Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8
The Future - Towards a
Sustainable Electricity
Supply System
8.1 Introduction
We live in a world of enormous divides in terms of wealth, and these are refl ected in major
disparities of energy consumption per capita. An average American consumes a massive
13 000 kW h per year of electricity while in the underdeveloped regions of Africa the average
lies between 50 and 100 kW h. In fact, nearly two billion people have no access to electricity
at all. In terms of social justice and for more pragmatic considerations such as reduction in
tension between the haves and the have-nots, it is essential that this imbalance is
addressed.
A universal global electrifi cation scenario that allows all of the world's population to attain
the current average per capita electricity consumption of just over 3,000 kWhrs per annum,
would require a massive increase in electricity generation capacity. Is it feasible to achieve
this using traditional fuels or nuclear power? Assuming that climate change is indeed hap-
pening, the fi rst option would be an environmental disaster and it would substantially shorten
the period over which the limited oil and gas reserves would be available. The second option
might appear to be environmentally benign but would place unsustainable demand on uranium
supplies and give rise to additional quantities of nuclear waste that would exacerbate present
concerns regarding safe disposal.
The only sane alternative is a major increase in the exploitation of renewable energy
sources, leading eventually to a completely sustainable electricity supply system. Effecting
a transition from our present rapacious consumption of fi nite resources is of course a massive
challenge, but one that has to be met face on.
Renewable resources have a range of advantages. They are:
