Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Nemetz, Peter N.

Titel

Renewable energy: Prospects and challenges

Ist Teil von

• Unsustainable World, 2022, Vol.1, p.300-345

Auflage

1

Ort / Verlag

Routledge

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• This chapter describes the major challenges to the rapid adoption of renewable energy as a principal solution to climate change. These challenges include: developing instantaneous on-demand availability, the lack of efficient storage media, the need for integration into existing grids, development of smart grids, and the uninternalized externalities of conventional power sources which distort market prices for alternative energy sources. The chapter summarizes the current state of costs and disposition of major renewable sources: hydroelectricity, wind, and solar energy. A brief case study is presented on the state of Hawaii and its efforts to convert its economy to one based around renewable energy. The chapter includes an examination of the contentious issues surrounding the increasing interest in and use of biofuels in North and South America as well as Europe. Two additional case studies are presented which outline the difficulties attendant in making an assessment of effectiveness, efficiency, and environmental impacts of the biofuels ethanol and palm oil. The chapter concludes with a brief summary of other possible technologies, including tidal power and hydrogen.