Expert energy council to advise policy-makers on 100% renewables

A new expert body has been formed to advise governments and organisations around the world on how best to ditch fossil fuels and make the switch to 100 per cent renewables.  Action for 100% Renewables in CopenhagenEfter at have cyklet, jogget og gået for at markere denne globale dag til fordel for vedvarende energi  former deltagerne i demonstrationen tallet 100  med deres kroppe i et stort menneskebanner. Budskabet er til politikerne og handler om, at de ønsker 100 % vedvarende energi i Danmark.

Made up of a dozen world renowned energy experts, analysts and consultants, the International Energy Advisory Council (IEAC) was launched this week to assist with the design and implementation of forward-looking, sustainable energy policy, as part of the global effort to mitigate climate change.

The group’s firm focus, however, is the replacement or avoidance of the world’s incumbent centralised fossil-fuel and nuclear-energy systems with a combination of energy efficiency and decentralized renewable energy systems.

The collective intelligence of the team is impressive – representing nine difference nationalities, its analysts and consultants have collectively advised more than 200 governments and organisations in 27 countries – including Australia – as well as more than 50 international organisations. AllanJonesSyd

Chairman of the IEAC team, the UK’s Allan Jones, was instrumental in the development of the City of Sydney’s ground-breaking Decentralized Energy Master Plans.

“The world no longer needs or wants centralised energy, fossil fuel or nuclear power plants, and we believe that 100% renewable energy systems are achievable based on a combination of energy efficiency measures and local decentralized renewable-energy systems providing the remaining energy requirements,” said Jones in a statement on Monday.

American physicist and energy innovator – and founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute – Amory Lovins is also a member of the Council, whose latest work as RMI Chief Scientist has included leading the superefficient redesigns of buildings, vehicles and industrial facilities.

Other members of the 12-person team include energy experts from Japan, Germany, Sweden, India and the US.

Comments

6 responses to “Expert energy council to advise policy-makers on 100% renewables”

  1. Chris Fraser Avatar
    Chris Fraser

    The first thing they will probably do is advise all developing nations to skip the coal blunder that already-developed nations went through last century, and go straight to solar. Take that, fossil developers !

    1. Peter Avatar
      Peter

      Lately I’ve heard the canard from the coal industry that only they can provide energy to the developing on the scale that is required.
      I guess they think if they keep on repeating this line that it may become true – at least they hope so.
      We do however have the great example of the revolution of mobile phones in African where even the poorest can obtain one – and no need to a invest a cent in a fixed phone line infrastructure.
      Bring on decentralised renewable energy for all particularly those who currently do without in the developing world.

      One of experts, namely Allan Jones played a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% in the English borough of Woking through decentralising power. In much of the developing world with great access to solar radiation this is what can power this revolution.

      1. Chris Fraser Avatar
        Chris Fraser

        Exactly, i don’t get this assertion that coal power reduces poverty better than decentralised technologies. The working class of India could very well have their coal power and distribution system provided at somebody else’s expense … but then they still couldn’t afford coal fired energy even before the social cost is considered.

      2. David Gandar Avatar
        David Gandar

        I agree & argue that the old fossil-fuel model is the one that can’t keep up.

        India needs to provide power to 300m people, and infrastructure to supply it. So, build a massive fixed infrastructure based on coal, and become more coal-dependent for the next 30 years? Or is it a perfect opportunity for distributed power, skip the centralised model, and along the way become a leader in distributed energy. This is where much of the world wants to go, and increasingly needs to.

  2. Rob G Avatar
    Rob G

    Meanwhile in the house of Abbott, the lights are on but nobody is home… Initiatives towards renewables are now entirely in the hands of the state governments. I’m hoping Queenslanders come to their senses and oust Newman next weekend (though that will require a massive voter turnaround) and get onboard with SA, ACT and soon to be moving VIC.

  3. Cooma Doug Avatar
    Cooma Doug

    Cars will replace poles and wires in the residential areas. But there will be a grid to integrate the large scale solar and wind into the system. The car computer will manage your travel plan and energy use at home with awareness of the connecting flats in the home complex. Energy will be managed and exchanged efficiently between homes and cars. If your car doesn’t have enough energy for your travel plan you may get energy from next door or a battery in your home. But I really think cars can do the lot. In the flat I have in Canberra there are always over a 100 cars in the residence complex. In the years after 2040 I see this as the way the flats will be powered. There is a lot going on in the development of the AC/DC aspects of home use and reducing the losses associated with the conversions. Indeed, getting rid of much of it.

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