Sustainability News
Topic of the Week
Solar Energy
The sun shines rather a lot across Africa, so solar power must be one of the best ways of reducing the
continent’s need for expensive oil and conserving this precious commodity for investments where it is the best
way of delivering what is wanted. Of course, as with all economics there is a ‘trade-off’ – the oil rich countries
of Africa will have to use this resource to diversify their economy, so reducing their own economic dependency
on what is a non-renewable resource. By using the energy generated by the Sun we will also reduce emissions
and other negative externalities associated with oil and its use.
Let’s briefly look at the challenges facing us all and in particular Africa.
Before looking directly at energy we need to consider the population pressures that will force change on all
countries and their governments. In Zambia some estimates of population growth suggest that the population
will have doubled by the middle of this century. This will put pressure on land and its use and will also have
considerable effects on the demand for both energy and water.
Let’s turn our attention to energy
There are two types of energy sources. These are Non Renewable energy and Renewable energy. Nonrenewable energy sources are still the major types of energy production worldwide. Whereas, Renewable
energy is playing a small but growing role in production of energy.
Non-renewable energy source is the oldest way of producing energy worldwide. This source is responsible for
producing 80% of energy worldwide. Non-renewable energy resources are those which exist within our earth.
These resources are Fossil fuel – Oil, Coal, Natural Gas, Nuclear energy. It is from these sources that energy
has been produced for hundreds of years.
Let’s add another dimension to the energy debate – that of water. Nearly half the water flowing through
Southern Africa passes through Zambia, yet the country suffers periodic water shortages. As temperatures
rise, so water evaporation will increase. As rainfall becomes more erratic, so storing water will become more
difficult. Both population and water gathering will have implications for energy creation and storage.
Back to energy
Natural sources of energy are available on earth in large quantities but are not unlimited; we live on a finite
planet - these are going to run out.
Secondly, these sources of energy release greenhouse gasses, carbon emissions and other harmful substances,
which pollute the atmosphere of earth. Africa’s growing concern with the problems of pollution are, in the
main, the direct consequence of the ways in which the developed world became the industrialised societies
that we all know, and they have ‘exported’ the problems associated with an over reliance on carbon-based
energy sources to the developing world – who and how should the causers of such damaging ‘spillovers’ pay
for the problems they have created?
Our atmosphere has been already damaged and because of this the earth’s temperature has been rising
yearly. This phenomenon of the earth getting hotter slowly but constantly is known as Global Warming.
If we do not address this and who will pay for both the conversion costs to new, cleaner forms of energy,
then it is predicted that:
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Some regions are likely to experience water shortages. Coupled with increasing demand, this is likely
to result in large increases in the number of people at risk of water scarcity. It is likely to affect
livelihoods
Projected reductions in the area suitable for growing crops, and in the length of the growing season,
are likely to produce an increased risk of hunger. In some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture
could be reduced by up to 50% by 2020.
Rising sea levels threaten large cities. Degradation of coral reefs and mangroves is likely, with impacts
on local fisheries and tourism.
Rising temperatures, coupled with over-fishing, will decrease the supply of fish from large lakes, with
important impacts on food supplies.
You will note that large parts of Africa will be likely to suffer water shortages.
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Between $10bn (£5.2bn) and $40bn is needed annually to seriously reduce the problems of global
warming in the developing world but industrialised countries have given only $43m - a tenth of the
amount they have pledged - while rich country fossil fuel subsidies total $73bn a year.
Leading agencies say that greenhouse emissions cuts of 60% - 90% will ultimately be needed – an
expensive exercise for countries struggling to provide the basics of life for the majority of their
population.
Climate change is overwhelming the situation in Africa -unless we take genuine steps now to reduce
our emissions, people in the developed world will be condemning millions to hunger, starvation and
death
Another short diversion in this debate on solar power – cereal production a fundamental of food security and
an essential export earner in many African countries – few, if any cultures do not have a high reliance on a
basic cereal crop for part of their staple food intake
Renewable energy is the hope for scientists to not only produce enough energy for the increasing needs of
growing populations but also to protect earth’s atmosphere at same time. Renewable energy is produced from
the natural sources of earth, which are found abundantly and have no fear of consuming them completely.
These sources are wind, Sun light, Water, Geothermal, Biomass etc. The other major advantages of using such
renewable energy sources is that they do not release green-house gasses which pollute air and destroy earth’s
atmosphere.
However, Geothermal and Tidal energy (Water) are limited to geographical locations.
Oil prices seem to constantly move upwards, causing substantial outflows of precious foreign reserves. The
increase demand in oil for the energy production industry in last few decades raised prices. It applies to other
fossil fuels like coal. The more we use such sources; we get closer to completely utilising them and also increasing
global warming courtesy of carbon emissions and other harmful gasses. Therefore, we as nations, and earth
habitants have got to think about such resources which not only help the cause of producing energy but also
save our planet earth - ‘renewable energy sources’ is the answer.
Some sites to visit
Jeff Sachs – the biggest challenge we face
http://www.reuters.com/newsmails.
Poverty
A good blog to follow: http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/06/17/new-data-reveals-which-approachto-helping-the-poor-actually-works/
Places to visit to learn more of solar energy
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/solar-power-profile/
http://ensia.com/features/solar-energy-solutions-for-the-developing-world/
http://mashable.com/2014/01/13/solar-energy-developing-world/
http://www.developingworldsolar.org/index.html
http://www.solarenergy.org/developing-world-outreach-programs/
John
18th June 2015.