Abstract: This paper reviewed the history of energy usage and transition from one period to another, and the associated benefits of the various energy systems categorized under renewables and non-renewable sources. The paper established that the dominance of the fossil fuel energy system will jeopardize the future of the earth, due to its high carbon emission as greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. The paper noted that renewable energy sources have the potentials of providing solutions that will both mitigate the climatic and environmental problems due to its low carbon content and provide a more secured and sustainable alternative energy sources. However, the paper further noted that the transition from fossil fuel to renewables have been greatly hampered due to the lack of collective policy drive by major emitting countries such as United States, China, India and Russia plus 9 other countries that contribute 72% of the global carbon emission. As would be expected, the paper observed that none of these 15 countries appeared in the top 10 countries on the World Economic Forum Energy Transition Index for 2019. Ironically, the top 10 countries on the index only account for 2.6% of global annual emissions. This has resulted in a rather slow transition that will continue to see fossil fuel playing significant role in the global energy mix beyond 2040, especially as fossil fuel companies struggle to come to terms with how to manage the existing investments in the industry, and therefore continue to lobby and subsidize the use of fossil fuel in the energy mix. The paper therefore recommended that for any meaningful energy transition to take place it would require a focussed and very pragmatic push from top 15 emitting countries. The energy transition must also focus on the critical sectors such as transportation, electricity and heat, buildings and in manufacturing and constructions. Also, since CO2 contributes about 74.4% of the total greenhouse gas, while investing on renewable sources, the paper further recommended that there must also be investments towards accelerating carbon capture, and carbon removals. Tree plantings, which are less expensive can take out a lot the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, plus carbon sequestering in natural soil to reduce carbon emission in the atmosphere. Also, another means of reducing emissions for towns and cities to plan such that people can safely and conveniently use public transit, walk, or bike, instead of using private vehicles, also reduces energy demand. Finally, while renewables can provide ready solutions for the high carbon emissions, the paper also noted potential vulnerabilities and strategic energy security challenges with renewables as not all countries have the technology to convert the natural resources into renewable energies, and therefore recommended for the need to begin discussions on how to avoid geopolitics in renewable sources as were the experiences with fossil fuels
Keywords: Alternative Energy System, Renewables, Non Renewables, Greenhouse Gas, Carbon Emissions, Emitters, Energy Transition Index.
Title: ALTENATIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS
Author: AMIEYEOFORI VALENTINE FELIX
International Journal of Engineering Research and Reviews
ISSN 2348-697X (Online)
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