Renewable Energy

This weeks reading consisted of multiple case studies regarding energy sources. In class tonight we discussed the innovation of renewable energy in China, India and Brazil. We highlighted "new energy" sources such as Wind, Solar, and Coal power. While wind and solar are much more efficient and cleaner than coal, coal is much less expensive. China for example has mainly employed clean coal technology, but is also one of the world leader's in solar production. Also, China has become an industry leader in producing electric and hybrid vehicles. India, on the other hand, has had very little concentration on wind power and has focused their country's attention to the future of their solar power industry. The environment in India makes for the perfect solar power industry. In Brazil, we saw that rather than wind or solar, their main sources of energy were hydroelectric power and ethanol. We also discussed the issue of deforestation. With most of these industries we saw common themes and government regulations that promoted domestic markets. While these renewable energies can be costly, they produce a lot more energy. Without question, renewable energies are the future of energy use in the world. The question is how these technologies will be developed and deployed in certain areas of the world. While companies have made lucrative businesses out of these technologies, there has been very little commercialization and controversy has arisen. Why won't China adapt cleaner energies compared to their heavy industrial coal use? Why is wind power better than solar power in some places (and vice versa)? what are the economic, social, and political benefits on new energy technologies? Renewable energy remains a question of the future and only time will tell how societies adopt different types of energy.