The Great Transition Shifting From Fossil Fuels To Solar And Wind Energy

The great energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy is under way. As oil insecurity deepens, the extraction risks of fossil fuels rise, and concerns about climate instability cast a shadow over the future of coal, a new world energy economy is emerging. The old economy, fueled by oil, natural gas, and coal is being replaced with one powered by wind, solar, and geothermal energy. The Great Transition details the accelerating pace of this global energy revolution. As many countries become less enamored with coal and nuclear power, they are embracing an array of clean, renewable energies. Whereas solar energy projects were once small-scale, largely designed for residential use, energy investors are now building utility-scale solar projects. Strides are being made: some of the huge wind farm complexes under construction in China will each produce as much electricity as several nuclear power plants, and an electrified transport system supplemented by the use of bicycles could reshape the way we think about mobility.

The great energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy is under way. As oil insecurity deepens, the extraction risks of fossil fuels rise, and concerns about climate instability cast a shadow over the future of coal, a new world energy economy is emerging. The old economy, fueled by oil, natural gas, and coal is being replaced with one powered by wind, solar, and geothermal energy. The Great Transition details the accelerating pace of this global energy revolution. As many countries become less enamored with coal and nuclear power, they are embracing an array of clean, renewable energies. Whereas solar energy projects were once small-scale, largely designed for residential use, energy investors are now building utility-scale solar projects. Strides are being made: some of the huge wind farm complexes under construction in China will each produce as much electricity as several nuclear power plants, and an electrified transport system supplemented by the use of bicycles could reshape the way we think about mobility.

The Great Transition: Shifting from Fossil Fuels to Solar and Wind Energy Supporting Data - Climate Carbon Emissions Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning, 1751-2013 GRAPH: Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning, 1751-2013 GRAPH: Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning, 1950-2013 Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning by Fuel. [...] http://www.earth-policy.org/books/tgt/tgtdata Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning, 1751-2013 Year Carbon Dioxide Million Tons of Carbon 1751 3 1752 3 1753 3 1754 3 1755 3 1756 3 1757 3 1758 3 1759 3 1760 3 1761 3 1762 3 1763 3 1764 3 1765 3 1766 3 1767 3 1768 3 1769 3 1770 3 1771 4 1772 4 1773 4 1774 4 1775 4 1776 4 1777 4 1778 4 1779 4 1780 4 1781 5 1782 5 1783 5 1784 5 1785. [...] 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 M illi on T on s of C ar bo n Source: EPI from CDIAC, BP Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning in Top Ten Countries, 2013 Ea rth P ol ic y In st itu te - w w w .e ar th po lic y. [...] or g Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning in Industrial Countries and the Rest of the World, 1751-2013 Year Global Industrial Countries Rest of World 1751 3 3 0 1752 3 3 0 1753 3 3 0 1754 3 3 0 1755 3 3 0 1756 3 3 0 1757 3 3 0 1758 3 3 0 1759 3 3 0 1760 3 3 0 1761 3 3 0 1762 3 3 0 1763 3 3 0 1764 3 3 0 1765 3 3 0 1766 3 3 0 1767 3 3 0 1768 3 3 0 1769 3 3 0 1770 3 3 0 1771 4 4 0 1772 4. [...] 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050 M illi on T on s of C ar bo n Source: EPI from BP; CDIAC Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning in Industrial Countries and the Rest of the World, 1751-2013 Ea rth P ol ic y In st itu te - w w w .e ar th po lic y.

Sales of Leading Plug-in Electric Vehicles, December 2010 - February 2015 Number of Drivers in the United States, 1960-2011 GRAPH: Number of Drivers in the United States, 1960-2011 Teen Drivers in the United States, Total and Share of Teen Population, 1963-2012 GRAPH: Number of Teen Drivers in the United States, 1963-2012 GRAPH: Teen Drivers as a Share of Teen Population in the United States, 1963. [...] Motor Gasoline Consumption, 1950-2014 Motor Vehicles and Cars Per Person by Country, 2011 GRAPH: Motor Vehicles Per Person in Leading Countries, 2011 Motor Vehicles and Cars Per Person in Key Countries, 2011 GRAPH: Motor Vehicles and Cars Per Person in Key Countries, 2011 A full listing of data for the entire book is on-line at: http://www.earth-policy.org/books/tgt/tgtdata This is part of a supp. [...] 0 50 100 150 200 250 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 M illi on Source: DOT Number of Drivers in the United States, 1960-2011 Ea rth P ol ic y In st itu te - w w w .e ar th -p ol ic y. [...] 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 M illi on Number of Teen Drivers in the United States, 1963-2012 Source: DOT Ea rth P ol ic y In st itu te - w w w .e ar th -p ol ic y. [...] 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 United States Italy Spain Japan Germany France Poland United Kingdom Brazil Indonesia China Nigeria India Ethiopia Motor Vehicles and Cars Per 1,000 People Motor Vehicles and Cars Per Person in Key Countries, 2011 Motor Vehicles Cars Ea rth P ol ic y In st itu te - w w w .e ar th -p ol ic y.

This bold and controversial argument shows why energy transitions are inherently complex and prolonged affairs, and how ignoring this fact raises unrealistic expectations that the United States and other global economies can be weaned quickly from a primary dependency on fossil fuels. Energy transitions are fundamental processes behind the evolution of human societies: they both drive and are driven by technical, economic, and social changes. In a bold and provocative argument, Energy Transitions: History, Requirements, Prospects describes the history of modern society's dependence on fossil fuels and the prospects for the transition to a nonfossil world. Vaclav Smil, who has published more on various aspects of energy than any working scientist, makes it clear that this transition will not be accomplished easily, and that it cannot be accomplished within the timetables established by the Obama administration. The book begins with a survey of the basic properties of modern energy systems. It then offers detailed explanations of universal patterns of energy transitions, the peculiarities of changing energy use in the world's leading economies, and the coming shifts from fossil fuels to renewable conversions. Specific cases of these transitions are analyzed for eight of the world's leading energy consumers. The author closes with perspectives on the nature and pace of the coming energy transition to renewable conversions.

The world's most comprehensive, well documented, and well illustrated book on this subject. With extensive subject and geographic index. 231 photographs and illustrations - mostly color. Free of charge in digital PDF format.

Renewable energy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy as climate scientists and environmentalists give voice to the detrimental effects of fossil fuels. But how far have we gotten in developing efficient and sustainable energy, including solar, wind, and geothermal power, and what are the benefits of these renewable energy sources compared to fossil fuels? This text examines the issue from diverse viewpoints, allowing students to analyze key ideas in energy production through primary source evidence.