Meeting the CO²-free energy challenge - Opportunities

As humanity continues to advance in this century the challenge of energy needs and its repercussions on a sustainable environment have become starker. With it, the need to establish a globally shared middle of the century “vision” for a system of energy production and distribution that will guide through the uncertainties of the transition. However complicated, the process should be global. We are all together on a burning platform and need desperately a global consensus. Without a “vision” on such a fundamental issue humanity would sail rudderless. There are undoubtedly many obstacles to overcome but there are also significant opportunities in the system to help meet the challenge. This article will focus on some these opportunities. For the weaknesses of the system click here.

Perhaps the most important opportunity is the fact that large parts of the Globe are still underdeveloped. Energy production and distribution are embryonic or non-existent. Consequently they present an opportunity to develop energy infrastructure on the principles of the “vision”. Given the projected share of demand from these parts of the World by the middle of the century, grasping this opportunity now seems evident. On the other hand, not grasping it will be catastrophic to the planet during the transition.

Through its morphology the planet also provide numerous regions such as deserts to implant large energy generation centres away from densely populated areas. These areas are ideal locations for renewable energy and nuclear power plants at distances that minimise transport lines losses.

Another element of opportunity is the accelerating pace of scientific discoveries and consequent technological breakthroughs in the fields of energy production and distribution. There are developments in generic sciences and particularly in superconductivity and nanotechnology that affect the broader spectrum of applications. We can also testify to the potential of revolutionary nuclear, photovoltaic and pure or hybrid hydrogen production technologies with pilot plants already running or under construction. In addition research in the introduction of pure or hybrid hydrogen driven power plants is showing promising results. This element of strength however needs urgent and strong support to maintain and further augment its momentum.

The existing mobility infrastructure could also be seen as an important opportunuty. Although in today’s state it is shaped to meet the needs of current transportation networks, a large part of it can easily be converted to meet the needs of an exclusively electricity/hydrogen driven world. The results would be significant savings to the high burden of the transition cost. These saving would be more important to developed countries where such infrastructure is already in place.

But there are also opportunities of broader significance that are coming into play. One of them is humanity’s increase of knowledge density. Across the globe there are very few places left for illiteracy. Education is lifting societies closer together and the public alert to issues such the energy challenge. Only a generation ago few people would envisage this development and such awareness is fundamental for the achievement of global consensus.

The knowledge density is also a foundation for the built up of other opportunities also a prerequisite in realizing the energy “vision’.

Firstly the expansion of civil society culture across the planet. This culture would support the most dynamic social elements, particularly the younger generations, bring societies closer together, demand transparency, manage resisting interest groups with entrenched positions in energy production and distribution and force governments to implement painful social and fiscal adjustments. It would also push for the establishment of relevant competent and effective Global Institutions. It would in effect introduce a strong social globalization dimension to balance a rampant economic one, something fundamental to the process.

Secondly the effective use of communications and media hardware and software. It is through these powerful vehicles that a process for an agreed ‘vision” could be agreed and a transition towards it would be monitored. It is surprising that in the current debate, short and long-term challenges of energy needs are often confused, creating an obscure horizon and thus providing little hope for a clear vision for the interested non-expert population. If there are communications strategies, they look very poorly conducted indeed.