Table of Contents
Introduction
According to NASA’s Earth observatory, the current earth’s temperature is rising ten times faster than post ice age warming” (Earth Observatory, 2010). Our current production of electricity is only aiding climate change and having fossil fuels continue to be our leading source of energy is implausible. We consider electricity to be a common commodity, but the supply of coal, oil, and natural gas is finite. We take our current lifestyle for granted, and future generations will have to deal with the consequences. With the growing population, the shrinking supply of fossil fuels, and their impact on the environment, new solutions need to be produced. The purpose of this blog is to address the sustainability of electricity and highlight an innovative form of renewable energy called the WaveRoller.
Global Warming
According to the SolarImpulse Foundation, a group created to support the first perpetually flying aircraft, “The massive use of traditional energy sources leads – among other things – to the increase of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2), resulting in global warming” (Solar, n.d). Climate change is a serious problem and the majority of the world’s electricity comes from fuels that harm the environment. The Earth Science Communication Team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, reveals that
- Global temperature rise
- Warming oceans
- Shrinking ice sheets
- Decreased snow cover
- Sea level rise
- Ocean acidification
are just some of the impacts human energy production has indirectly had on the planet (NASA, 2020).
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Actions Create Change
What can we do to minimize the impact we make on the environment? The SolarImpulse Foundation has advised people to switch to renewable energy (wind turbines, solar panels, and dams), and to be more energy efficient and conservative (Solar, n.d). Switching to renewable energy is not a simple fix, due to the expensive initial cost, overpopulation, and its need for certain environmental conditions. The graph below, from the McKinsey Energy Insights, a global intelligence group focused on energy, projects that “renewable electricity generation accounts for more than 50% of power supply post-2035, a clear trend break from historical fossil fuel-based generation” (McKinsey, 2019). The question is, how can we make these projections a reality?
Renewable Energy
All renewable energy requires conditions that are constant to produce electricity, but environmental conditions are not always reliable or predictable. Imagine in the future that your home is powered by renewable energy, but the wind suddenly stalls, or storm clouds have blocked out the sun, or the river has dried up. The reliability of current renewable energy sources is a concern if we want to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as a result of burning fossil fuels. If renewable energy is to become our primary source of electricity, multiple sources must be implemented simultaneously, and we must design new innovative ways to harness energy from the planet.
WaveRoller
A wave energy tech company based in Finland called AW-Energy, has created a device that harnesses the power of the ocean, called the WaveRoller. It converts the movement of a wave into electricity for onshore use. A WaveRoller is an emission free device, designed to have minimal effects on the ecosystem, can be deployed in farms, and has the capacity to produce about seven times more power than wind turbines in a similar sized area (AW Energy, 2019).
Conclusion
Climate change and global warming are real concerns that will happen whether we try to reduce their effects or not. Continuing to use fossil fuels as our primary source of energy is unrealistic because resources are finite. Renewable energy is a sustainable source of electricity and is projected to be the leading source of energy in the future. WaveRollers are just one of many innovative solutions to a global issue, but it’s crucial that actions be taken to secure a future place to live on this earth.
References
- AW Energy Oy. (2019). WaveRoller. Retrieved January 17, 2020, from http://aw-energy.com/waveroller/#solution
- Earth Observatory, NASA. (2010, June 3). How is Today’s Warming Different from the Past? Retrieved January 17, 2020, from https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/GlobalWarming/page3.php
- McKinsey, Energy Insights. (2019, January). Global Energy Perspective 2019: Reference Case. Retrieved January 17, 2020, from https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Industries/Oil%20and%20Gas/Our%20Insights/Global%20Energy%20Perspective%202019/McKinsey-Energy-Insights-Global-Energy-Perspective-2019_Reference-Case-Summary.ashx)
- NASA. (2020, January 15). Climate Change: How Do We Know? Retrieved January 17, 2020, from https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
- Solar Impulse Foundation. (n.d). Solutions To The Energy Crisis: How To Achieve Sustainable Energy? Retrieved January 17, 2020, from https://solarimpulse.com/energy-crisis-solutions
