RENWABLE ENERGY: ACCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY

FACTS:

• Did you know that currently one billion and three hundred million (1.3 billion) people, that is one in five globally, lack any access to electricity? Twice that number, which is nearly 40 per cent of the world’s population, rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste to cook their food (IEA 2010a) (UN Environment Green Economy)
• Science Daily defines Renewable Energy as an energy resource that is replaced rapidly by a natural process such as power generated from the sun or from the wind.
• According to UN Environment, The Rio+20 Outcome Document, “The Future We Want” (UN 2012a, paragraphs 125-129), highlights the importance of transition to renewable and accessible energy and emphasizes “the need to address the challenge of access to sustainable modern energy services for all… [including through] increased use of renewable energy sources and other low emission technologies” This they believe will solve some of the world’s pressing issues.

Over the decades, the discovery of minerals that provided electrical energy used to make us happy and excited but as time went on, there arose an incessant need for renewable energy sources as there is a depletion of these minerals across the world, climate change due to the effects of air pollution and water/ land pollution which are in turn a consequence of the consuming of said minerals. However, in the present day, there is a need not only for renewable energy but also sustainable and accessible energy.

As much as I would like to cite some successful individuals or organizations, it is an unnecessary action because the situation is something we all currently experience in our daily lives and activities

Back in 2009, when I first learned about renewable energy sources in a class on urban regeneration, it appealed to my creative mind. It was a class discussion to come up with an energy source that is renewable, not harmful to environment or man and sustainable. Wind, water, sun, and even carbon dioxide were discussed as potential sources of clean energy and sustainability. In the class, we were taught the various ways these potential sources could be harnessed. Fourteen years is a long time from ago, but we can see that many companies are striving to be more eco-friendly by reducing their carbon footprint, recycling or making use of cleaner and sustainable energy sources. So what is the issue?

Although companies are making efforts to be more environmentally friendly, a major problem is that countries, such as the one I live in, are not even crying out for renewable energy as people are already paying high bills for electricity that is unreliable. The government (via agencies NEPA/PHCN/IE) is paid and get unreliable electricity supply which destroys our electrical appliances. For context; electricity is provided for 5 minutes and taken within the next 3, supplied again in the next 2 and taken within 1 minute, supplied again within the next 4 minutes and then taken for the next 5 days. These power outages and inconsistent supply is the norm. As such, while renewable energy sources are appealing, they are still expensive, and many people cannot afford them. Here in lies the issue; AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBILITY TO CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES. While wind, solar, and water energy are great energy alternatives, they are not affordable to the masses, and many would rather use generators, which are more accessible and affordable, than pay for expensive renewable energy sources.

The Wind, Sun, Water and Carbon dioxide conversion are super cool ways to living a pollution free life however, they are expensive energy sources. The general population would rather bear the fumes and sound of a generator than save to pay for these energy sources with blood due to the high cost of living, subpar pay and ever increasing inflation.

A viable solution to these affordability and accessibility issues is that the government needs to provide renewable energy sources to their citizens at a subsidized rate and establish a functioning distribution grid for the renewable energy sources.

Another solution is for individuals to come together and support each other as neighbors or fellow citizens, rather than engaging in empty gestures. These are just my opinions and suggestions.