Energy efficiency and renewable technologies: the way to sustainable energy future

Abstract

Energy statistics may have resulted in different projections, indications, and estimates of the growth in world primary energy demand. But all agreed upon the fact that the increase in demand for energy is inevitable. Of course the growth rate varies in different regions of the world and depends on the status of economic development. This growth in demand will result in an increase in the number of known and of suspected environmental risks. Among those in risk caused by energy systems are health, agriculture, climate, and water supply. Improved judgment and information of current and future risks is a major challenge to both energy and environmental expertise. The share of global primary energy consumption used in electricity production is not an exception. The growth rate for this sector is expected to exceed 50% in year 2060. This will result in additional pressure on the energy service sector and more problems related to both management and deficiencies in the domestic energy infrastructure including pipelines and other means of oil transport and electricity transmission. The controversial links between energy use (current and projected), the anticipated economic growth, and environmental impact of excessive use of energy should be taken seriously in the effort devoted to identify a global solution for our energy and environmental problems. One possible solution is to consider immediate change in the composition of energy resource portfolio, the ways of providing energy services (transmission, distribution, and transportation of energy), and regulating policies before it is too late. This can be realized through a reliable, cheaper, and clean alternative. This alternative should come from improved productivity by using less energy at higher efficiency to achieve the same results before looking for additional resources. It is also expected that renewable energy have a great potential to solve a major part of the global energy sustainability problem.