SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Self supplied clean power

Photo J-M Liot

Raphaëla is sailing with wind power and living with sun power. What better opportunity to evaluate these two clean energy sources?

Globally, renewable energy represents 18% of the world’s electric production system. Of this, hydraulic power is the most sizeable production method; biomass is in second place and wind power is in third with geothermal and solar further behind. Wind power only represents 0.5% and solar 0.02%; we have a very long way to go!
In South Asia and Oceania, the proportions are about the same, although solar photovoltaic power deserves special mention due to the development of numerous decentralized, rural electrification programs. The European Union has set an objective of getting 21% of its electric production needs from renewable sources by 2010. In France, despite heavy legislative constraints, 2005 has been a year of noticeable progress: an increase of 140% on wind power and an almost doubling of solar panels (100 000 m2).
(Sources: 7th inventory – Observ’ER).

World electricity need is so great that renewable sources will not be able to meet it. During this century, the way of producing and consuming electricity will have to be dramatically changed. As this change takes place, renewable energy will have a bigger role and contribute to greenhouse-gas control.

Wind power

Danish wind turbines(google map).
Licence Sharealike of Creative Commons.

Currently providing a very small part of energy needs, world market demand for wind power is high and is stimulating the wind power industry (advancing turbine technology). Over the past ten years, wind power production has been multiplied 10 times (52 000 MW in 2005). Most of the wind power fields are in Western Europe (70%), in North America (19%) and in India (5.4%). This technology is expected to evolve rapidly, allowing it to meet isolated needs with low and medium power wind turbines, or concentrated needs with high power wind turbine fields (particularly offshore).

Solar energy

One example of solar energy (among many others) is the following: “The program of providing potable water through the use of solar power (photovoltaic) launched early 2002, has been deployed in the three countries of the Maghreb region (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) with the help of European cooperation. Thanks to its implementation, more than 50,000 people located in remote villages have access to drinkable water.” (Source : Energies pour le Monde).

This example shows the future of this kind of energy production, obviously in sunny region. But sun can also be used in temperate countries, and as energy storage technology continues to advance, there will be more potential for its application. There are many firms specializing in solar water-heaters and boilers that are providing real opportunities for solar-heated housing.

Solar power is provided by two main technologies: photovoltaic technology (which directly converts solar energy into electricity, using semi-conductors) and the concentration of solar heat to obtain very high temperatures (from 400°C to 1000°C), available to produce steam and thus electricity.

Back part of Raphaëla windsurf.
Photo J-M Liot

Solar power allows Raphaëla to use fresh water and to communicate with the rest of the world (thanks to small solar plates). Solar energy is growing fast, but its percentage output (relative to total energy production) is still very low. Thus, research on energy storage (like nanotechnologies) is extremely important as success in R&D will lead to wider acceptance and application.

More on the following web sites

With the UNEP Energy Program
http://www.uneptie.org/energy/publications/Articles/Monique%20Barbut%20english.pdf.

With the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
http://www.nrel.gov/.

With a dedicated web site where facts and figures are outlined
http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/html/inventaire/Eng/preface_eng.htm.

About the programs from Energy Assistance, created within the Suez Corporation (major partner for Raphaëla’s adventure),
http://www.suez.fr/devdurable/english/partenaires/assistance.php.