World without fossil fuels

Fossil fuels – oil and coal – have been the principal sources of energy for the modern economy. But they have also been responsible for polluting the environment to such a dangerous level that today, the climate is warming, ice caps are melting and the weather is becoming more volatile; and,  another species of plant or animal disappears forever every 20 minutes or so.

The only solution to the survival of the earth, as we know it, is to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy. Just what is renewable energy? And, is it possible to imagine a world without fossil fuels?

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA): “ Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth, Included in the definition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and bio-fuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources.”

Coal as a source of energy was not developed until the 19th century. Before that time, the traditional sources of energy were all renewable – human labor, animal power, water power, wind (i.e. windmills) and firewood, a form of biomass. Oil and natural gas became major sources of energy only at the beginning of the 20th century.

Scientists have estimated that mankind has pumped some 150 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since 1750. Almost half of that amount of carbon dioxide has been emitted into the atmosphere since 2000; and, in 2016 alone 9.9 billion tons of carbon dioxide was pumped into the atmosphere. 

But, in recent years, renewable energy has proven to be the earth’s possible salvation. Ian Morris, a historian and archaeologist, recently wrote: “ Most analysts think that the world’s demand for energy will keep growing in the near future. But they also believe that as time passes, renewable sources of energy – hydroelectric, biomass, and perhaps nuclear energy, but above all wind and solar – will replace fossil fuels, reducing carbon emissions. The main disagreements are over how quickly that will happen.”

The energy “tipping point” is the time when renewable energy will overtake fossil fuels as the primary sources of energy in the world. Except for a few non-believers in climate change like Donald Trump, most energy analysts believe that the earth will reach this “tipping point” sooner or later. Even the world’s largest petroleum companies predict that the change will come sometime in the future. Shell analysts predict that it will take around 25 years to reach a point  when the total output of renewable energy will be equal to the growth in demand for energy. At this point, the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the environment will level off. 

British Petroleum (BP) thinks it will take 30 years; and, Exxon analysts predict it be another 75 years. The international Energy Association (IEA) is hopeful that the tipping point will be reached in 35 years.  Kingsmill Bond, an energy strategist, has created a model that predicts that by the early 2040s half of the world’s energy will come from renewable. 

History of renewable energy

One of the oldest uses of renewable energy is the use of wind to drive ships over water – a practice that can be traced back to ships on the Nile River over 7,000 years ago. In 1873, a Professor Augustine Mouchot  wrote: “Petroleum springs and coal mines are not inexhaustible but are rapidly diminishing in many places. Will man, then return to the power of water and wind? Or will he emigrate where the most powerful source of heat sends its rays to all? History will show what will come.”

The German inventor and businessman, Werner Siemens wrote in 1885 on the discovery of the photovoltaic effect in the solid state: “...the scientific importance of this discovery may be its practical value will be no less obvious when we reflect that the supply of solar energy is both without limit and without cost, and that it will continue to pour down upon us for countless ages after all the coal deposits of the earth have been exhausted and forgotten.”

Philippine pioneer

The Philippine pioneer in renewable energy is the Oscar Lopez Group of Companies – first Philippine Holdings, First Gen and EDC. The Group’s Chairman and CEO, Federico Lopez has announced that the group will not invest in coal-fired plants; but, will expand its renewable energy investments. Its subsidiary; Energy Development Corp. (EDC)  is the world’s largest integrated geothermal power producer. 

Lopez recently said: “ I’m certain that without having to look too far, this country already has energy alternatives that do not mortgage the future of our children and the future of our planet.”  In a business partnership that, hopefully, can serve as an energy model for other major business conglomerates, Unilever and First Gen recently signed a power purchase agreement for supply of renewable energy to Unilever’s Paco and Pasig facilities. 

The environmentalist Adam Sweidan invented the term “ black elephant”: “....the elephant in the room : a problem that is widely visible to everyone , yet no one wants to address, even though we absolutely know that one day it will have vast, black swan-like consequences...Currently, there are a herd of black elephants gathering out there – global warming, deforestation, ocean acidification, and mass diversity extinctions , just to name a few.”

The time to address these environmental “black elephants” is now before they reach a point where we may be unable to control them. 

Creative writing classes for kids & teens

Young Writers’ Hangout for Kids & Teens on July 1 and July 22  (1:30-3pm/independent sessions).  All sessions are at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street.  For registration and fee details text 0917-6240196 or email [email protected].

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