1. Can renewable energy save the world? The National Environment and Planning Agency (2008). Windmill.gif Retrieved 27 th November 2009, from: http://www.nrca.org/neecwebsite/actionplan/planbook/gifs/Windmill.gif http://www.nrca.org/neecwebsite/actionplan/planbook/gifs/Windmill.gif

2. Barack Obama during his presidential speech : “We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories” US Department of Energy goals : 10% of US electricity should come from renewable sources by 2012 and 25% by 2025. Other industrial countries have set similar goals. The Promise

3. Crucial factor: cost Especially important due to recent global recession. Green recovery Policymakers are hoping to direct government spending in a way that not only generates short-term economic growth and employment, but also addresses long-term policy goals that have been sidelined by the current crisis (mostly climate change). The Recession

4. Massive spending: The notion of "green" stimulus has gained considerable traction in capitals around the world. What is Green stimulus about?  Economically, it’s a question of speed and scope; how quickly and how broadly the money is put to work.  Environmentally, it’s about strategic design. The Green Fiscal Stimulus

5. Oil prices are rising regularly  Coal power on the other hand is getting more and more expensive due to carbon dioxide emitting costs (about $25 to emit a ton of CO2). All this is encouraging alternative sources of energy and fuel. The Cost oil-price.net (2009). Crude Oil and Commodity Prices Retrieved 30 th November 2009, from: http://www.oil-price.net/http://www.oil-price.net/

6. Coal 8.5 cents/kWh (including CO2 charge) Gas 7.5 cents/kWh (including CO2 charge) The cost of wind power depends on the strength and reliability of the wind (how often the wind blows) Wind from a good site can cost in the range of 6 to 10 cents/kWh, certainly competitive with coal after including the cost of greenhouse gas emissions. The Wind Power

7. Two main types of solar power:  Solar photo voltaic (PV) – very expensive Over 20 cents/kWh.  Solar thermal or concentrated solar power (CSP) Around 12 cents/kWh The Solar Power Spanish Classes for Children (2008). hola%20sun.gif Retrieved 27 th November 2009, from: http://www.holaamigosspanish.com/i mages/hola%20sun.gif http://www.holaamigosspanish.com/i mages/hola%20sun.gif Green Wasted Energy Recovery & Recycling Technologies LLC (2008). ECH%20In%20Use%20with%20Photovoltaic%20Panel%20with%20FINS%20on%20bottom%20panel.gif Retrieved 27 th November 2009, from: http://www.greenwastedenergyrecycler.com/images/ECH%20In%20Use%20with%20Photovoltaic%20Pa nel%20with%20FINS%20on%20bottom%20panel.gif http://www.greenwastedenergyrecycler.com/images/ECH%20In%20Use%20with%20Photovoltaic%20Pa nel%20with%20FINS%20on%20bottom%20panel.gif

8. Solar and wind power in all their forms are intermittent:  The output of a solar plant can drop from 50 megawatts to close to zero in seconds if a cloud passes over the sun, and then surge up again when the sky is clear.  The output of a wind power plant can drop from 100 megawatts to 10 or less in a few hours if the wind dies down. The Irregularity

9. There are other renewable sources of energy – geothermal, wave, tidal, in-stream hydro and waste-to- energy. Currently none of these seems likely to be available on a sufficient scale to meet a useful fraction of our energy needs in the next two decades. The Alternatives MIT Libraries (2008). lightbulb1.gif Retrieved 27 th November 2009, from: http://news-libraries.mit.edu/blog/wp- content/uploads/2008/01/lightbulb1.gif

10. We can easily replace some fossil fuel power with renewable power without a major cost increase. However we currently cannot even dream of replacing a major fraction of our fossil power with intermittent power sources such as wind and solar without developing a viable energy storage technology. Being able to store power and smooth the output of intermittent power sources would greatly enhance the attractions of renewable power. The Storage Technology

11. Without appropriate storage techniques intermittent energy sources are limited to at most 20-30% of the electricity output, so inventing a viable intermittent energy storage technology is crucial for the future of our planet. And if we do it right, renewable energy can save the world. The Conclusion

12. Thank you for listening. HEARTHTALKS (2009). earth+heart+cutout-warm.gif Retrieved 27 th November 2009, from: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N_PHnW_TWtw/SY3ownf43nI/ AAAAAAAAAOg/icxD0vtk7bA/s320/earth+heart+cutout- warm.gif http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N_PHnW_TWtw/SY3ownf43nI/ AAAAAAAAAOg/icxD0vtk7bA/s320/earth+heart+cutout- warm.gif

13. Heal, G. (2009). Can renewable energy save the world? Retrieved 27 th November 2009, from: http://voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/4138http://voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/4138 Houser, T. (2009). A “green” global recovery? Retrieved 27 th November 2009, from: http://voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/2895http://voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/2895 Bullis, K. (2009). The Year in Energy Retrieved 27 th November 2009, from: http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/21898/?a=fhttp://www.technologyreview.com/energy/21898/?a=f Wikipedia.org (2009). Intermittent energy source Retrieved 27 th November 2009, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_energy_sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_energy_source References: