OBJECTIVES
1. Understand what is meant by the term green technology.
2. Be able to define the factors which have combined in recent years leading
to an explosion in interest in green technologies.
3. Discuss in broad terms the various energy transitions that societies have
undergone over the past century.
4. Understand how population growth, the emergence of a vast middle class,
as well as declining fossil fuel reserves have led to mounting pressure on
the world’s energy supply.
5. Discuss how the burning of fossil fuels impacts the environment as well as
contributes to climate change.
6. Understand how price convergence (increasing fossil fuel prices and
declining costs of green technology) will impact energy production over
the next few decades.
Green technology is actually a collection of
ideas that include:
Generating power from sources that do not
produce carbon (Greenhouse Gases) as a
bi-product.
Limiting energy usage through personal
behavior modification and technology.
Conserving resources through personal
behavior modification and technology.
(continued)
Green technology is actually a collection of
ideas that include: (continued)
Fostering sustainable energy conservation
through improved building techniques,
materials and technologies.
Creating and using transportation systems
and techniques that do not rely on carbonbased products.
Why does it seem that suddenly the idea of green
technology has gained such prominence? The
answer lies in the convergence of a number of
factors. These include:
The pressure placed on resources by a
continued human population growth.
Rapidly declining fossil fuel reserves.
The dramatic rise of a middle class in
developing nations (such as China and
India) that places further demands on
limited resources.
(continued)
Why does it seem that suddenly the idea of green
technology has gained such prominence? The
answer lies in the convergence of a number of
factors. These include: (continued)
A growing understanding of the effect
carbon emissions are producing on the
global climate.
Advances in alternative technologies
that, for the first time, make green
technologies price competitive with
fossil fuel energy sources.
Figure 1-1: World Population Growth Through History
Figure 1-2: Hubbard’s Peak Oil Curve
Figure 1-3: Watt’s Steam Engine
Figure 1-4: The Internal CoFmbustion Engine
Figure 1-5: Fuel Sources for Electrical Power Generation
Figure 1-6: World Oil Supplies vs. Demand
Figure 1-7: Carbon-Based Fuel Supplies
Figure 1-8: Historic CO2 Levels and Global
Temperature
Figure 1-9: World Oil Prices
So where will this power come from in a world
of declining fossil fuel reserves? Industry
experts estimate that if we...
Cut down every plant on Earth and converted
it into fuel, it will only generate 7 terawatts
(and millions of starving people).
Build one brand new billion-watt nuclear
power plant every 1.6 days until the year 2050,
they will generate only about 8 terawatts.
(continued)
So where will this power come from in a world
of declining fossil fuel reserves? Industry
experts estimate that if we... (continued)
Capture all the energy from the wind that
flows across the land near to the Earth’s
surface, the power generated will provide
just 2 terawatts.
Dam every river on the planet and construct
hydroelectric power plants to harness that
power - we will obtain only about 1 terawatt
of power.