Technology dictates pace, nature, direction of energy transition (2)

The energy transition measure as proposed and being discussed in the United Nations Charter on Climate Change is generally assumed and interpreted to mean a total and complete shift from fossil fuels’ energy sources to cleaner and renewable energy sources. This measure is presently initiated as a result of the adverse environmental impact of global warming that obviously threatens a sustainable future existence of man on planet earth. The contemporary measure comes handy as a global energy solutions management programme, conceived as a climate change mitigation policy and adaptation process for man, on an already environmentally exposed vulnerable planet. This climate change action is hugely in accordance with the 2015 Paris Agreement towards achieving a net zero targeted carbon/greenhouse gas emissions at a 1.5℃ ceiling by 2030 (as emphasized at Glasgow’s 2021 COP26). The said target in effect is an increasing commitment plan for removing as much CO2 produced by companies (including cities and nations) to limit global warming, come 2050.

The interpretation of energy transition has a divergent view from another school of thought, which argues that energy shift from fossils to renewable could be regarded as “energy addition” and not “energy transition” (in its real sense), because the energy dynamics strategically accommodates the introduction of newer forms of energy, like the renewable energy that is cleaner and innovatively sourced through technological advancement. These cleaner and renewable energy sources (from wind farms, solar technology, hydro generating devices, nuclear power plants, voltaic cells for modern automobiles or even by the hydrogen means) should be regarded as expansion of the energy-mix portfolio, until it is totally proven that energy consumption sourced from fossil fuels (the hydrocarbons) that heat up the planet by emitting methane (CH4) or carbon dioxide (CO2) as greenhouse gas into the atmosphere is completely disengaged and stopped.

The energy-mix, however, depends on certain factors that influence or determine its acceptability amongst consumers. The major, among the factors, happens to be the economic implications, in terms of its affordability, by cost and pricing. In other words, energy transition terminology can only be meaningfully interpreted when there is a complete paradigm shift from fossil sources to renewable sources (which has a long term programme plan). Otherwise, the interim measure as presently observed and practiced in the dynamics of energy-mix, is energy addition by expansion of the portfolio of the contemporary global energy solutions management; under the climate change action agenda. This is because, the heaviest environmental polluters and defaulters still operate at that magnitude, and they remain the rich countries that produce, export, and at the same time, heavily consume fossil fuels (coal, petroleum and natural gas) for their energy needs within their respective economies. For example, Russia is the largest gas flaring nation and emitted 25.41billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2021; with the USA also flaring 8.79 bcm.

Based on the sensitivity towards a net zero strategy in the global battle to sustainably conserve the planet from total collapse through warming, and the devastating occurrences of natural disasters (flooding, drought, fire and excessive heat-waves) being experienced as the consequences, nations have finally come to terms to tackle this global challenge, especially through technology. Efficiency in oil extractions for more output with less carbon emissions means achieving greater success with drastically reduced gas-flaring, while the volume of oil output per given time is tremendously improved upon. This development cannot be feasible if the R&D bit is not strategically carried on for a more sophisticated high-output technology that allows a very low volume of methane gas to be flared (for instance). Gas flaring is an age-long oil industry practice of burning associated gas, which is a by-product wastefully carried on while economic and extractive operations of crude oil from wells and reservoirs are ongoing (over 160 years now). It is flared by combustion (burned under controlled conditions during the production of crude oil or natural gas) for safety reasons, to control imminent inferno (fire and explosion) that might occur. Methane (CH4) is the lone carbon atom of the alkane family (saturated hydrocarbon) that is produced, vented directly into the atmosphere or emitted during production/transportation of coal, petroleum and natural gas. Methane is a highly volatile gas; and a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG), that has been observed since the “Rio Convention” of 1992, to be 80 times more potent at warming than CO2, which has accounted for about 30 percent of global warming ever before the industrial era, and has remained, heating up the globe, even faster than can ever be imagined since its observed recording started in the ‘80s.

The technology of a strategic net zero approach on CO2 emissions at this critical moment of the climate change action for mitigation and adaptation is “a necessary evil” in the energy-mix portfolio management of both renewable energy/fossil fuel sources that should be collectively considered and applied in some locations like Africa, specifically for the achievement of an optimal yield on cost of energy economy. This is strategic because the energy needs and consumption from oil and gas (fossil fuels) still play very important and significant roles on energy affordability and reliability. The proposals, therefore, as put forward by Zahar Ibrahim, the vice president at Baker Hughes, to make energy affordable, reliable and available to all, for consumption in his region that is hugely fossil-based (considering the abundant and heavy reserves of hydrocarbons in the regions of Middle East and Africa), need to be considered and given some time before an eventual energy transition from fossils to renewable energy sources comes into effect.

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