How sustainable energy can do the world a power of good

Sustainable energy refers to energy and technology that can “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” Renewable energy, sometimes called “clean energy,” usually comes from natural resources that are being constantly replenished. Renewable energy sources, such as wind energy, hydro energy, solar energy and marine energy, are considered more environmentally friendly and sustainable than fossil fuels.

Clearly, we need to use more sustainable energy to achieve energy self-sufficiency, meet the world's growing energy demands, and mitigate the threat of climate change caused by GHG emissions. All of these goals directly benefit environmental and physical health.
Currently, sustainable energy provides only around 7% of the world's electricity needs, with solar energy, wind energy, bioenergy, hydro power and ocean tidal energy being among the major sources of sustainable energy. Energy lies at the heart of the climate challenge – it is the key to the solution.

Solar power

Light is one of the most abundant and freely available energy sources on Earth. The sunlight that reaches the Earth's atmosphere in one hour could meet the total energy needs of the world for one whole year. Over the past decade, technological advances have significantly lowered the manufacturing costs of solar panels. Their efficiency has increased and their lifespan has been extended to nearly 30 years. Hence solar power has become increasingly more affordable and accessible.
 

Wind energy

Wind energy is another abundant form of natural, clean energy. Wind farms use wind turbines to harness the energy of wind currents and convert the wind energy into electricity. Technically, wind energy is a form of solar energy, since the phenomenon we call "wind" is caused by temperature differences in the atmosphere combined with the Earth's rotation and the planet's geography.
Though wind energy has been used for thousands of years, recent developments in onshore and offshore wind energy technology have enabled taller turbines and larger rotor diameters. While average wind speeds vary by location, most regions of the world have the potential to harness wind energy.
 

Marine energy (tidal energy)

Marine energy, also called “tidal energy,” is a form of hydroelectric energy that uses the kinetic and thermal energy of seawater – mainly waves and ocean currents – to generate electricity or heat. For example, twice-daily tidal flow can drive turbines to generate electricity. While tidal flow is not constant like some other hydroelectric sources of energy, it is highly predictable. Though marine energy systems are still in the early stages of development, their potential for future development is vast.

Bioenergy

Bioenergy is a renewable energy source derived from biomass – organic matter derived from plants and living organisms. Firewood used in fireplaces is a common example of biomass.
There are various methods for generating energy from biomass. For example, the natural decomposition of organic material in ponds and landfills generates methane gas, which can be burned to generate electricity. The energy conversion that produces bioenergy is a relatively clean and energy-efficient process.

Technological innovation drives sustainable energy development

Clearly, technological revolution will continue to drive the development of sustainable energy in the foreseeable future. The global push for “new energy” focuses mainly on development and utilization. Worldwide, the urgent needs to reduce high energy consumption and high carbon emissions, and continuously improve energy efficiency in order to further reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, all rely on technological innovation.

Solar energy, wind energy, and energy storage mainly use insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) and silicon carbide (SiC) to convert intermittent variable energy into sustainable energy for the grid. Hence power semiconductors will become a key driver for sustainable source and load-efficient energy grids in the 21st century.

Power semiconductors require innovation in three key areas to continue driving the efficient use of renewable energies towards the goal of zero emissions. These key areas are: switching technology performance, efficient packaging, and cost and capacity. Be it a MOSFET, IGBT or SiC device, technology has been improving the operating efficiency and performance of the switch while reducing static and dynamic loss. In addition, through innovation in interconnection, materials and module technology, packaging technology can help minimize heat loss without compromising electrical performance and reliability, thus improving the efficiency of power semiconductors. 

Carbon neutrality and industrial integration
Moving towards green transformation

In China, the power and heating sectors have traditionally accounted for a large percentage of the country’s total carbon emissions. The obvious way to expedite the transition of the energy market from a “black” industry to a “green” one is to increase the carbon reduction intensity on the industrial supply side. This is being achieved by the ongoing elimination of outdated coal and coal-power energy production. In Taiwan, energy upgrading and transformation is the only way forward for the nation’s strategic development. Not surprisingly, its energy industry is intently focused on developing green and low-carbon renewable energies, such as photovoltaics, wind power and hydropower.

While the supply side of the energy industry is moving towards sustainable green and low-carbon energy, consumers also need to make the transition. Towards this end, sectors such as transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing are actively turning to green energy to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption.

1. Photovoltaic industry

Key tasks: 

1. Focus on the development of distributed photovoltaic power generation;
2. Improve the consumption guarantee mechanism and guarantee consumption and installation;
3. Further improve the efficiency of solar cells and components and reduce electricity costs;
4. Develop large-scale molten salt tower technology with extended heat storage to further reduce the cost and electricity price of heat-transfer oil tank power stations.

2. Internet of energy and integrated energy service industry

Key tasks: 

1. Research and develop new infrastructure systems for smart cities that can adapt to the new developments in the global Internet of energy;
2. Gradually adopt superconducting transmission technology in the upgrading and transformation of transmission lines;
3. Adopt optimized scheduling to realize coordinated control of cross-regional receiving and transmitting ends, realize centralized inter-provincial transactions and decentralized intra-provincial transactions based on the electricity market, and promote clean energy consumption;
4. Develop advanced energy storage systems with multiple types, large capacity, low cost, high efficiency, and long life.

3. Nuclear energy industry

Key tasks: 

1. Realize spectrum development and batch construction through independent third-generation pressurized water reactor technology;
2. Expand the scope and application fields of nuclear energy through small-scale, multi-purpose nuclear reactor technology;
3. Coordinate the development of fourth-generation advanced nuclear energy technology and pressurised water reactors to create a sustainable development model;
4. Develop stable, efficient, safe and practical nuclear fusion technology.

4. Wind power industry

Key tasks: 

1. Optimize industrial layout and accelerate the development of onshore distributed wind power;
2. Strengthen local and proximal utilization, implement and solve consumption problems;
3. Strengthen basic common technology research and form a complete R&D and manufacturing system for industrial development;
4. Strengthen the market competition mechanism and actively promote the integration of the wind power industry and financial system.

5. Biomass energy industry

Key tasks: 

1. Establish a database of biomass resource distribution and biomass physical and chemical characteristics;
2. Research and develop high-efficiency biomass cogeneration of heat and power, multi-product cogeneration of heat and power, and combined multi-product production technology for clean power generation from waste incineration;
3. Focus on the research and development of key technologies for the industrial production of molding fuels and their efficient and clean utilization;
4. Promote the industrialization of cellulosic ethanol to establish a mature business operation model for biodiesel fuel, and research and develop efficient biomass conversion technology for the transportation industry.

Conclusion

Technological innovation has given rise to new sources and applications of sustainable energy that are helping protect our planet from the adverse effects of climate change. New technologies, new models and new tracks will no doubt continue to drive the energy transformation. However, the long-term efficient utilization of high-quality energy requires the integration of flexible energy, energy storage, and the smart grid. More multi-field, multi-disciplinary research in related fields such as power grids, informatization and digitalization is required to realize the vast potential of sustainable energy to do the world a power of good.