How green is the energy revolution really?

27 Nov 2023 (10 months ago)

How did the war in Ukraine impact the green revolution?

Climate activists were frustrated by the slow pace of transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.
They used direct action tactics to draw attention to the urgency of abandoning fossil resources by 2030.
Europe responded to the energy crisis triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine by leaning back on fossil fuels.
Russia had supplied Europe with a significant portion of its gas and oil, prompting a return to fossil fuels when supplies were cut.
This reliance on fossil fuels saw a spike in prices, with coal, oil, and gas profits soaring.
However, this reliance raised concerns about whether the world would effectively transition to green energy.

Despite setbacks, the energy transition accelerated, and investment in renewable energy increased significantly.
In 2022, investments in solar and wind overtook investments in oil and gas for the first time.
The war in Ukraine might have expedited the green energy transition by making fossil fuels more expensive and renewables more appealing.
Governments began investing heavily in renewable energy to enhance energy security and reduce dependence on hostile states.
The Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S. created new green manufacturing hubs, signaling a major global shift even in historically fossil fuel-dependent regions.

Major updates in infrastructure and a reduction in bureaucratic red tape are necessary to support renewable energy integration.
London is undergoing a major grid overhaul to enable more efficient use of green energy.
The world will need much more electricity to reach Net Zero goals, requiring grid reconfiguration.
International grid interconnections are essential for sharing electricity across borders.
There is a broad recognition that connecting grids to accommodate renewable energy is a crucial step in the clean energy transition.

Nuclear power is being reconsidered due to its low carbon emissions and ability to provide a consistent base load power.
Britain is building Hinkley Point C, their first new nuclear power plant in decades, aimed to provide 7% of the UK's power.
Despite nuclear power's unpopularity and high costs, the war in Ukraine has highlighted its potential contribution to energy independence.
Nuclear projects in the West face challenges in regaining lost construction expertise and are currently over budget and behind schedule.

Despite skepticism about climate change in Texas, green jobs and industries are expanding rapidly.
The profitability of renewable technologies like wind turbines is transforming the state's economic landscape.
EV conversion for muscle cars demonstrates a niche adaptation to the surge in the electric vehicle market.
The EV market contributes to a more sustainable future, with a quarter of new car sales predicted to be electric by 2025, rising dramatically by 2040.
Investment in electrified transport is surging, matching levels of capital invested in wind and solar energy.