Solar and wind tech for home energy use became more affordable in the early 70's, following a major oil crisis at the time. Today, many well established renewable energy companies and important research partnerships that begin in the 1970's are bringing their experience and knowledge to a world in need of energy solutions. A few countries like Japan and Germany have since excelled in the research and development of solar and wind technologies to meet energy demands in their home countries. Both capital and non-profit renewable energy ventures are growing rapidly, all sharing a basic interest in global energy security. India alone is currently developing 60 solar cities in response to growing energy demands. Ota city, pictured here, began implementing a vision for residential solar power back in 1998. By 2002 Japan's government began distributing free solar panels to home owners with the intent of making this small town a case study of solar powered life, a study that will wrap up in 2010.
Solar cells, also called photovoltaic cells, traditionally use crystalline silicon that capture the sun's light. Electrical energy is produced through the lights interaction with the crystalline silicon of the cells at an atomic level, which can then be stored for home energy use. In 2009 using the sun's energy has evolved beyond standard pv panel systems with the introduction of thin film solar products and concentrated solar power, CSP applications . An example of some fresh innovation goes on at Konarka, a company in the U.S. that's achieved cost effective thin film production. Konarka is developing and advancing nano-enabled polymer photovoltaic materials that are light and flexible. Thin film solar applications are presently slightly less energy efficient than standard solar panels, but are less expensive to manufacture, lighter and faster to produce. CSP uses solar mirrors and sun tracking to capture the sun's light, and stands to revolutionize the solar industry in the years ahead simply because it's more cost efficient and demonstrates greater energy efficiency.
Globally, we are seeing research and development of solar efficient materials kicking into high gear. Those of us newer to the renewable energy movement can thank those who have done the work leading up to today, who continue to inspire others to create ever more efficient energy products that can be called, sustainable energy solutions for the future of the world.
In light of earth's large and growing population the idea of renewable energy in the form of home solar or home wind systems, are very welcome and timely ideas. In 2008, the International Energy Agency's climate-energy studies revealed that 40-50% of global consumer energy is used for heating, and to a lesser degree cooling of our habitable spaces. The changes we need to see globally, to effectively address energy consumption, are in how we think and how that translates into how we live. The switch is from a consumer mind-set to a sustainable mindset. It's simple, smart and can be achieved.
world energy outlook
Why is renewable home energy worth your time and effort? With the many pressing issues we face globally, we felt it was important to devote some time to talking about our current energy outlook, because of it's relevance to the renewable home energy question. On the topic of global energy it can be challenging to get a practical understanding of this vast subject during changing times. We think it's necessary to concede that the interconnected topics of environmental protection, climate change and creating sustainable energy for the world are complex and broad, and to some degree escape even the best journalist's rendition. They are however the inescapable issues that point us to sustainable energy solutions.
We also feel the need to say that global energy change will take time. As urgently as the alarm is being sounded we still have millions of cars relying on gas, and coal burning plants on every continent. It is only logical to concede that they cannot be displaced immediately. Even if saying this seems politically incorrect, some honesty is desirable in the face of understanding what we need to do to meet today's energy challenge. Positive changes are taking place in many countries presently, as many people, organizations, business owners and governments plan and organize for the work ahead.
What we have today is what we now understand about climate and energy through the invaluable research efforts of people like Sir Isaac Stern, and the shared work of the IEA and IPCC. Our most valuable asset in addressing these important issues is truly our mutual cooperation and creative collaboration. We'd like to share with you a few essential points about our current climate-energy situation, that clarify an energy landscape that is changing.
Members of the International Energy Agency are a group of 28 countries and they agree that time for debate is over on the subject of climate and renewable energy. There are many organizations dedicated to environmental protection, climate change and renewable energy but the IEA holds significant importance. This agency was born out of the oil crisis of the early 70's, and provides policy advising to governments on world energy security. Why is policy so important? Using effective policy is the one reason countries like Germany and Denmark have developed massive renewable energy solutions to meet energy needs in their own backyards. Effective government policy is the one thing that can impede or advance the implementing of the sustainable and innovative energy solutions we are developing. Governments have to demonstrate the hutzpah to carve out this new territory of energy independence, so to speak. This is where the rubber meets the road for the advancement of global energy security, which in 2009 is vitally connected to mitigating climate change and protecting our life-giving natural habitats.
'Towards a Sustainable Future', was published in November 2008 by the IEA and the OECD and provides energy projections to 2030. Rather than reinvent the wheel, we'll reference an important statement at the beginning of the report, that is very clear about our current world energy prospects. 'The scenario analyses of IEA publications World Energy Outlook and Energy Technology Perspectives yield stark conclusions. We could be on a path to doubling current global energy-related CO2 emissions by 2050. The options exist to change the trend, provided the action is taken urgently. But the contribution that G8 or IEA member countries can make on their own is limited. A substantial transformation of the global energy economy is required. To be effective, all major economies need to participate. The costs are significant and strong price signals on CO2 are essential. As shown in the WEO, in the absence of major additional investment efforts, oil and gas markets will remain very tight in the decades to come'.
© oecd/iea 2008
We'd like to make special mention of a new global energy agency, that launched quite appropriately on the heels of the IEA's revealing report. IRENA or the International Renewable Energy Agency, officially declared itself an agency on January 26, 2009 at it's first conference held in Bonn, Germany. As a side note, Germany is currently the global leader in solar use and production, and facilitated the creation of IRENA. With 125 countries in attendance, over 75 countries signed an initial statute supporting renewable energy development. The statute clarifies that renewable energies must be sustainable and those energies include bioenergy, geothermal energy, hydro power, ocean energy as tidal, wave and thermal, solar energy and wind energy. IRENA's purpose is to be the driving force that assists governments transition to renewable energies that will meet consumer demand, effectively displacing our primary reliance on polluting oil, gas and coal.
Non-renewable energy sources such as oil, no longer serve a safe or realistic economic perspective for meeting world energy demand. David O'Reilly, CEO of Chevron had this to say, 'One thing is clear: the era of easy oil is over. What we do next will determine how well we meet the energy needs of the entire world in this century and beyond'. The science of harnessing natural and sustainable energies are smart solutions we have today. These technologies can meet our global energy demands, protect a fragile environment and allow for economic growth into our future.
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positive energy solutions
Many of us presently have a clear window of opportunity to upgrade our homes to renewable energy with the help of incentives or even by building our own systems. We cannot predict how world energy planning will unfold at this point, even though it is underway. There is still a long road ahead from the perspective of government planning for large scale infrastructure for renewable energy, for major cities especially. One simpler approach, is the lego method. Simply put, this means connecting smaller systems in a shared effort. Ota city is an example. In this model each person benefits and contributes to the power needs of their community. It's a unique opportunity for homeowners in the energy market. This approach seems more doable from the perspective of some world energy planners as opposed to relying heavily on expensive and massive independent renewable energy projects. The community approach is the vision that has inspired the renewable energy incentives programs we are seeing around the world, as governments begin to respond to our need to change how we use energy.
If we've held a safe assumption that we should patiently wait for all these changes to take place, this scenario is different and in our opinion deserves our full attention. Essentially each of us can be an agent for change in our own communities by switching to sustainable home energy solutions. If you'd like to understand our current global energy concerns in greater depth please consult the information we've provided under Renewable Initiatives and Global Initiatives on this page, or visit the International Energy Agency's website where you can find the publications we've referenced here. 'The Weather Makers' and 'Beyond Oil', also provide clear and informative reading on the topic of world energy, the environment and our most viable energy solutions going into the future.
The apparent global distress we are faced with now, embodies also the opportunity for deeper cooperation for the human race. If your government wants to give you thousands of dollars to upgrade your home to solar or wind energy systems, it's because they want you to. They know that we have to be about making these changes today.
The opportunity as individuals is to do what we can to make renewable energy change a reality, as many are already doing. Lobbying our governments, supporting climate action activities, using solar and wind energy systems for our homes, are all ways we individually contribute to the larger economics of a sustainable world. We each make a difference. It is clear that the simplicity and positive economy of solar and wind energy for home owners will remain relevant to family and global energy needs now and into our future."
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