Renewables impractical? Tell that to the rest of the world

Many energy companies, as well as the Bush administration, are very fond of telling us that renewable energy may be an option...20 or 40 years from now. Much of the rest of the world, however, is not adhering to this timetable. Wind power already supplies 5 percent of Europe's residential electricity demand, and wind and solar energy generating capacity worldwide are skyrocketing.

Europe

Wind power Over 34,000 megawatts of generating capacity had been installed by the end of 2004. This is enough power to supply approximately 10 million European homes. Approximately half of this capacity is in Germany, with Spain accounting for another quarter of it. Nearly 600 megawatts of this capacity consists of offshore wind energy projects. The European Union has a goal of wind power supplying 8 percent of Europe's energy needs by 2005. The world's largest windmill, with blades nearly 400 feet in diameter and 5 megawatts of generating capacity, was recently put into service in Germany.

Solar power By the end of 2003, there were photovoltaic generating facilities in Europe totaling 562 megawatt capacity, which was double the capacity in Europe in 2001. Seventy percent of this capacity is in Germany. Ninety-five percent of this capacity is connected to the electric power grid, so this does not consist of people or other power users living or operating off of the grid. British deputy prime minister John Prescott has proposed that all new homes in the U.K. be built so that they can be fitted with solar power.

The first building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system was recently installed in a new office building in Paderborn, Germany. BIPV solar cells are sandwiched between two panes of glass in the wall of a building. This installation, manufactured by Sunpower Corp. of Sunnyvale, Calif., will generate 1.8 kilowatts for the building. Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, together with Konarka Technologies in Massachusetts, have developed a thin-film polymer photovoltaic cloth which may allow people to recharge cellular phones and PDAs from their clothing, and may have other applications that would not be practicable with rigid silicon photovoltaic cells.

Asia

Wind power China is building the world's largest wind energy facility outside of Beijing; the 400 megawatt plant is intended to help deal with air pollution in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. A 200-megawatt wind farm is also planned for offshore south of Shanghai. A wind power project being built outside of Karachi, Pakistan, is scheduled to be expanded to 900 megawatts by 2010. It will provide 30 percent of the electricity needs for Karachi's 10 million people. A 5-megawatt pilot plant is being built in Kazakhstan.

Solar power Japan had nearly half of the world's solar electric generating capacity in 2001. The Israeli National Infrastructure Ministry has announced plans for a 100-megawatt solar electric plant in the Negev Desert, which will be expanded to 500 megawatts. The largest solar electric generating plant in the world is under construction in South Korea; the 15 megawatt plant will open in 2006.

South Korea will also be home to the world's largest tidal energy generating station, a 245-megawatt plant to open in 2009 that will provide for the energy needs of half a million people. The cost per kilowatt hour of electricity from the plant is projected to be approximately 9 U.S. cents, comparable to wind power in Korea.

Australia

A Solar Tower 3,280 feet high is planned for New South Wales. It will be powered by solar reflectors covering 39 square miles. The reflectors heat air inside part of the tower to 158 degrees; as the warmed air escapes out the top of the tower, it turns a series of turbines. This facility will have a capacity of 200 megawatts and is scheduled to begin operating in 2009.

Australia is also pioneering a form of geothermal energy called Hot Dry Rock. Water is pumped as far as 3 miles down a well into hot granite; the heated, pressurized water returns to the surface and is used to boil an organic liquid, with the resulting vapor turning a turbine to generate electricity. After the water is cooled, it is injected back underground to be heated again.

In addition to those projects described here, there are a vast number of small-scale wind, solar, and small hydroelectric projects throughout the developing world.

Solar power still provides only 1 percent or so of energy needs in most countries that have solar power installations; however, the growth in solar electric and solar thermal generating capacity worldwide has been tremendous in recent years, as noted above. Wind power capacity has been expanded much further, however, and is also growing very rapidly.

Take action

Get involved in the Chapter's Air Quality, Global Warming & Energy Committee. Start working to reduce air pollution and support low-emission vehicles, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources. Jan Kidwell, chair, 818-506-8731 or jankidwell-at-sbcglobal.net.

Michael Milroy a member of the Chapter's Transportation Committee and the Harbor Vision Committee.