The European Union has always been steadfast in maintaining a shift to renewable energy at the top of its priority list. To date, Europe leads the world in clean energy investments. Experts in the field of sustainability and renewable energy are constantly producing new and more efficient ways to meet the energy demands of modern times. In this week’s news, headlines are celebrating the possibility of volcanoes in Iceland providing renewable energy to the UK.
The prospect of electricity generated from the volcanic activity, is just one example of the frantic search for alternative energy sources as instability in oil-rich countries, that currently supply large portions of our our energy needs, continues to cause concern. Not only can conflict in Middle Eastern oil-rich countries make oil prices skyrocket, indeed oil is a finite resource that will inevitably be depleted in time. Long has the EU been on a search for renewable and alternative energy sources, and this search will certainly continue throughout the coming decade and beyond.
Years ago, active volcanoes might have been seen only as a danger to those living in their vicinity. Now, the 20 to 30 active volcanoes in Iceland are the source of much more positive discussion. These Icelandic volcanoes may have the capability to be a major new source of renewable energy for the UK. The geothermal electricity that the volcanoes can produce is the new source of energy that the UK is looking to take advantage of in order to meet its renewable energy target.
The UK is not the only country with a target for renewable energy. The production of wind energy for electricity has swept EU member states. Germany, Spain, Italy and Denmark are all at the forefront of the world’s wind energy production. Notably in Denmark, almost a quarter of all electricity consumed came from wind power in 2011. Last year, wind power was providing 6.3% of Europe’s electricity consumption. The Commission has predicted wind power will continue to play an increasingly important role in keeping Europe sustainable in the coming decade.
Wind energy production is one of the priorities of the European Energy Programme for Recovery. Set up in 2009, this programme has a €4 billion budget dedicated to making energy supplies more reliable and reviving Europe’s economy whilst lowering CO2 and greenhouse emissions.
Still another European programme concerned with efficient energy supply is the EU 2020 Strategy. The strategy, in which a major flagship initiative is sustainable growth, will be applied to the entirety of the EU. The ambitious objectives of the initiative, which include tackling climate change and energy production, focus on the shift toward a low-carbon economy centred on resource efficiency. Due to the indisputable link between access to energy and economic performance, the EU has recognised the urgent need to change our way of doing things. The EU’s plan for achieving sustainability includes supporting a number of policy specific agendas within all EU institutions regarding climate change, energy, job creation, raw materials and regional development.
The fact that the EU is approaching the search for sustainable energy from multiple angles is promising. With EU sanctions on major oil-producing nations like Iran and no practical prediction of when they might be lifted, EU member states are right to be concerned aver their reliance on foreign oil. The developed world should not be complacent over its dependency on non-renewable resources, all the more so since viable alternatives are within grasp.
For Malta, the lack of space and small size of our country makes it difficult to try and fathom the creation of large energy-producing plants. Still, the government works hard to secure energy conducive to Malta’s needs. Despite the current dependence on oil, Malta has already worked toward developing wind and solar energy sources.
Renewable energy is important not only for ensuring the planet’s sustainability. Renewable energy in general will lead to the amelioration of quality of life for many. It will boost the job market and open up a field in which qualified citizens will be able to work. Anxiety and fear regarding the future of the energy industry and energy market will be relieved. Political and diplomatic tensions could also be eased. Of course, with one gone comes another and by no means will the world’s problems dissipate if we find a solution to securing renewable energy. Still, the benefits of pushing forward the shift to renewable energy sources are unquantifiable.
David Casa is a Nationalist MEP