Essay Example on Renewable Energy: Averting Global Warming & Collateral Damage

Introduction

Many Countries of the World have embraced renewable energy sources. The main reason is; global warming and carbon emissions brought about by the use of fossil fuels, especially Petroleum (crude oil) (Taft, 5). Other reasons are; to reduce collateral damages. For example, destruction of the Ozone (o3) layer, which has resulted in the melting of the polar ice cap, rise in sea levels (tsunamis), and destruction of habitats for endangered species, e.g., Emperor Penguin, Polar Bear, and the arctic fox. The paper aims to expound on the same using Sweden as an example of a country that has made a move towards renewable energy sources.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Sweden (Kingdom of Sweden) is a Nordic country located in Northern Europe. It borders Norway (West and North), Finland (East), and Denmark to the South-West. It is connected to Denmark by an underground tunnel known as 'Oresund Strait.' (Adlercreutz, p. 504-509). Its capital city is Stockholm, and it has a population of 10.3 million people and a density of 22 people per square kilometer. The question arises; how does the government under the leadership of Stefan Lofven (Prime Minister) cater to the electrical energy needs of the population??

Current Primary means of Energy Production

As of 2020, more than half of Sweden's power production is on Hydroelectric Power. It is made from dammed water that turns turbines which produce electricity. The country boasts over 1900 power stations. Forty-Five of them produce 100+ megawatts, seventeen of them each generate over 200 megawatts, and five generate each over 400 megawatts. The largest on the Upper sides of Lule River has a generation capacity of 977 megawatts. A third of Sweden's energy relies on nuclear power.

Efforts to 'Go Green' have been made. In one year, the per capita (per person) carbon emission stands at 4 tonnes of Carbon. The Environmental Sustainability efforts, e.g., renewable energy, have seen a steady reduction in emissions even with an increase in population, by no means an easy feat. 2004 to 2017, reports show CO2 emission has reduced by as much as 28%, making Sweden quickly the most environment-conscious country on Earth in terms of energy production.

In Summary, Sweden Leads the European Union in Renewable Energy usage at 44.4% (2008), intending to reach 49% by 2020. The 44.4% cover use of energy sources such as; Solar, Wind, Geothermal, and Biomass. The rest (55.6%) consists of other energy sources, e.g., thermal and nuclear energy, that involve the use of oil in one way or another. Some countries even burn used tires which help to generate some electricity.

Other countries have goals to raise their renewable energy capacities, e.g., United Kingdom (to 15%), France (to 23 %), Germany (to 18 %), and Italy (to 17 %) by 2020. Sweden has done its part in Renewable Energy efforts. It is no surprise that in 2011, Sweden, France, and Switzerland were given the top recognition in Energy Sustainability. Courtesy of the World Energy Council. Countries outside the European Union (EU-28) that have a higher percentage of Renewable Energy capacities are; Iceland (77%) and Norway( 69%).

Current means of heating/cooling buildings

Buildings need to be cooled when it is hot and vice versa. Thus there needs to be a mechanism to create optimum temperature for human occupation, e.g., homes, industrial activities (cold rooms, large scale refrigerators, etc.). First, considering that Europe is a temperate region where there are freezing winters and sweltering summers. Unlike in Tropical Places like Africa, where temperatures do not fluctuate too drastically, to a point, that buildings need to be cooled or heated up by some mechanisms.

The primary method of heating up or cooling buildings in Sweden is the use of; Thermally Activated Building Systems (TABS) and Ventilated Hollow Core Systems (VHCS). (Weber, 724)The Buildings are constructed such that there is space between the concrete slabs where pipes are laid to pass hot or cold water when the building(s) need to be heated up in cold weather or cooled down in warm weather. The water is heated up using; wood fuelled boilers or reliance on a Geothermal Heat Pump that directs heat from within the Earth (core) to heat the cold water and the air within homes.

The latter helps people in countries like the US to reduce their home heating costs from as much as $4000 to $200 per month during cold winters. It makes sense; since Geothermal Energy is endlessly renewable. The TABS System is energy efficient, unlike reliance on electric heaters and saves up to 6% of energy to raise the room temperature by 10C. It also does not. It is used for buildings such as; homes, offices, hospitals, sports arenas, Museums, Retail outlets( malls or supermarkets) and Transport stations or hubs( airports, train galleries).

The current reliance on fossil fuels

Fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal) has become an almost indispensable source of energy for many countries of the world. It is used to make all sorts of products from; fuel to power land vehicles (petrol, diesel) and water vessels (heavy-duty fuel oil) and aircraft (jet fuel) to manufacture of plastics (polymers) to lubricants and cooking gas. The problem with fossil fuels is that they pollute the environment, e.g., air pollution (smoke), water, and aquatic life destruction (oil spills) by oil rigs and tankers and land degradation.

As such, Countries are turning to cleaner and renewable energy sources. Sweden depends on Fossil Fuel (Oil, Natural Gas, and Coal) for around 23% of its energy needs. As shown earlier, it relies on a third of energy (33%) from nuclear power and 44 % of it on Renewable energy. Note that some of it may be Imported, e.g., Oil from the Middle East or Nigeria. (Matsumoto, p. 820-828) Though in the last 16 years energy imports have reduced by at least 30%.

According to Worldometer, there are 152,082 days ( 416 years), 60,912 days(167 years), and 15,485 days (42 years)to the end of coal, gas(LPG), and oil. Would it not make sense to turn to renewable sources?? To extend the lifespan of these valuable and non-renewable sources?? It would help while we look for Environment-friendly alternatives. Besides, the use of fossil fuels is costly to humanity in the long-term.

Not only in monetary terms but biological terms, e.g., Carbon depletes the Ozone layer leading to global warming resulting in the melting of polar and world ice caps and habitat loss, e.g., for Polar Bears, Snow Leopards, Emperor Penguin, rare arctic fox and the Siberian Tiger (Song, 209). Not forgetting the rise in sea level threatens to wipe out humanity, e.g., tsunamis and floods.

**LPG- 'Liquid Petroleum Gas

Environmental Impacts

The Natural World has become so severely depleted. Nowadays, there are more plastic and ghost nets () floating around in the Oceans. Unlike in the early times when more water vessels floated around. We do not forget oil spillage and disposal of domestic waste into water bodies and the atmosphere. Trees cut down at the rate of 40 football fields every minute. We are more likely to have The Amazon Desert than the Amazon Rain Forest in some decades from now.

Every Country of the World has its Environmental Impact in one way or another, though in varying degrees. Countries like; USA and China, have the giant Carbon Footprints (Wang, 230). Sweden, as a country, has an annual per capita (per person) carbon emission rate of 4 tonnes. Their total Carbon Emission has reduced from 52 megatons to 37 megatons between 2004 up to date. To put those figures into perspective, one megaton= 1 Million metric tons. The reduction is an impressive 15 million metric tonnes in under two decades.

Current Energy Policy and Changes in place

Newer (2020) reports show; Sweden stands at 57% reliant on renewable energy. The goal is to reach 100% reliance. It plans to phase out the use of nuclear power as it is expensive to use. It is also potentially dangerous due to radioactive/atomic waste produced, which poses a danger to human health-drawing lessons from nuclear disasters such as; Chernobyl in Ukraine and Fukushima in Japan.

Sweden also plans to become; Pollution neutral by 2045. Its significant way to achieve this is to revert to renewable energy to make up the national grid. It also includes the use of electric vehicles in both; Public and Private Transportation, e.g., electric trains, trams, and cars, e.g., Solar Powered or Electric Cars, e.g., Tesla.

Economic, Social and Political Issues related to energy and address

The GDP of Sweden stands at $528 billion. The world faces tough economic times, especially the developing countries, e.g., Venezuela has, in the recent past, had a 700% rate of inflation. Others have learned from them and seen a need to cut down national expenditure costs and thus prevent economic problems, e.g., widespread debt accumulation and the creation of unnecessary economic turmoil.

To reiterate, some of the Economic strategies that Sweden has taken into account include; use of renewable energy sources such as; geothermal and wind to the best possible level. These kinds of energy sources since Initial Capital may be high, e.g., geothermal or wind energy equipment (pumps, pipes, gauges, turbines, and generators), but in the end, the recurring costs are shallow, e.g., maintenance.

In the same way, if they can reach overproduction, they can export and earn revenue, e.g., Denmark has achieved a 140% rate of Electricity production and can export to other countries like; Germany and France. In Social circles, there have been concerns about the safety of using Nuclear Energy. Thus, the government of Sweden plans to phase it out by 2045. Con-currently worries over the Carbon footprint and Global warming have become a concern among people of the world as the two are a direct threat to humanity.

Thus Lobby Groups like; Green Peace (the Netherlands) has been pressing for environmentally friendly practices. In Political Circles, Sweden was represented at the UN General Assembly Convention by Prime Minister Stefan Lofven last year. He made a statement of an ambitious goal to make Sweden Fossil Free by 2040. He plans to capitalize on on-shore wind power. This is not just talking, as in 2013, Sweden invested $1 billion in renewable energy.

Conclusion

Sweden serves as an excellent example for other countries if ever they hope to establish a fossil-free and pollution-free economy. The feat seems out of reach, but if a country with just 10 million people can do it, so can other countries with larger populations running into hundreds of millions. It is unavoidable since the fate of the human race and species rely on the decisions made by countries today.

Works Cited

Adlercreutz, Emma H., et al. "Prevalence of celiac disease autoimmunity in children with type 1 diabetes: regional variations across the Oresund strait between Denmark and southernmost Sweden." Pediatric diabetes 16.7 (2015): 504-509.

Ehrling, Axel. "Energy sources of the future-an explorative scenario analysis of Sweden's energy security regarding present energy policy." (2019).

http://www.worldometers.info/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Swedenhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/geothermal-energy-is-slowly-gaining-steam-in-homes/

https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/employment-in-innovation-performance/58384

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/sweden-leads-the-european-union-on-renewable-energy-2026290.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sweden-renewable-energy-target-2040-country-on-track-a7381686.html

Matsumoto, Ken'ichi, et al. "Exploring crude oil production and export capacity of the OPEC Middle East countries." Energy policy 48 (2012): 820-828.

Song, Jimei, et al. "Culture, characteristics and chromosome complement of Siberian tiger fibroblasts for nuclear transfer." In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biolog...