@ green | November-December , 2022

Issue is no longer one of destination but of speed and scale

But we must not lose sight of the long-term solution , and that one goal does not prohibit the other – we can achieve both . We can achieve greater energy security by continuing to have zero-carbon energy independence .

Indeed , energy security is synonymous with energy independence . And the key to achieving this is increased electrification , digitisation , and zero-carbon energy .

The solution comprises three approaches : electrification , digitised energy efficiency , and zero-carbon energy . This trio of scalable technologies can lower energy consumption while substituting zero-carbon energy for imported fossil fuels .

Electricity is the most efficient energy , so we should electrify as many processes as possible . Cooking without gas , heating buildings without oil , and fueling cars without gasoline are all becoming more environmentally friendly and cost-effective .

According to the National Resource Defense Council in the United States , an EV motor turns 85 per cent of electrical energy into mechanical energy . Internal combustion engines only convert 40 per cent of the energy . Of course , widespread electrification reduces the demand for fossil fuels .

Energy efficiency is another method for reducing the demand for fossil fuels , and it is the unsung hero of decarbonisation . However , efficiency is not confined to improved insulation and building designs . It is not just a matter of replacing an ageing HVAC system with heat pumps . These actions have a significant impact , but you can go much further .

Massive volumes of previously undetectable energy waste are now visible because of digital intelligence . It ’ s the same idea as using a fitness tracker to visualise your heart rate and calories expended to improve performance . It is conceivable to create IoT-enabled “ fitness trackers ” for houses , office buildings , data centres , factories , and infrastructure using AI , digital twins , and other technologies .

Even if energy demand can be reduced by 90 per cent , it cannot be reduced to zero . As a result , this electricity must be generated without emitting any emissions . This is where zero-carbon energy comes into play . You can generate electricity anywhere the sun shines , and the wind blows . You can generate it on-site , as IntenCity does , using a microgrid and distributed energy resources or buy it from the grid . You acquire energy independence by securing decentralised access , long-term pricing , or both .

What about energy security ? Early research conducted by the German think tank Agora Energiewende indicates a promising path to reduce the EU ’ s dependency on imported natural gas by the end of 2027 by 80 per cent .

Even though the arithmetic pencils have been put away , the job continues . We must do everything possible to hasten the energy transition .

Fortunately , numerous positive externalities are associated with widespread electrification , energy efficiency , and zero-carbon energy deployment .

According to the IEA ’ s net-zero scenario , global GDP will increase by more than 40 per cent by 2030 . According to the Schneider Sustainability Research Institute , digitised and electrified homes can save homeowners 10-30 per cent on their utility expenses .

According to EnergySage , a solar digital marketplace , EV drivers in the United States spent 3.5 times less on fuel than ordinary drivers in March 2022 .

Although there are no quick remedies for today ’ s energy and climate challenges , there is a technologically feasible solution for electrification , digitised energy efficiency , and zero-carbon energy .

But we must act quickly . The issue is no longer one of destination but of speed and scale .

Indeed , energy security is synonymous with energy independence . And the key to achieving this is increased electrification , digitisation , and zero-carbon energy .”

DEVELOPED countries must spell out how to compensate for missing the US $ 100 billion mark earlier through additional climate finance in subsequent years .

In response to the US $ 100bn climate finance progress report by Canada and Germany on behalf of the donor countries published recently , Nafkote Dabi , Oxfam International Climate Policy Lead said : “ While this report provides helpful information on various actions to advance the climate finance agenda , it fails to boost confidence that developed countries will make significant and swift progress on meeting their commitment to providing $ 100 billion annually , over 2020-2025 to assist poor countries .

“ The report lacks a robust roadmap as to how they ’ re going to double adaptation finance by 2025 , something they agreed to at COP 26 .

“ Poor countries which are worst affected by this climate crisis will find little here to cheer . Countries in Asia , East and West Africa are experiencing more frequent and more severe impacts of climate change , and they have done little to cause it and are least prepared to cope with it .”

The report added emerging countries were struggling to cope with catastrophic climate-induced disasters such as droughts , floods , and unpredictable rainfall , which have reduced food production , resulted in water shortages , destroyed livelihoods , and displaced millions .

To make matters worse , rich contributors gave more than 70 per cent of their climate finance in the form of loans in 2020 . It means that developing countries have more debt to pay for climate damage .

Even though rich countries claim to have mobilised around US $ 83 billion in climate finance in 2020 , of which US $ 68 billion they claim was provided as public climate finance , the recent Oxfam analysis showed that the actual support provided was just a third of what the reported figures for public finance suggest .

ON OCT 6 , a historic legal action to shut down a polluting fishmeal factory in the town of Cayar , the High Court of Thiès showed shocking laboratory evidence of toxic metals in drinking water .

The plaintiffs also revealed video documentation of the factory ’ s truck illegally dumping waste in the lake , which is connected to the same groundwater . A court judgement is expected soon .

The Taxawu Cayar Collective , bringing the case against the factory , described the revelations as “ despicable ” and as clear evidence that the factory violated their community ’ s right to a healthy environment by polluting the town ’ s air and its drinking water source .

The packed courtroom was told that an independent analysis by the Laboratory of Hydrology and Toxicology at the University of Dakar ’ s Faculty of Medicine had found levels of chrome and selenium exceeding legal limits in Cayar ’ s tap water . The same toxic metals were found in high levels in nearby Lake Mbawane , which is connected to the town ’ s tap water . – @ Green