THURSDAY, FEB 2, 2023: NOTE TO FILE
Module 4-3
Whole Systems Thinking Approach for Energy Supply
To apply a Whole Systems Thinking Approach for Energy Supply, one needs to think from the macro policy and strategic level right down to a bioregional, local and on-site level. This hierarchical thinking is necessary since from the outset the strategic direction should be to find solutions within the available national and bioregional biocapacity, or carrying capacity. This section explores this thinking at the following levels with some examples:
-
Policy and strategic level – Approaches that support energy policies and strategies away from the “business-as-usual-model” (BAU) towards more sustainable models within the national and bioregional carrying capacity.
-
National and bioregional level – The shift from centralised to decentralised energy systems.
-
Built environment level – Passive design and Integrated Renewable Energy Systems.
3.1. Policy and strategic level
The roadmap below outlines bioregional paths to an effective renewable energy strategy that integrates the generation, distribution, and use of renewable energy at the household, community and regional scale. Amory Lovins’ excellent book Reinventing Fire describes a national roadmap for the United Sates to shift to a renewable energy system and near zero carbon emissions.
Watch the short video (2min) below about the new fossil fuel free energy economy.
Likewise, the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales has created a feasibility proof and strategy for Zero Carbon Britain.
Watch the video above about this research. The shift towards a renewables based zero-carbon energy system is a scale-linking design issue that will have to be implemented through local, regional, national and international collaboration (see the European Supergrid example of large infrastructures).
Is there a roadmap for your country or region? What can you learn from the roadmaps listed below?
You can download The Energy Roadmap Primer here.
Author: Ezio Gori (Gaia Education Certified Trainer)
Source: http://earlywarn.blogspot.com/2010/06/energy-generation-in-zero-carbon.html
Proposed Energy Portfolio for Zero Carbon Britain
The Transition Network is a growing worldwide movement that has mobilized community support and action groups that purposefully work from a bottom-up approach towards practical sustainable solutions that mitigate climate change, promotes the local circular economy and establishes resilience. One of the key achievements of a Transition initiative, be it a town, a city, a district or a region, is the adoption by the local council, or political representatives, of an “Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP)” which sets out a long-term timeframe (20-years) of how that entity will descend gracefully in tandem with declining energy availability and consumption whilst sustaining a reasonable standard of living. Transition Totnes in the UK was among the first councils that adopted an EDAP (see book), which has been described as: “The EDAP is a comprehensive, lively and colourful community-based guide to reducing local dependence on fossil fuels and reducing the community’s carbon footprint over the next 20 years, a period during which the changes associated with declining oil supplies and the impacts of climate change are anticipated to become more apparent (Source: Transition Network). An EDAP is more aligned to recovering ecological overshoot and sustaining within its biocapacity than a BAU plan, which is based on endless and unrealistic economic growth. In any event, even though only a few EDAPs have been adopted, this new thinking may well be influencing conventional planners towards practical solutions for adopting the new SDGs. For an inspiring documentary about Transition in action, check out “In Transition 2.0” (1h 7mins).
The Degrowth movement also well understands the limits to growth, since “by ‘degrowth’, we understand a form of society and economy which aims at the well-being of all and sustains the natural basis of life. To achieve degrowth, we need a fundamental transformation of our lives and an extensive cultural change. The current economic and social paradigm is “faster, higher, further“. It is built on and stimulates competition between all humans. This causes acceleration, stress and exclusion” (Source: Degrowth). Essential for degrowth is:
https://degrowth.org/2014/12/01/new-book-release-degrowth-a-vocabulary-for-a-new-era/
- Striving for the good life for all. This includes deceleration, time welfare and conviviality.
- A reduction of production and consumption in the global North and liberation from the one-sided Western paradigm of development. This could allow for a self-determined path of social organization in the global South.
- An extension of democratic decision-making to allow for real political participation.
- Social changes and an orientation towards sufficiency instead of purely technological changes and improvements in efficiency in order to solve ecological problems. We believe that is has historically been proven that decoupling economic growth from resource use is not possible.
- The creation of open, connected and localized economies.
https://newsociety.com/books/p/plan-c-pdf
“Plan C” is put forward by Pat Murphy from Community Solutions, who drew inspiration from one of their earlier documentaries, “The Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil”. Plan C: Community Survival Strategies for Peak Oil and Climate Change, is based on Curtailment, Community and Co-operation, as strategies for surviving the energy descent future. By the way, “Plan A” is the business-as-usual economic growth model; “Plan B” is Lester Brown’s Earth Policies Institute; “Plan C” is Curtailment, Community and Co-operation; whilst “Plan D” is die-off or survival islands, and not an ideal option.
3.2. Centralised versus Decentralised National Energy Systems
As introduced in the context of this Module, the transition to renewable energy systems also entails a shift from a centralised capital intensive mega-project energy system, to a decentralised small scale multi-project energy smart-grid system. In a decentralised system, there are many small renewable energy producers that are connected via a decentralised network grid to end-users. These end-users can both buy energy and also produce energy and sell it to the grid or a local micro-grid, in other words, these end-users are “prosumers”.
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Staying_big_or_getting_smaller.jpg. Source link
The comparative risks between a Centralised and Decentralised Energy System are outlined in the table below in order to advocate for the less risky Decentralised Energy System which is also more robust, resilient and sustainable, besides addressing SDGs in a more meaningful manner.
Comparative Risks: Centralised versus Decentralised Energy Systems
Centralised Energy System: Techno State |
Decentralised Energy System: Resilient State |
Fossil fuel based centralised energy systems are propped up by large capital projects through State investments and loans, leading to higher energy prices and slow economic growth, with non-alignment to SDGs and risk exposure to overall declining EROEI to sustain complex societies. Aging and outdated centralised energy infrastructure is often not maintained and replaced by the State, resulting in rolling blackouts with crippling socio-economic consequences. Centralised Energy Systems are prone to becoming Techno States, reliant on State intervention due to the central ownership of the system, and overall, are prone to the vagaries of politics, and therefore unreliable or costly in the long-term. |
Renewable energy based small-scale projects in decentralised systems promotes SDGs and stabilizes EROEI to sustain and grow a complex economy. Public-private sector partnerships can take on smaller scale projects attracting less risk, and can bankroll a State’s energy transition. Decentralised Energy Systems have greater network connectivity among participants, thereby strengthening connections and better supporting network gaps, whilst enjoying public-private ownership, thus making for more resilient energy systems over the long-term. |
3.3. Passive Design and Integrated Renewable Energy Systems
The most effective way to design more sustainable energy system is to start by paying attention to “nega-watts”. This concept to saving energy from needing to be generated from any source, simply by creating designs that use very little energy in the first place. The highest reduction in the impact of energy systems on the environment will be achieved by reducing the amount of energy we need in the first place and by using the energy we have at our disposal as efficiently and effectively as possible.
The first priority is energy conservation, which involves ecological architecture (bioclimatic building, thermal mass, super-insulation, etc.); efficient and appropriately sized energy equipment and occupant attitudes.
IRENA aims at becoming the main driving force in promoting a rapid transition towards the widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy on a global scale
INFORSE is a worldwide network consisting of 140 Non Governmental Organisations working in about 60 countries to promote sustainable energy and social development |
Passive Design in the built environment, such as, Passivhaus, AECB Gold Standard, LEED Platinum, or a low and zero carbon standard, reduces the energy footprint substantially from “BAU”. Many European countries have brought in advanced low carbon standards for all new buildings. Alternative energy policies typically allow for grants and subsidies of appropriate technologies. Not all standards set their aim equally high. Some specify only reductions in energy use and carbon emissions, others aim for houses that generate their own energy and reach zero emissions, while the Living Building Challenge and Living Communities Challenge require a net-positive impact of the project through the application of biomimetic and regenerative design.
The Basic Principles of Passive House Construction
http://flatrockpassivehouse.blogspot.com/2017/01/passive-house-principles-passive.html
Integrated Renewable Energy Systems further reduces a building footprint towards carbon-neutral, be it for a new-build or a retro-fit project. Ideally, it will be easier to design new-build, but there is much potential to simply retro-fit the existing building stock for energy conservation. All renewable energy systems should be explored and integrated with on-site generation, storage and distribution, with a grid, or mini-grid connection to buy excess demand or sell surplus supply. The on-site systems that should be explored in conjunction with other related building services, includes renewable energy generation from wind, solar thermal, photovoltaic, biomass, biogas and compost heating. In turn, these solutions will reduce the negative waste impact and also the operational cost of utilities, such as, water, sewage, electricity and solid waste removal.
Source: http://chinagreenbuildings.blogspot.com/2009/02/ecoblocks.html
Module 4, lesson 4
