Apart from geothermal energy, tidal energy, and nuclear energy pretty much all of the energy available on the Earth results from the energy radiated by the sun. Even fossil fuels are reserves of stored sunlight, derived from biological deposits that have been accumulating for millions upon millions of years. The problem has been that since the invention of the steam engine in the early 1700s we have been consuming fossil fuels at an amazing rate and we all know the problems with the by-products of burning fossils fuels. Almost everyone agrees that a move to renewable energy sources is inevitable and indeed according to a new report, fossil fuels could well be phased out of use within a decade.
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The new paper has analysed energy transitions throughout history to come to its conclusions.
According to the researchers the transition from wood use to coal use in Europe took between 96 and 160 years. The transition to electricity as a mainstream energy source took between 47 and 69 years. However, this time the researchers say that improved technological learning and innovation could greatly accelerate a global shift toward cleaner energy.
The study highlighted some rapid transitions that have occurred such as Ontario completing a shift away from coal between 2003 and 2014. They also cite a major household energy program in Indonesia that took just three years to move two-thirds of the population from kerosene stoves to LPG stoves. Additionally, they highlight how France’s nuclear power program saw supply increase from four per cent of the energy market to 40 per cent in 1982.
As the researchers say, in each of these cases there was strong government action complemented by shifts in consumer behaviour driven by incentives and pressures from stakeholders.
Based on this model and the planetary imperative the researchers believe that burning fossil fuels to create energy could be phased out in a decade.
