5. Alternative sources of energy

The term 'alternative energy' is usually associated with renewable energy sources. But, this conception is only partially correct. Alternative energy includes the energy that is not sourced from fossil fuels^[17]. It may be both renewable as well as non- renewable. This was introduced as an alternative to the existent and most common energy source- fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and petroleum) as they are one of the major contributors of greenhouse effect and global warming. The alternative energy includes-

• Hydroelectric energy
• Solar energy
• Geothermal energy
• Wind energy
• Nuclear energy
• Biomass energy

The need for clean energy technologies has been very important in today’s time as the current trends of production and consumption of energy are very unsustainable. While technology is not the only ingredient to a cleaner energy future, there is no credible path to net zero emissions without a significant and speedy ramping up of clean energy technologies across the entire energy sector. Clean energy technologies are those technologies that result in minimal or zero emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and pollutants.

Using these alternative energies, we can develop ‘Low-carbon emitting technologies’ (LCET)^[18]. They are innovative technical solutions that aim towards developing clean energy products. LCET does not only focus on developing clean energy technologies, but also to improve the energy efficiency of the technologies. It is a very important tool that will help the society to shift towards a cleaner energy alternative.

Example-

1. Biofuel- As the name suggests, it is a bio- based fuel. Here, the energy is derived from the living matter/ beings. It is an efficient fuel and does not adversely impact the environmental temperature
   Example- Bio-ethanol
2. Nuclear energy- The energy derived from the nuclear fission of radioactive elements (Uranium and others) is known as nuclear energy. It is a highly intense energy source and also has low carbon emissions.

Through the development of LCET, the following can be achieved-

• Efficiency of Energy Transformation: Currently, the world’s energy demand is fulfilled with the help of fossil fuels. LCET aids in the development of various innovative solutions and technologies that can help in switching towards the renewable energy- driven energy generation.
  Example- switching from incandescent bulb to light-emitting diode [LED] bulbs.
• Renewable Non-Fossil Power and Storage Options: In the present scenario, both, power generation and storage are not eco- friendly. For example, the generated solar energy is stored in lead- acid and lithium- ion batteries. With the help of LCET, eco- friendly and sustainable storage options can be innovated.
• Cross-Cutting Technologies for Decarbonization: Since the carbon emissions and pollution from the fossil fuel generated energy is high, it has become important to step towards decarbonization. The LCET can help invent newer technologies that result in minimal emissions of CO2 and pollution.

Challenges in Production and Usage of Clean Energy:

Clean energy sources are growing in importance, but they still account for only around one-fifth of energy supply worldwide. The major concerns in the production and usage of the clean energy technologies are as follows^[19]:

• Distribution: The availability of the resources and the amenities for processing them is not uniform across the globe.
  For example: Around 70% of manufacturing capacity for technologies (solar panels, wind, EV batteries, electrolysers and heat pumps) is concentrated in three largest producer countries- with China on top. Meanwhile, critical minerals are concentrated in a small number of countries (The Democratic Republic of Congo produces over 70% of the world’s cobalt).

• Pricing: The world is already experiencing tight supply chains, resulting in high prices of the clean energy technology in recent years. This is making countries’ clean energy transitions difficult and expensive.
  For example: The rising prices of cobalt, lithium and nickel led to the first ever rise in EV battery prices, which jumped by nearly 10% globally in 2022.