My home country Estonia belongs to the European Union. The latter is trying to act RESPONSIBLY in the current situation and has developed an ambitious strategy called Europe 2020 for its members.
One of its five targets states that by the year 2020 every member country must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions at least 20% compared to 1990 levels and also increase the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption to 20% while also achieving a 20% increase in energy efficiency.
I have found myself constantly asking how on earth are we going to accomplish all of this in such a tiny fraction of time? The other question originally asked by one of my fellow countrymen and professor of Applied Geology Mr. Volli Kalm is “what will we actually achieve, as if our goal is to fight against climate change then we have already lost as this is a process operated by forces beyond our current understanding (like Solar and Cosmic Radiation, the Great Ocean Conveyor, Milankovich Cycles etc.). In addition why do we assume that in the five billon years of history of this planet the current climate is The Correct Climate?”
For the sake of the argument let us assume that it makes both ECONOMIC and ENVIRONMENTAL SENSE to act quickly.
The only way to reduce greenhouse gases in Estonia is for us to end our current high polluting electricity production completely and rely solely on our “always so friendly and forthcoming” neighbors Russia (they do not have to follow EU rules) until we are able to build new improved power stations and grid connections to Scandinavia. For Estonia this is a matter of NATIONAL SECURITY.
POLITICAL POWER and INFLUENCE are major factors in the ability to CONTROL the resources to produce energy (including electricity).
The harsh reality in the past, present and in the near future is that we are likely to see nations IN NEED continue to use deadly force in order to gain control over strategic resources. Historically there have always been several excuses which have led to a breakdown of communication with words, but for the most part the real reason can be explained by simple SURVIVAL INSTINCT.
Another issue which involves increasing the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption in Estonia is mainly concentrated around “EXPLOITING* the rich WIND energy” that has been labeled throughout the world as something close to SALVATION.
*The meaning of the word “Exploitation” according to the dictionary:
1. to utilize, esp. for profit; turn to practical account
2. to use selfishly for one's own ends
3. to advance or further through exploitation; promote
Wind is considered to be CLEAN, FREE, RENEWABLE and most of all GREEN.
I BELIEVE that wind is a form of solar power. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. This wind flow, or motion energy, when "HARVESTED" by modern wind turbines can be used to generate electricity.
However, I have to agree with Mr. Michael Hanlon who has stated that it is very difficult to see how the current technology and knowledge base (concerning actually all forms of energies labeled as green) is able to solve quickly the two most pressing issues for mankind - the energy gap and global climate change.
For now the potential that lies within the wind is quite LIMITED to us. Let me elaborate this matter.
One of its five targets states that by the year 2020 every member country must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions at least 20% compared to 1990 levels and also increase the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption to 20% while also achieving a 20% increase in energy efficiency.
I have found myself constantly asking how on earth are we going to accomplish all of this in such a tiny fraction of time? The other question originally asked by one of my fellow countrymen and professor of Applied Geology Mr. Volli Kalm is “what will we actually achieve, as if our goal is to fight against climate change then we have already lost as this is a process operated by forces beyond our current understanding (like Solar and Cosmic Radiation, the Great Ocean Conveyor, Milankovich Cycles etc.). In addition why do we assume that in the five billon years of history of this planet the current climate is The Correct Climate?”
For the sake of the argument let us assume that it makes both ECONOMIC and ENVIRONMENTAL SENSE to act quickly.
The only way to reduce greenhouse gases in Estonia is for us to end our current high polluting electricity production completely and rely solely on our “always so friendly and forthcoming” neighbors Russia (they do not have to follow EU rules) until we are able to build new improved power stations and grid connections to Scandinavia. For Estonia this is a matter of NATIONAL SECURITY.
POLITICAL POWER and INFLUENCE are major factors in the ability to CONTROL the resources to produce energy (including electricity).
The harsh reality in the past, present and in the near future is that we are likely to see nations IN NEED continue to use deadly force in order to gain control over strategic resources. Historically there have always been several excuses which have led to a breakdown of communication with words, but for the most part the real reason can be explained by simple SURVIVAL INSTINCT.
Another issue which involves increasing the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption in Estonia is mainly concentrated around “EXPLOITING* the rich WIND energy” that has been labeled throughout the world as something close to SALVATION.
*The meaning of the word “Exploitation” according to the dictionary:
1. to utilize, esp. for profit; turn to practical account
2. to use selfishly for one's own ends
3. to advance or further through exploitation; promote
Wind is considered to be CLEAN, FREE, RENEWABLE and most of all GREEN.
I BELIEVE that wind is a form of solar power. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. This wind flow, or motion energy, when "HARVESTED" by modern wind turbines can be used to generate electricity.
However, I have to agree with Mr. Michael Hanlon who has stated that it is very difficult to see how the current technology and knowledge base (concerning actually all forms of energies labeled as green) is able to solve quickly the two most pressing issues for mankind - the energy gap and global climate change.
For now the potential that lies within the wind is quite LIMITED to us. Let me elaborate this matter.
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