The need for sustainable energy
Is there enough energy to sustain the world in the future? And what are the implications for global warming? These are two key questions underpinning sustainability and energy.
Global energy is currently largely fossil fuel-based. The major non-renewable fossil fuels are oil, coal and natural gas, while alternative sources of energy include nuclear power and renewable sources such as biofuels, solar, wind, geothermal and hydro-electric power. As a result of rapid global urbanization, the demand for electricity will grow faster than any other energy source over the next few decades. Key issues that need to be considered are:
- The generation of electricity
- The lifespan of liquid fuels
- Energy security
- Biofuels
While coal has been the fuel most widely used in the generation of electricity, the use of nuclear power is increasing rapidly, as is gas-fired generation. Much has been written about biofuels as the "long-term answer" to the world’s energy problems, and consumption is increasing. The increasing amount of farmland that has converted to biofuel crops, however, has brought along its own problems.
South Africa has built Africa’s most advanced economy on the back of cheap electricity. However, this has been at great cost to the environment. South Africa is one of the world’s worst offenders in polluting the atmosphere. In 2007 South Africa released an Energy Security Master Plan - Electricity that looks at electricity supply up until 2025. The Master Plan aims to ensure that diverse energy resources, in sustainable quantities, at affordable prices, are available to all South Africans. One of the key uncertainties identified in the Plan is the impact that the various elements of the Plan will have on the environment and particularly the emission of greenhouse gases.
UNEP GOODWILL AMBASSADOR GISELE BÜNDCHEN BACKS 'SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL' ENERGY SOLUTIONS ON FIRST OFFICIAL FACT-FINDING MISSION TO AFRICA 12 January 2012 On her first official visit to Africa, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador and iconic face of fashion, Gisele Bündchen, went to the grassroots level in Kenya to experience the reality of energy poverty and to see how Kenyans are transforming their lives by accessing sustainable energy. >> Read more
NEW UN REPORT WARNS OF RISKS OF BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY 25 October 2010 Sources of energy derived from biological sources may reduce global dependence on fossil fuels that emit harmful gases, but they entail the use of large volumes of water and pose the risk of introducing undesirable crops into ecosystems, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warns in a report released today. >> Read more
CLEAN ENERGY TAKES LION'S SHARE OF FUNDING FROM FOSSIL FUELS IN 2008 UN REPORT, Jun 3 2009 Over half the $250 billion invested in new power generating capacity worldwide in 2008 was spent on renewable energy sources, according to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report launched today. >> Read more
UN-BACKED ROADMAP FOR HALVING AUTO EMISSIONS UNVEILED IN GENEVA, Mar 4 2009 With the world's car fleet expected to triple by 2050, a road map to halve greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles by that date was laid out today at the Geneva Motor Show by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partner organizations.
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NERSA
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) is tasked with the economic regulation of the electricity industry (under the Electricity Regulation Act). Under this mandate it deals with licensing and compliance, pricing and tariffs, electricity infrastructure planning and regulatory reform. NERSA also regulates the petroleum pipelines and piped-gas industries.
NERSA has set tariff pricing for renewable energy sources that feed into the national electricity grid, called the REFIT Guidelines (Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff Guidelines. For the tariffs and permitted renewable sources please see the NERSA website.
www.nersa.org.za
NERSA is a member of the African Forum for Utility Regulators, established under NEPAD, www.afurnet.org