**3. Renewable energy and sustainable development**

52 Sustainable Growth and Applications in Renewable Energy Sources

Soft energy technologies (appropriate renewables) have five defining characteristics. They (1) rely on renewable energy resources, (2) are diverse and designed for maximum effectiveness in particular circumstances, (3) are flexible and relatively simple to understand, (4) are matched to end-use needs in terms of scale, and (5) are matched to end-use needs in

Residential solar energy technologies are prime examples of soft energy technologies and rapid deployment of simple, energy conserving residential solar energy technologies is fundamental to a soft energy strategy. Active residential solar technologies use special devices to collect and convert the sun's rays to useful energy and are located near the users they supply. Passive residential solar technologies involve the natural transfer (by radiation, convection and conduction) of solar energy without the use of mechanical

Lovins argued that besides environmental benefits, global political stresses might be reduced by Western nations committing to the soft energy path. In general, soft path impacts are seen to be more "gentle, pleasant and manageable" than hard path impacts. These impacts range from the individual and household level to those affecting the very

Lovins recognised that major energy decisions are always implemented gradually and incrementally, and that major shifts take decades. A chief element of the soft path strategy is to avoid major commitments to inflexible infrastructure that locks us into particular supply

Lovins explained that the most profound difference between the soft and hard paths — the difference that ultimately distinguishes them — is their different socio-political impact. Both paths entail social change, "but the kinds of social change for a hard path are apt to be less pleasant, less plausible, less compatible with social diversity and freedom of choice, and less consistent with traditional values than are the social changes which could make a soft path

Moving towards energy sustainability will require changes not only in the way energy is supplied, but in the way it is used, and reducing the amount of energy required to deliver various goods or services is essential. Opportunities for improvement on the demand side of the energy equation are as rich and diverse as those on the supply side, and often offer

In most places, a lot of energy is wasted because industries, power companies, offices and households use more energy than is actually necessary to fulfill their needs. The reasons is because they use old and inefficient equipment and production processes; buildings are poorly designed; and because of bad practices and habits. With energy efficiency practices and products, nations can save over 50% of the energy being consumed. Using energy more

2. Leave more energy available to extend energy supply to all parts of the population. 3. Increase the efficiency and resilience of the economy – including reduced reliance on oil

5. Minimize the building of new power stations and thus free up capital for other

terms of quality (Nash, 1979).

fabric of society at the national and international level.

devices.

work".

patterns for decades.

significant economic benefits.

1. Reduce electricity bills.

and thus improve balance of payments.

investments like health and welfare.

4. Improve industries competitiveness internationally.

efficiently would:

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in 2002 recognized the important role of energy for reaching millennium development goals. Access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is essential to sustainable development (Hasna, 2007). An adequate solving of energy problems will contribute to achieving progress across all pillars of sustainable development; social, economic and environmental and in meeting the UN millennium goals. Although there are no MDGs on access to energy, WSSD recognized that inadequate access to energy is both a cause and an effect of poverty and recommended the following:

"*Take joint actions and improve efforts to work together at all levels to improve access to reliable and affordable energy service for sustainable development sufficient to facilitate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, including the goal of halving the proportion of people in poverty by 2015, and as a means to generate other important services that mitigate poverty, bearing in mind that access to energy facilitates the eradication of poverty*" .

"Sustainable development" has been defined best by the Brundtland Commission as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Hasna, 2007). Adequate and affordable energy supplies has been key to economic development and the transition from subsistence agricultural economics to modern industrial and service oriented societies. Energy is central to improved social and economic well being and is indispensable to most industrial and commercial wealth organization. It is the key for relieving poverty, improving human welfare and raising living standards. But however essential it may be for development, energy is only a means to an end. The end is good health, high living standards, a sustainable economy and a clean environment.

Much of the current energy supply and use, based as it is, on limited resources of fossil fuels, is deemed to be environmentally unsustainable. There is no energy production or conversion technology without risk or waste. Somewhere along all energy chains - from resource extractions to the provision of energy service – pollutants are produced, emitted or disposed of, often with severe health and environmental impacts (Dasgupta, 2001; Fatona, 2009). Combustion of fossil fuels is chiefly responsible for urban air pollution, regional acidification and the risk of human – induced climate change (Dasgupta, 2001; Fatona, 2009). Achieving sustainable economic development on a global scale will requires the judicious use of resources, technology, appropriate economic incentives and strategic policy planning at the local and national levels. It will also require regular monitoring of the impacts of selected policies and strategies to see if they are furthering sustainable development or if they should be adjusted (Arrow et al, 2004).

When choosing energy fuels and associated technologies for the production, delivery and use of energy services, it is essential to take into account economic, social and environmental consequences (Ott, 2003; Wallace, 2005). There is need to determine whether current energy use is sustainable and, if not, how to change it so that it is. This is the purpose of energy indicators, which address important issues within three of the major dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental.

Renewable Energy Use and Energy Efficiency – A Critical Tool for Sustainable Development 55

Primary energy supply and final consumption, electricity generation and generating

Total primary energy supply, total final consumption, total electricity generation and

 Primary supply, electricity generation and generating capacity by non-carbon energy Total primary energy supply, total electricity generation and total generating capacity

Primary energy supply, final consumption and electricity generation and generating

Total primary energy supply, total final consumption, total electricity generation and

**ENV1:** Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy production and use, per capita and

Number of households, floor area, persons per household, appliance ownership

Energy use in passenger travel and freight sectors and by mode

Passenger-km travel and tonne-km freight and by mode

**ECO12:** Non-carbon energy share in energy and electricity

**ECO13:** Renewable energy share in energy and electricity

**ECO14:** End-use energy prices by fuel and by sector Energy prices (with and without taxes or subsidies)

**ECO16:** Stocks of critical fuels per corresponding fuel consumption

**ENV2:** Ambient concentrations of air pollutants in urban areas

**ENV4:** Contaminant discharges in liquid effluents from energy systems

**ENV7:** Ratio of solid waste generation to units of energy produced

**ENV3:** Air pollutant emissions from energy systems

**ENV5:** Soil area where acidification exceeds critical load

**ENV6:** Rate of deforestation attributed to energy use

Contaminant discharges in liquid effluents

**ECO10:** Transport energy intensities

capacity by fuel type

total generating capacity

capacity by renewable energy

**ECO15:** Net energy import dependency

Stocks of critical fuel (e.g. oil and gas)

Concentrations of pollutants in air

Forest area at two different times

total generating capacity

Total primary energy supply

Critical fuel consumption

**4.3 Environmental dimension** 

Population and GDP

Air pollutant emissions

 Affected soil area Critical load

Biomass utilization

 Amount of solid waste Energy produced

Energy imports

per unit of GDP

**ECO11:** Fuel shares in energy and electricity
