RENEWABLE ENERGY
Time to think alternative! World focus is now shifting towards renewable and non-polluting sources of energy. Here is a look at how geospatial tech can play an effective role in exploiting these sources. eople’s lives are dependent on energy more
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than ever before. However, with the world population touching 7 billion, the energy sector is feeling the heat of enormous demand. The biggest challenge is that the traditional energy sources like coal and oil are exhaustible. It is here that the alternative or renewable energy resources like hydropower, wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy and biomass are stepping in, with the potential to fill in the demand-supply gap.
According to a report by the United Nations, global renewable investment, in hydro power, wind, geothermal, solar power and ocean energy, are forecast at USD 1.36 - USD 5.1 trillion for the decade to 2020 and USD 1.49 USD 7.18 trillion from 2012-30. It also observed that about 140 gigawatts (GW) of added electricity generating capacity came from renewable energy resources during 2008-09, of a world total of 300 GW. According to a market report by Datamonitor, Renewable Energy: Global Industry Guide, the global renewable energy market grew by 6.8 percent in 2010 to reach a value of USD 322.5 billion. In 2015, the global renewable energy market is forecast to have a value of USD 479.9 billion, an increase of 48.8 percent since 2010. In one of its report in 2009, Worldwatch Institute calculated the worldwide potential for various sources of renewable energy which is presented in Table1. Geospatial technology has an important role to play in developing and managing these renewable energy resources. Here's a look at some of the key alternative energy resources
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GeospatialWorld I March 2012