{"id":3456,"date":"2018-06-23T08:03:32","date_gmt":"2018-06-23T08:03:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/athis-consulting.com\/news\/?p=3456"},"modified":"2018-09-02T08:14:00","modified_gmt":"2018-09-02T08:14:00","slug":"in-case-you-missed-it-renewable-energy-is-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/athis-technologies.com\/news\/innovation\/green-renewable\/2018\/in-case-you-missed-it-renewable-energy-is-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"In case you missed it, renewable energy is the future"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For eight consecutive years, global investment in renewables have exceeded $200 billion, with a massive fall in renewables costs \u2014 particularly the tumbling price of solar panels \u2013 bringing increased bang for the buck. It\u2019s share of the grid has doubled in a decade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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There were plenty of stand-out stories too, all showing that the last-ditch defence of coal in the United States is not the new agenda. South Australia\u2019s energy woes, consisting of black- and brown-outs and high electricity bills, spurred a proof-of-concept from Tesla who installed, in record time, the world\u2019s biggest lithium battery. That has helped put to bed questions on whether solar was ready for the surge demands of a major grid.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In China, the world\u2019s first floating solar farm went on line, situated on a former coal mine \u2013 a symbolic placement that coincides with the long-awaited appearance of blue skies over Beijing. The devastating hurricane season in the Caribbean, meanwhile, ripped apart grids, but it has been solar that proved to be the most resilient. This sets the stage for a new kind of thinking in infrastructure development in vulnerable nations, where off-grid and micro-grid solutions are a model to be reckoned with when it comes to spurring the growth of inclusive economies that leapfrog the old-timers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Wind power in Germany and Denmark also smashed a fresh host of power generation records, with several days of truly remarkable overcapacity. It\u2019s clear that wind and solar has come of age.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"<\/a><\/p>\n
Image: BNEF<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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Moving into 2018, the outlook is also bullish. The numbers have shown big jumps in renewable energy investments in places like Mexico (up 810%), and a very impressive 29-fold increase in investment in the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has meanwhile unveiled a planned solar power venture with Japan\u2019s SoftBank \u2013 a mind-boggling $200 billion, 200GW scheme that is equivalent to two-thirds of all the existing solar worldwide. Even if a quarter of the panels see the light of day, it\u2019ll transform the region\u2019s energy landscape.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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All of this has happened at a pace that few thought possible even just a few years ago. In large part, these big numbers are thanks to China, which last year added 53 gigawatts of solar power, about half the world\u2019s total. This growth has brought economies of scale, which in turn has pushed down prices, enabling other power-hungry nations \u2013 notably India \u2013 to embark on their own mega projects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Like the digital revolution, the rise of renewables has been one of those blink-and-you-might-miss-it moments. The train has left the station, the global markets have moved, and no amount of clinging to coal will turn things around. It\u2019s worth pointing this out, as while the numbers show big jumps in the developing world, the developed world looks relatively sluggish and some quarters are still reluctant to make the jump.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Furthermore, we need to recognise that the renewables sector is doing well in many places even without subsidies and on a far-from-level playing field against fossil fuels. It\u2019s also a competitive proposition even without factoring in the so-called \u201cpositive externalities\u201d of clean power. Things like fewer children with asthma, a healthier workforce, a better environment and quality of life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Add to that the data on jobs: we know, for example, that solar can easily create more jobs than fossil fuels per dollar invested. In addition, the jobs are generally better paid, better quality, with wider geographical distribution and better gender balance. There are now over 800,000 Americans who work in renewables, compared to 85,000 in coal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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And finally, we cannot ignore the other benefits of unlimited energy from the wind or sun \u2013 greater global energy security and positive climate action that is built on growth, not cuts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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To help make\u00a0informed choices, the data<\/a>\u00a0and the success stories are out there. Still, the fact that renewables, when put together, are still a long way off from providing the majority of global electricity means that we still have a long way to go. The science is also telling us that while we\u2019re moving in the right direction when it comes to getting off our carbon addiction and are at something of a pivotal moment, we need to get a move on.<\/p>\n

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Happily, the markets have already made the decision, and the numbers show a healthy marketplace exists with or without subsidies. It\u2019s now time for policymakers to ensure they are helping increase this momentum. The externalities need to be factored into the overall cost, as we know that healthcare and job creation do not come cheap. Vigorous innovation and investment must be facilitated and encouraged, not least so we continue to overcome issues like grid integration and storage but all the more so because the missing the boat is not economically viable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Potential rising costs or fluctuations in financing need to be ironed out. Renewables also deserve the chance to at the very least to compete on a level playing field, and that means bringing the subsidies and tariffs landscape up to date.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In short, it\u2019s time to truly bank on the sun and the wind.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This article was written for\u00a0The European Sting<\/a>\u00a0by Erik Solheim, Executive Director of United Nations Environment. The opinions expressed in this article belong to the writer.<\/i><\/p>\n

Image credits:\u00a0 SIemens<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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