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Title:
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Status and prospects of renewable energy sources
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Author(s):
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Published by:
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Publication date:
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ECN
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1996
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ECN report number:
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Document type:
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ECN-RX--96-066
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Other
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Number of pages:
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Full text:
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16
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Download PDF
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Abstract:
After the first oil crisis in 1973 renewable energy sources again becamefocus of energy policy of both industrialized and developing countries. Most
countries were eager to reduce their dependency on one single energy source,
in particular oil. A few years before the oil crisis research and development
activities already started looking in ways to make our world more
sustainable. This was a result of the work of the 'Club of Rome'. In order of
importance the following arguments were put forward to develop renewable
energy sources: diversification and conservation of resources. Later two
arguments were added and gradually became the most important ones: reduction
of (greenhouse) gases connected to the use of fossil energy sources and
employment. At present, the majority of the countries in the world in some
way have national renewable energy development programmes in place. This
contribution will address some of the renewables in some more detail. The
emphasis, however, is on wind energy, not because this is the most promising
(which actually is solar energy), but because of the simple fact that most of
the author's expertise lies in this field. 12 figs., 4 tabs., 10 refs.
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