Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
demands for emission reduction. They are also recognising that there are
opportunities for those who become engaged earlier to build their busi-
nesses from these developments. Clearly this is true for the sectors of indus-
try related to renewable energy and gas, but recently also for oil and coal.
The energy futures debate and policy options are currently characterised
by a high level of attention to the so-called hydrogen economy, an economy
where the main energy source is hydrogen rather than conventional fuels.
Often this attention lacks clarity about where the hydrogen will come from
and whether the energy to produce hydrogen will be derived from fossil fuels
and/or renewable resources. A hydrogen economy is undoubtedly an option
for the future, but raises serious questions concerning the likely time of tech-
nologies being available at reasonable prices, the potential atmospheric
impacts of leaking hydrogen to the atmosphere, the realisation of current
energy system investments and the more likely scenario of a pluralistic
future for our energy system structure. The hydrogen economy appears to
reflect superficial adherence by the media, sections of industry and academia
to what is an almost ideological commitment.
This often dismissive and hand-waving approach to a potentially new
way of doing things appears to be counter to the challenge for addressing
each emerging option in an integrated way. It should entail weighing the
trade-offs of wealth generation (and forgone investment returns), social
realities and values, a range of environmental issues, and the value for today
and the future. A new approach is essential.
Challenge: to overthrow the traditional approach of sectoral or ideological
interests (in industry, the Green movement, in governments) that selects
options that suit a particular view and meet a narrow objective and replace it
with a much more inclusive assessment of options in which the trade-offs are
explicitly declared.
Challenge: to produce a portfolio of changes to our energy system that bring
about emission reductions of 70-80 per cent over this century; meeting the
needs of growing population; relieving poverty; and satisfying, as well as
possible, the simultaneous goals of wealth generation, social security,
environmental protection and intergenerational options.
The energy debate needs to reflect the exciting potential of aspects of the so-
called hydrogen economy. Also, through inclusive, integrated systems analy-
sis, it should rigorously address the realities of technological advancements,
