SAJC Cluster 1 Lecture 7 Notes (Renewable Energy)

St. Andrew’s Junior College H2 Cluster 1: Development, Economy and Environment (Topic 1.1) H2_Cluster 1_Lecture 7_2024/pg 1 Lecture 7 Managing Resources (I): Renewable Energy KEY QUESTION: How do we manage the use of renewable energy sources? With the completion of this lecture, attached readings and tutorial, you should be able to discuss: - Potential of solar power and hydropower to reduce dependence on fossil fuels as energy sources - Limitations of solar power and hydropower in providing energy security - Trade-offs associated with solar power and hydropower: economic, environmental and social considerations Lecture Outline 7.1 Energy security and the role of renewable energy 7.2 Solar Power 7.2.1 Potential of solar power to reduce dependence on fossil fuels 7.2.2 Limitations of solar power in providing energy security 7.2.3 Trade-offs associated with solar power (a) Economic considerations (b) Environmental considerations (c) Social considerations 7.3 Hydropower 7.3.1 Potential of hydropower to reduce dependence on fossil fuels 7.3.2 Limitations of hydropower in providing energy security 7.3.3 Trade-offs associated with hydropower (a) Economic considerations (b) Environmental considerations (c) Social considerations Reading 1: Why hasn’t solar energy in Singapore taken off in a big way after so long? Reading 2: The cost of Laos’ quest to be Southeast Asia’s ‘battery’, and the World Heritage town at risk Workers installing solar panels on the roof of a house during a hot day in Singapore.

St. Andrew’s Junior College H2 Cluster 1: Development, Economy and Environment (Topic 1.1) H2_Cluster 1_Lecture 7_2024/pg 2 7.1 Energy security and the role of renewable energy • Energy security is defined as the reliable supply of energy at reasonable prices. Energy security can be studied in these aspects: o long-term energy security mainly deals with timely investments to supply energy in line with economic developments and environmental needs. o short-term energy security focuses on the ability of the energy system to react promptly to sudden changes in the supply-demand balance. • Globally, fossil fuels are burned to supply more than 80% of the world’s energy (see Fig. 1). There are many reasons to explain their continued adoption by countries to ensure energy security (see Table 1). These include their already ready availability which is further aided by how technology helps to find more of these sources (e.g. hydraulic fracturing for shale gas) as well as relatively stable prices (such as for coal). • However, emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes contributed about 78% of total greenhouse gas emission increase between 1970 and 2010. Our heavy reliance on burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil for electricity generati on has encouraged the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere much faster than the Ea