 50 years at current consumption rates).
- Natural
Gas:
- Accounts for around 23% of global energy consumption
(2023).
- Global natural gas reserves: 187 trillion cubic meters (estimated to last around 60 years).
Renewable Energy:
- Solar
Energy:
- Installed capacity worldwide: 1,060 gigawatts (GW) (2023).
- Expected growth: Solar energy is expected to increase by 14%
per year globally over the next decade.
- Wind
Energy:
- Installed capacity worldwide: 1,050 GW (2023).
- Wind energy is expected to provide 40% of global
electricity by 2040.
- Hydropower:
- Accounts for about 16% of global electricity production
(2023).
- Global hydropower capacity: 1,300 GW (2023).
- Geothermal
Energy:
- Geothermal power capacity: 16 GW globally.
- This provides less than 1% of the world’s energy but is growing steadily.
2. Global Energy Use by Source (2023 Data):
- Fossil
Fuels (Coal, Oil, Natural Gas): 80%
of global energy consumption.
- Renewables
(Solar, Wind, Hydropower, Geothermal): 20%
of global energy consumption.
- Growth Rate of Renewable Energy: Renewables are growing at 5% per year.
- Solar and Wind Energy Growth: Expected to grow 3-4 times faster than fossil fuels over the next 20 years.
3. Carbon Emissions and Climate Change:
- Global
Carbon Emissions: 36 billion tons of CO₂ are emitted
annually (2023).
- Carbon dioxide is the
largest contributor to global warming.
- Energy sector accounts for about 73% of global CO₂ emissions
4. Fossil Fuel Reserves:
- Oil: 1.7 trillion barrels (about 50 years of supply at
current rates).
- Natural
Gas: 187 trillion cubic meters (about 60
years of supply).
- Coal: 1.1 trillion tons (over 100 years of supply).
5. Global Energy Demand Projections:
- Global
Energy Demand Growth (2040): Energy
consumption is projected to increase by 25% by 2040.
- Developing countries like India and China will drive much of this growth.
6. Energy Access:
- 1.1
billion people worldwide still do not have access to
electricity (2023).
- Renewable energy, especially solar, is being used to help provide energy access to remote areas, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and rural Asia.
Summary of Key Numbers:
- Coal: 27% of global energy, 100+ years of reserves.
- Oil: 31% of global energy, 50 years of reserves.
- Natural
Gas: 23% of global energy, 60 years of
reserves.
- Solar: 1,060 GW installed capacity (growing rapidly).
- Wind: 1,050 GW installed capacity.
- Hydropower: 1,300 GW installed capacity, 16% of global electricity.
- Geothermal: 16 GW capacity, growing slowly.
- Carbon Emissions: 36 billion tons per year from the energy sector (73% of global emissions)
Title: Renewable Energy and Its Role in Fighting Climate Change
Introduction
· Around the world, renewable energy use is on the rise, signifying a global shift towards sustainable energy sources.
· These alternative energy sources could hold the key to fighting climate change, one of the most pressing challenges of our time.
Part 1: Understanding Renewable Energy
What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy is generated from sources that naturally refill themselves and never run out. It's a stark contrast to finite fossil fuel reserves.
The most common renewable energy sources are:
· Solar: Harnessing the power of the sun through photovoltaic cells and solar panels.
· Wind: Utilizing wind turbines to convert wind energy into electricity.
· Hydro: Capturing the energy of flowing water through dams and turbines.
· Geothermal: Tapping into the Earth's internal heat for power generation.
· Biomass: Using organic materials such as wood, agricultural residues, and waste to produce energy.
· Over 80% of the total energy consumed by humans is derived from fossil fuels, which contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Part 2: The Rise of Renewable Energy
Renewables: The Fastest Growing Energy Source
· Despite the dominance of fossil fuels in our energy landscape, renewables are currently the fastest-growing source of energy globally. This growth is driven by increasing awareness of environmental concerns and advancements in technology.
Benefits of Renewable Energy
Combatting Climate Change
· Renewable energy creates no direct greenhouse gas emissions during power generation. Any emissions produced are indirect, primarily resulting from the manufacturing, installation, operation, and maintenance of renewable energy systems. However, even these emissions are minimal compared to fossil fuels.
Decreasing Pollution
· Wind, solar, and hydroelectric systems produce no air pollution emissions. This means cleaner air and reduced health risks for the communities near these facilities.
· Geothermal and biomass energy systems have emissions considerably lower than non-renewable energy sources, further contributing to improved air quality.
Reliability
· Renewable energy sources are well, renewable. They will never run out, making them a reliable source of power for the long term.
· Once built, renewable energy facilities have minimal operational costs, and the fuel is often free. As a result, renewable energy prices tend to be stable over time.
Part 3: The Downsides of Renewable Energy
Challenges
· Generating power at the same large scale as fossil fuels can be challenging. Fossil fuel power plants are often large and centralized, providing energy consistently.
Ecological Impact
· The construction of wind farms and dams can disrupt local wildlife and migration patterns. This environmental impact is a concern that must be addressed as renewable energy infrastructure expands.
Intermittency
Solar and wind energy are intermittent, meaning they only generate power when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. Energy storage systems, such as batteries, can store excess energy for later use to address this issue.
Energy Storage
· While energy storage solutions like batteries are essential for maintaining a consistent energy supply from intermittent sources, they are often costly, requiring further investment and technological advancements.
Conclusion
Despite the challenges, renewable energy offers a viable and environmentally friendly alternative to the greenhouse gas emissions and pollution associated with fossil fuels.
· Advancements in technology are making renewable energy more accessible, affordable, and efficient. These developments continue to drive the global transition toward cleaner energy sources.
· With the collective efforts of nations and individuals, an end to climate change is a realistic goal that we can strive to achieve.
EVA= Ethelene vinyl acetate
Follow these Videos for your preparation:
1. Renewable Energy 101 | National Geographic
Title: Renewable Energy and Its Role in Fighting Climate Change
Introduction
·
Around the world, renewable energy use is
on the rise, signifying a global shift towards sustainable energy sources.
·
These alternative energy sources could
hold the key to fighting climate change, one of the most pressing challenges of
our time.
Part 1: Understanding Renewable Energy
What is Renewable Energy?
·
Renewable energy is generated from sources
that naturally refill themselves and never run out. It's a stark contrast to
finite fossil fuel reserves.
The most common renewable energy sources are:
·
Solar: Harnessing the power of the sun
through photovoltaic cells and solar panels.
·
Wind: Utilizing wind turbines to convert
wind energy into electricity.
·
Hydro: Capturing the energy of flowing
water through dams and turbines.
·
Geothermal: Tapping into the Earth's
internal heat for power generation.
·
Biomass: Using organic materials such as
wood, agricultural residues, and waste to produce energy.
·
Over 80% of the total energy consumed by
humans is derived from fossil fuels, which contribute significantly to
greenhouse gas emissions.
Part 2: The Rise of Renewable Energy
Renewables: The Fastest Growing Energy Source
·
Despite the dominance of fossil fuels in
our energy landscape, renewables are currently the fastest-growing source of
energy globally. This growth is driven by increasing awareness of environmental
concerns and advancements in technology.
Benefits of Renewable Energy
Combatting Climate Change
·
Renewable energy creates no direct
greenhouse gas emissions during power generation. Any emissions produced are
indirect, primarily resulting from the manufacturing, installation, operation,
and maintenance of renewable energy systems. However, even these emissions are
minimal compared to fossil fuels.
Decreasing Pollution
·
Wind, solar, and hydroelectric systems
produce no air pollution emissions. This means cleaner air and reduced health
risks for the communities near these facilities.
·
Geothermal and biomass energy systems have
emissions considerably lower than non-renewable energy sources, further
contributing to improved air quality.
Reliability
·
Renewable energy sources are well,
renewable. They will never run out, making them a reliable source of power for
the long term.
·
Once built, renewable energy facilities
have minimal operational costs, and the fuel is often free. As a result,
renewable energy prices tend to be stable over time.
Part 3: The Downsides of Renewable Energy
Challenges
·
Generating power at the same large scale
as fossil fuels can be challenging. Fossil fuel power plants are often large
and centralized, providing energy consistently.
Ecological Impact
·
The construction of wind farms and dams
can disrupt local wildlife and migration patterns. This environmental impact is
a concern that must be addressed as renewable energy infrastructure expands.
Intermittency
·
Solar and wind energy are intermittent,
meaning they only generate power when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing.
Energy storage systems, such as batteries, can store excess energy for later
use to address this issue.
Energy Storage
·
While energy storage solutions like
batteries are essential for maintaining a consistent energy supply from
intermittent sources, they are often costly, requiring further investment and
technological advancements.
Conclusion
·
Despite the challenges, renewable energy
offers a viable and environmentally friendly alternative to the greenhouse gas
emissions and pollution associated with fossil fuels.
·
Advancements in technology are making
renewable energy more accessible, affordable, and efficient. These developments
continue to drive the global transition toward cleaner energy sources.
·
With the collective efforts of nations and
individuals, an end to climate change is a realistic goal that we can strive to
achieve.
..........................................................
2. Can 100% renewable energy power the world?
· Every year, the world uses a huge amount of oil—35 billion barrels. This heavy reliance on oil pollutes the Earth, and there's only a limited amount available. Scientists think we've already used up 40% of the world's oil. At this rate, we might run out of oil and gas in about 50 years, and coal in a century.
· But we've got other options! We have lots of sunlight, water, and wind. These are renewable energy sources, but right now, they only make up about 13% of what we use. To use only renewable energy, it needs to be cheap and easy to get—a big challenge even if we focus only on science and engineering, ignoring politics.
· Let's look at how we use energy. We mostly use electricity and liquid fuels. Electricity runs so many things in homes, businesses, and factories. And liquid fuels are crucial for transportation.
· Now, for electricity: Good news! Our technology can capture a huge amount of energy from renewable sources like the sun. But there are problems. Solar plants need to be in sunny places like deserts, far from where lots of people live. Other renewable sources like hydroelectric and geothermal have limits too.
· We could build a massive electrical network globally to move this energy around. But it's super expensive! Making it more efficient and changing how we move energy would also be a big job.
· Also, our current power lines lose energy because of resistance in the wires. Longer lines mean even more energy lost. Superconductors could help, but they need super cold temperatures, which takes more energy.
· For liquid fuels like those for cars, the challenge is storing renewable energy easily. We're improving lithium-ion batteries, but they can't hold as much energy as gasoline. For cars, bigger vehicles like ships or planes need even more energy. For a plane to cross the Atlantic, we'd need a 1,000-ton battery!
· One idea is turning solar energy into a form we can easily store and move, but it's not efficient enough yet. To solve these problems, we need lots of creativity, innovation, and incentives. Switching completely to renewable energy is a tough problem—mixing technology, money, and politics. The priorities in solving this problem depend on what we assume. But there's hope! Smart scientists worldwide are working on this, and governments and businesses are investing in using the energy around us."
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3. A Faster Way to Get to a Clean Energy Future
4. 7 Types of Renewable Energy
5. Causes and Effects of Climate Change
6. The Mystery Flaw of Solar Panels
Syllabus: World energy inventory and projected use and energy status of Bangladesh, needs for alternative energy options, global climate change drivers, Global carbon (C) emissions, world’s fossil fuel reserves. Basics of solar energy, need for solar photovoltaics, current approaches in solar cells, new age of solar cells and solar technology: dye-sensitized solar cell, perovskite solar cell, quantum dot solar cell, Cd-Te solar cell etc., solar fuels, hydrogen energy, photocatalytic water splitting, commercial viability of solar fuels, prospect of solar energy in Bangladesh.
**Energy Scenario of Bangladesh Click here:
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