Page 44 - Energize January 2022

VIEWS AND OPINION

The great green reset, a new normal and

energy sovereignty

Staffwriter

he covid pandemic has had sustainable system, where it is not necessary to have the latest and greatest, but the most
a devastating effect on the appropriate for the community concerned, and yet still achieve the overall goals.
Teconomies of most countries, Whichever path is pursued, there is an increased need for cleaner and greener energy,
and there is general concern with and focus has been placed on renewables as the facilitating factor, with most nations
how economic recovery can best be diligently assessing their capabilities to pursue this path. Assessment of national capabilities
managed. Most countries are looking has proved embarrassing for most western nations as it has revealed that there is virtually
at an economic rebuild, and not just a no renewable energy system manufacturing capacity in either America or Europe, and the
recovery, seeing that the pandemic has growing markets are all dependant on imports. In fact, 85% of the worlds solar PV comes
offered an opportunity to build a new, from a single Far-Eastern country. There are few PV manufacturers in Europe or America,
better situation rather than a revival of while both countries once dominated the world markets. Smaller manufacturers, such as BP/
the older system. Solarex in Australia and America, and Photowatt in France, were forced out of the market
An economic rebuild or restart is seen by technology advances and low prices. Allegations of “dumping” of PV to achieve market
to provide an opportunity to move faster domination have been made against the main supplier regularly in the past.
in the already begun transition away from This has been brought about by an obsession of the industry and others with
a fossil fuel-based economy to a more pushing renewables as the lowest cost energy source, a move which has resulted in the
sustainable system. This has resulted in a destruction of the RE industry in the US and Europe, and an almost total dependence on
number of different strategies. This move imported products. One comment resulting is that it seems that the lowest price is not
has been accompanied by slogans such always the best.
as “net zero”, “carbon neutrality”, “new One of the things emerging internationally as a result of all this inward looking is
normal”, “the great green reset” and many the concern with energy sovereignty and energy security. Energy sovereignty is the right
others. Slogans are a good motivator, of communities to make their own decisions on energy generation, distribution, and
provided they remain slogans, but it is consumption, and on a national basis this means local control of energy sources. Recent
when a slogan becomes a set goal that developments have shown how reliance on energy imports can be used to for political
problems arise. manipulation, and there is growing concern amongst nations that rely heavily on imported
There seem to be two schools of energy. This applies to the import of renewables as well. Recent price increases of solar PV
thought on the issue, and both agree from the Far East have caused disruption and cancellation of PV installation programs in the
that economies should be rebuilt to a US and Europe, showing the vulnerability of the market to price manipulation.
different, less polluting, less wasteful One source contends that it is better to see the new ‘energy nationalism’ as a normal
and more sustainable and inclusive exercise of sovereignty. More broadly, communities are starting to value local control and
standard. One school wants to accelerate ownership of their power, not just low costs. One way to achieve energy sovereignty is to
the energy transition to see a huge generate energy using national resources, and it is here where renewables such as wind and
leap forward to a greener society, using solar become promising because the sun shines on every country and the wind blows over
whatever means are possible. every land. The problem is the means of capturing this resource. Unless there is local control
The other school wants to take a step over the manufacture of renewable energy systems, energy sovereignty will suffer.
back, and make society more energy Policy makers in the West have realised this, and there are major plans under way to
inclusive, a form of energy nationalism. re-establish solar PV industries in both Europe and America. The net result is likely to be a
This also includes transition to renewable higher price for things such as solar PV, which will cause a major upset in the PV installation
energy and digitalisation but on a localised industry. However, the higher price may be the more realistic one, and the reset will bring
and regional scale. This would reduce things back into perspective.
globalisation and place control over energy It is often stated that this country has rich solar resources that can be exploited
in the hands of the people. It is believed to generate the country’s power. While this is true, SA does not have an industry that
that by resetting to a previous level and manufactures the means to capture and exploit these resources. Both wind and solar PV
adopting a solution appropriate to the systems are completely imported, and although there are several companies assembling
needs of the country, one can change the PV panels, the core of the system, the PV wafers, are all imported, as are most of the wind
path of the transition to a more locally turbine components

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