Energy-Saving News

New Energy Technologies Too Late To Save Us

Posted on 06. May, 2010 by Ross in New Technologies

The world is now aware that low-carbon technologies are the best route to a safer, sustainable future. The problem is that they are still to far away to make a difference.

Whilst the Copenhagen Conference ended in farce, the one thing which delegates could agree wholly on was that climate change was a real danger, and that low-carbon technologies offered the solution both to climate change and to developing nations’ economic growth.

However, the key technologies which will help reduce global carbon emissions to sustainable levels are being researched and deployed too slowly to avoid the disastrous effects which our current emissions trajectory is driving us towards.

One of the key technology areas which promises to substantially cut emissions is low-carbon motoring. Despite being much-touted as the future of cars, hydrogen-powered vehicles have been largely dumped in favour of electric cars: hydrogen and electric cars share technologies, with the latter being a stepping stone towards a hydrogen-powered future. Electric cars, however, are only as clean as the electricity supplied to them, putting extra burden on over-burdened energy grids and putting the spotlight firmly onto power generation.

The holy grail of clean energy is nuclear fusion, with almost limitless energy and minimal waste, but the world is still likely to be 40 years away from commercial nuclear fusion reactors. Advances and cost reductions in various renewable technologies have been sluggish at best and dangerous at worst: geothermal power has been found to trigger earthquakes, for example.

That means the immediate emphasis has been shifted onto more conventional power technologies. Much has been made of the prospect of carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS) for the creation of ‘clean coal’ power stations, but no progress has been made on CCS development. Indeed, this week saw the collapse of a highly-fancied and world-leading CCS project in Mongstad, Norway. It had been described as the country’s ‘moonlanding’ project, but has been shelved due to just being too difficult to pull off.

Switching from coal to natural gas is also seen as a strong emission-cutting solution, despite still involving the burning of a fossil fuel. Exploiting new gas fields is proving controversial, however, as shale deposits have started to become financially viable sources of the fuel. Obtaining natural gas from shales involves highly destructive processes which released toxic heavy metals into the water table, with massive health risks for local populations.

That leaves nuclear fission power stations as the number one preferred option for those governments to which it is an option. Despite a PR campaign to put all other PR campaigns to shame, the nuclear industry has still offered no solutions to the long-term dilemma of what to do with radioactive waste, which would start to be produced in quantities never seen before should climate change drive policy-makers in this direction.

With new energy technologies taking too long to provide us with cheap clean power, and old power technologies still creating environmental havoc, the only way that governments can act now is to promote lower use of energy. To help households and businesses become more energy efficient is the task confronting world leaders, but it is an easy sell. Energy efficiency is a simple way to cut costs: projects such as insulation and energy efficient lighting pay for themselves many times over, as well as reducing carbon emissions at the same time.

Over time the energy mix might slowly start to decarbonise, but until then the easiest way to do your share is simply to use less energy. Otherwise don’t be too surprised when a nuclear power station pops up next door!

Image by geishaboy500 @ Flickr

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3. Why The Hydrogen Future Needs Electric Cars
4. Will Algae Fuel The Hydrogen Economy?
5. New Battery Technologies In A Spin

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Tags: CCS, energy efficiency, hydrogen, nuclear, nuclear fusion, renewables