Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8 - Sustainable energy
Andrew Blakers
Solar energy can replace fossil and nuclear fuels over the next 50 years, thus creating a
truly sustainable energy supply system. Diversity of solar energy sources is the key to a
stable energy supply. Solar thermal, photovoltaics and wind energy are likely to dom-
inate the solar energy mix. Unfortunately, Australian Government energy policy is not
nearly so sympathetic to solar energy as is energy policy in Europe and Japan.
Reliable, economical energy supply underlies modern technological soci-
ety. Now it must be made sustainable.
There are five available energy sources: solar energy (in its various
forms), fossil energy, nuclear energy, geothermal energy and tidal energy. Of
these, only solar energy can provide really large-scale energy in a sustainable
and environmentally acceptable manner. The other energy sources can sup-
plement solar energy to increase the diversity (and hence stability) of energy
supply.
Fossil fuels are subject to resource depletion and there is a consensus
among climate scientists that the burning of fossil fuels is causing an
enhanced greenhouse effect (IPCC 2001; CSIRO 2001). Consequences over
the next 50 years could include:
•
significant temperature rises (particularly at high latitudes)
•
rising sea temperatures and levels (causing flooding, coastal erosion,
damage to coral reefs)
•
more frequent extreme weather events (such as floods, storms and
drought)
•
the need to move agricultural activities and infrastructure to
different locations
•
an expanded range for tropical diseases and disease vectors
