Renewable energy development, nuclear energy and coal consumption in the world
#314 Outriders Magazine (special edition - Energy)
The development of renewable energy in the world and the challenges of the renewable energy industry
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has reported that 2023 renewable energy sources added 507 GW of capacity to the global power system, with 75% of the new capacity coming from photovoltaic energy. This represents a 50% increase in new renewable capacity compared to 2022. China, the USA, Europe, and Brazil significantly increased renewable energy production. IEA forecasts that renewable energy will become the world's primary electricity source within the next three years. By 2028, 68 countries will have renewable energy as their primary source.
While renewable energy offers many benefits, it faces several challenges, including high initial costs, sensitivity to weather conditions, and the need for expensive energy storage systems or specific location and terrain requirements. Additionally, large-scale renewable energy installations occupy ten times more space than coal or natural gas power plants, and their production, installation, and transportation contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. However, the industry is actively addressing these concerns, reducing waste and improving recycling processes for equipment like wind turbine blades and solar panels.
According to BloombergNEF, wind turbine blades have a service life of around 20 years, and the amount of composite waste from retired blades will increase 20-fold over the next two decades, reaching a maximum volume of approximately 782,000 t in 2044. That's why Swancor, one of the few companies in the world, is developing new products that mimic the physical properties of the current material from which wind turbines are made but are chemically recyclable.
Wind energy: the largest farms and offshore wind energy
According to the latest Global Wind Report 2023, a record-breaking 117 GW of new wind capacity was installed worldwide. Notably, China led the way with the most new wind energy installations on land and at sea, demonstrating its global leadership. The USA, Brazil, and Germany also made significant contributions. It's worth noting the progress of Kenya, where wind energy now accounts for approximately 17% of electricity, and the country hosts Africa's largest wind farm, Lake Turkana, with a capacity of 310 MW.
The world's largest wind farm is Jiuquan Wind Power Base or Gansu Wind Farm. Once completed, the farm will have 7,000 wind turbines installed in several Chinese provinces. In 2021, this farm reached a capacity of 10 GW, and ultimately, it is expected to have a capacity of 20 GW. The top three largest wind farms are completed by the British Dogger Bank (when launched in 2026, it will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world) and a wind park in Rajasthan, India.
Gazelle Wind Power introduced an innovative floating wind platform built from modules that use less steel than competitors' products. This makes it cheaper, lighter, and easier to install. It is a step forward in developing offshore wind energy. Currently, the sector relies mainly on turbines anchored in the seabed using permanent foundations, which cannot be used in waters deeper than 60 m. Meanwhile, approximately 80% of the world's offshore wind energy resources are located in areas with deeper waters.
Hydropower and the development of small hydropower plants in the world
Hydropower is currently the largest renewable energy source, producing more electricity than all other renewable technologies combined. It is expected to remain the world's largest renewable energy source by 2030. In 2022, hydropower production increased by almost 70 TWh, reaching 4,300 TWh. The hydropower sector is developing rapidly in China and India. However, in North America, the average age of a hydropower plant is almost 50 years, and in Europe, it is 45 years. Around 50% of profitable hydropower potential still has not been utilized globally.
Small hydropower plants have a significant potential that is yet to be utilized. According to the 2022 report of the United Nations Industrial Development Agency, the worldwide capacity of small hydropower plants installed was approximately 79 GW, while their total known potential is almost 222 GW. However, as of 2020, over 700 million people on Earth, mainly in rural areas, still had no electricity.
Europe is currently witnessing a dynamic development of small hydropower plants. In 2022, Norway alone put 25 small hydropower plants into operation, with a total capacity of 163 MW. Large power plant projects have been completed in Switzerland (the Nant de Drance pumped storage power plant, the largest in Europe), Portugal (Tâmega), and Turkey (Yusufeli Dam). In addition, the largest newly built run-of-river power plant in the Alpine region of Europe, Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn, was completed in Austria.
Innovations: sand taps, subscription panels and glowing plants
The Finnish city of Pornainen will soon be home to the world's largest sand battery, with a capacity of 100 MWh. This battery tower will store thermal energy generated from solar and wind sources and help reduce urban heating emissions by almost 70%. Sand, which can store heat for several months at a temperature of approximately 500°C, is used to fill the tall tower.
SolarMente, a Spanish company, offers a subscription service to install solar panels without any upfront cost. Subscribers can use the energy produced immediately, and the system lasts for approximately 20 to 25 years, with installation and maintenance included in the monthly fee (average €50). An AI-based "virtual battery" balances the supply and demand of electricity, and the excess energy produced reduces the customer's energy bill or is sent to a second home, company, or friends. Customers have reported that the SolarMente solar panels cover, on average, 90% of their energy needs.
A team of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a plant that can emit light and be charged repeatedly using an LED. The researchers used specialised nanoparticles embedded in plant leaves. After 10 seconds of charging, the plants glow brightly for a few minutes. Meanwhile, Bemp Research Corp, a startup, has created a hemp-based material specifically for lithium-sulphur batteries and electric vehicles.
Development of nuclear energy in Asia and Central and Eastern Europe
Currently, approximately 440 nuclear reactors are operating in 32 countries and Taiwan with a total capacity of approximately 390 GWe. In 2022, they provided 2,545 TWh, or approximately 10% of global electricity. Approximately 60 nuclear reactors are currently being built worldwide, and another 110 are planned. Most new projects are located in Asia - most in China (26) and India (7). Over the last 20 years, 107 reactors have been decommissioned, and 100 have started operation. In addition, approximately 30 countries are considering, planning or starting nuclear energy programs.
According to BloombergNEF, China is developing 36 reactors and is expected to overtake France and the United States to become the world's largest producer of nuclear energy in this decade. China can build reactors at a fraction of the cost of other countries thanks to low interest rates on loans granted by state banks and an intelligent construction strategy.
In Central and Eastern Europe, nuclear energy is making significant strides. Among others, Romania is planning a small modular power plant (SMR) in Doicești, using NuScale technology. On the other hand, Bulgaria is eagerly awaiting fuel rods developed in the USA to become independent from nuclear fuel supplies from Russia after years of dependency. In cooperation with the American Westinghouse Electric Company, Ukraine is set to expand the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant. Once six units are operational, it will be the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. These developments in Central and Eastern Europe clearly indicate the growing global interest and potential of nuclear energy.
Geothermal energy: world leaders and development of EGS technology
Geothermal energy is currently being used in 30 countries worldwide to produce electricity. As of January 2022, the total installed geothermal energy generation capacity was 15,854 MW. The leading countries in the geothermal electricity market are the USA, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, New Zealand, Mexico, Italy, Kenya (where almost 50% of electricity comes from geothermal energy), Iceland, and Japan (as of the end of 2021). This is made possible by the location along the boundaries of tectonic plates, such as the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is often associated with volcanic activity.
However, modern geothermal technologies make it possible to become independent from volcanic activity. New methods used in the industry are based on drilling and fracking, which are derived from oil and gas extraction from shale rocks. These EGS technologies increase the availability of geothermal resources through hydraulic stimulation methods.
An example of modern solutions is Project Red in the Nevada desert, developed by the energy start-up Fervo Energy. Engineers drilled into the rocks to a depth of over 2,400 m, reaching a temperature of approximately 193°C, then drilled another horizontal well at the bottom, over 900 m deep. Cracks were created in the nearby rocks through which water could flow. Project Red delivers enough steam to generate 3.5 MW of electricity and power over 2,500 houses. Currently, it powers Google's energy-hungry data centres, among others.
Coal: China and India vs “groundbreaking changes” in the EU
Coal remains the primary source of electricity worldwide, owing to its affordability and reliability in securing power production. Developing economies like China and India rely heavily on coal, with China generating over 5,000 TWh of electricity from it in 2022, representing more than half of the world's coal-based energy production.
In India, electricity consumption is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to replace polluting fuels with solar and wind farms, his administration struggles to keep up with demand. As a result, inefficient coal-fired power plants continue to operate in India, and officials have chosen to increase coal production and abandon plans to phase out old power plants.
In 2023, wind and solar energy accounted for a record 27% of electricity generated in the European Union, while coal hit its lowest level in history, generating only 12% of the EU's electricity. Gas also saw a steep decline, indicating that the European Union's energy sector is undergoing a "disruptive change," according to Sarah Brown of the Ember think tank.
Photovoltaics: development and latest scientific discoveries
In 2023, solar power generated through photovoltaics comprised 75% of the increase in renewable energy worldwide. A total of 405.5 GW of solar power was added to the system. Despite being ranked only 150th on the World Bank's list of countries with photovoltaic energy potential (PVOUT), China is the largest solar energy producer regarding installed capacity, showcasing its significant role in the global solar energy landscape. Other countries with high solar production potential include Namibia, Egypt, Botswana, Morocco, Sudan, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Mexico.
The largest solar farms in the world are Bhadla Solar Park, which is number one with 2,245 MW and the ability to power 1.3 million homes, Pavagada Solar Park in India, Huanghe Hydropower Hainan Solar Park and Tengger Desert Solar Park in China, and Egypt's Benban Solar Park.
Scientists from RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and others have developed a flexible and waterproof organic photovoltaic film. As a result, the solar cell can be placed on clothes and will still work correctly even after rain or washing. One potential application of organic photovoltaics is creating electronic monitoring devices that can be attached to clothes, including medical devices that can function without replacing batteries.