Chapter 1 Summary: Introducing Renewable Energy
Overview
Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to renewable energy, covering its historical
significance, fundamental principles, current global energy landscape, and future
prospects. It emphasizes the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to sustainable
energy sources to mitigate climate change and meet growing energy demands.
Key Themes and Sections
1.1 Introduction
• Historical Context: Renewable energy, derived primarily from solar radiation, has
been used since ancient times (e.g., firewood, wind, water). The Industrial Revolution
shifted focus to fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), which now dominate global energy supply
(~80%).
• Modern Revival: Concerns over fossil fuel depletion, environmental damage (e.g., air
pollution, climate change), and nuclear energy's limitations (safety, waste) have
reignited interest in renewables.
• Sustainability Criteria: Ideal renewable energy sources are inexhaustible, low-
polluting, and socially equitable. Renewables generally outperform fossil/nuclear
fuels in sustainability.
Basic Energy Concepts
• Units and Definitions:
o Energy (Joule, J): Capacity to do work. Forms include kinetic, thermal, electrical, and
nuclear.
o Power (Watt, W): Rate of energy conversion (1 W = 1 J/s).
o Efficiency: Ratio of useful output to input energy (e.g., 90% for water turbines, 10–
20% for combustion engines).
o Capacity Factor: Actual output vs. maximum potential (e.g., wind turbines ~34% due
to intermittent wind).
• Laws of Thermodynamics:
o First Law: Energy is conserved; conversions involve losses (e.g., waste heat in power
plants).
o Second Law: Heat engines have inherent efficiency limits due to entropy.
1.2 Present-Day Energy Use
• Global Energy Consumption:
o In 2009, world primary energy use was 502 EJ (exajoules), with fossil fuels dominating
(coal 27%, oil 32%, gas 22%).
o Renewables contributed ~13%, including traditional biomass (30 EJ), hydropower
(2.3%), and modern renewables (wind, solar).
• UK Energy Landscape:
o Renewables provided 3.3% of primary energy (2009), with 6.7% of electricity from
wind, biomass, and hydro.
o Significant energy losses (~30%) occur during conversion/delivery, highlighting
inefficiencies.
1.3 Fossil Fuels and Climate Change
• Greenhouse Effect: CO₂ and methane emissions from fossil fuels amplify Earth’s
natural greenhouse effect, raising global temperatures (~0.7°C since 1950).
• Projections: Unchecked emissions could lead to 1.4–5.8°C warming by 2100, causing
extreme weather, sea-level rise, and ecosystem disruptions.
• Mitigation: An 80% reduction in global CO₂ emissions by 2050 is needed to limit
warming to 2°C, necessitating a shift to renewables.
1.4 Renewable Energy Sources
• Solar Energy:
o Direct Uses: Solar thermal (water/space heating), photovoltaics (electricity), and
passive solar design.
o Indirect Uses: Hydropower (rainfall-driven), wind (atmospheric heat flows), waves
(wind-driven), and bioenergy (photosynthesis).
• Non-Solar Renewables:
o Tidal Energy: Moon’s gravitational pull harnessed via barrages or underwater
turbines.
o Geothermal Energy: Earth’s internal heat, used for electricity or heating (renewable
if extraction ≤ replenishment rate).
1.5 Renewable Energy in a Sustainable Future
• EU and UK Targets:
o EU’s "20:20:20" directive aims for 20% renewables in gross final energy by 2020. UK
targets include:
▪ 30% renewable electricity (e.g., wind, hydro).
▪ 12% renewable heat (e.g., solar thermal, biomass).
▪ 10% renewable transport fuels (e.g., biofuels).
o Support mechanisms: Feed-in tariffs, Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), and Green
Investment Bank.
• Long-Term Scenarios: By 2030, renewables could supply 28–46% of UK energy, with
35–65% of electricity and 35–50% of heat from renewables.
1.6 Summary
• Renewables are poised to play a pivotal role in achieving energy sustainability, driven
by technological advances, policy support, and environmental imperatives.
• Subsequent chapters delve into specific renewable technologies (solar, wind,
bioenergy, etc.), their principles, applications, and challenges.
Key Takeaways
• Urgency of Transition: Fossil fuels are finite and environmentally damaging;
renewables offer a sustainable alternative.
• Diverse Technologies: Solar, wind, hydro, bioenergy, tidal, and geothermal each
have unique advantages and applications.
• Policy-Driven Growth: EU/UK targets and incentives are accelerating renewable
adoption, with significant projected growth by 2030.
• Global Potential: Renewables could meet a substantial share of future energy needs,
mitigating climate change and enhancing energy security.
This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding the technical, economic, and
environmental dimensions of renewable energy explored in the rest of the book.
