Renewable Energy

Managing energy supply is about balancing socio-economic and environmental needs. This requires detailed planning and management.

Sustainability means meeting our needs while not compromising the capacity of future generations to meet their needs

Management challenges

How to balance the economic needs (jobs and power for industry) against the environmental need (reducing pollution) and social needs (energy equality).

Renewable energy resources

Renewable energy	Advantages	Disadvantages
*Solar Power:* photovoltaic systems (e.g. Japan), Solar Power Stations (e.g. California)	Can be small scale and meet local needs Easy to install Long life	Needs high percentage of sunny days Can corrode in acid rain Currently low output
*Wind power* (e.g. Germany)	Can be small scale and meet local needs Ever increasing efficiency	Relatively inefficient Eyesore – often on highland Noise
*Biomass*: fuel wood, ethanol (e.g. Brazil), Biodiesel (e.g. Germany)	Can use agricultural waste Anyone can grow it Low-level technology so cheap to use	Takes over land used for food crops Can cost more energy to grow and harvest Vulnerable to climate and pests
*Geothermal:* hot springs (e.g. Iceland)	Cheap and 100% natural Long life Not controlled by weather	Needs heat source near the surface Often in tectonically active area Salts can build up and block pipes
*Tidal power:* barrages across estuaries (e.g. France)	Not controlled by weather Minimal running costs once built Multi-purpose schemes	Needs a large tidal range May damage ecosystem Very expensive to build Can cause silting and can disrupt wildlife
*Wave energy* (e.g. Scotland)	Can be small scale and meet local needs	Depends on type and frequency of waves Needs deep water Expensive compared to output of energy High maintenance

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