query: Numerous case studies on both regional and global scales have determined that renewable energy, if properly implemented, can provide baseload power.

positive: Variable renewable energy Variable renewable energy ( VRE ) is a renewable energy source that is non-dispatchable due to its fluctuating nature , like wind power and solar power , as opposed to a controllable renewable energy source such as hydroelectricity , or biomass , or a relatively constant source such as geothermal power or run-of-the-river hydroelectricity .

positive: Renewable energy in Kenya The renewable energy sector in Kenya is among the most active in Africa . In Kenya , investment grew from virtually zero in 2009 to US$ 1.3 billion in 2010 across technologies such as wind , geothermal , small-scale hydro and biofuels . This is not saying that Kenya was never active in the renewable energy sector . Kenya is Africa 's first geothermal power producer and the world leader in the number of solar power systems installed per capita . It is still the largest producer of geothermal power in Africa today at 200 MW with only one other African country producing geothermal power , Ethiopia . Connectivity to the national grid in Kenya currently stands at 28 % . In 2011 , Kenya was also the first country in Africa to open a carbon exchange .

positive: Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources , which are naturally replenished on a human timescale , such as sunlight , wind , rain , tides , waves , and geothermal heat . Renewable energy often provides energy in four important areas : electricity generation , air and water heating/cooling , transportation , and rural ( off-grid ) energy services .   Based on REN21 's 2016 report , renewables contributed 19.2 % to humans ' global energy consumption and 23.7 % to their generation of electricity in 2014 and 2015 , respectively . This energy consumption is divided as 8.9 % coming from traditional biomass , 4.2 % as heat energy ( modern biomass , geothermal and solar heat ) , 3.9 % hydro electricity and 2.2 % is electricity from wind , solar , geothermal , and biomass . Worldwide investments in renewable technologies amounted to more than US$ 286 billion in 2015 , with countries like China and the United States heavily investing in wind , hydro , solar and biofuels . Globally , there are an estimated 7.7 million jobs associated with the renewable energy industries , with solar photovoltaics being the largest renewable employer . As of 2015 worldwide , more than half of all new electricity capacity installed was renewable .   Renewable energy resources exist over wide geographical areas , in contrast to other energy sources , which are concentrated in a limited number of countries . Rapid deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency is resulting in significant energy security , climate change mitigation , and economic benefits . The results of a recent review of the literature concluded that as greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emitters begin to be held liable for damages resulting from GHG emissions resulting in climate change , a high value for liability mitigation would provide powerful incentives for deployment of renewable energy technologies . In international public opinion surveys there is strong support for promoting renewable sources such as solar power and wind power . At the national level , at least 30 nations around the world already have renewable energy contributing more than 20 percent of energy supply . National renewable energy markets are projected to continue to grow strongly in the coming decade and beyond . Some places and at least two countries , Iceland and Norway generate all their electricity using renewable energy already , and many other countries have the set a goal to reach 100 % renewable energy in the future . For example , in Denmark the government decided to switch the total energy supply ( electricity , mobility and heating/cooling ) to 100 % renewable energy by 2050 .   While many renewable energy projects are large-scale , renewable technologies are also suited to rural and remote areas and developing countries , where energy is often crucial in human development . United Nations ' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that renewable energy has the ability to lift the poorest nations to new levels of prosperity . As most of renewables provide electricity , renewable energy deployment is often applied in conjunction with further electrification , which has several benefits : Electricity can be converted to heat ( where necessary generating higher temperatures than fossil fuels ) , can be converted into mechanical energy with high efficiency and is clean at the point of consumption . In addition to that electrification with renewable energy is much more efficient and therefore leads to a significant reduction in primary energy requirements , because most renewables do n't have a steam cycle with high losses ( fossil power plants usually have losses of 40 to 65 % ) .   Renewable energy systems are rapidly becoming more efficient and cheaper . Their share of total energy consumption is increasing . Growth in consumption of coal and oil could end by 2020 due to increased uptake of renewables and natural gas .

negative: 100% renewable energy The endeavor to use 100 % renewable energy for electricity , heating and cooling , and transport is motivated by global warming , pollution and other environmental issues , as well as economic and energy security concerns . Shifting the total global primary energy supply to renewable sources requires a transition of the energy system . In 2013 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said that there are few fundamental technological limits to integrating a portfolio of renewable energy technologies to meet most of total global energy demand . Renewable energy use has grown much faster than even advocates anticipated .   In 2014 , renewable sources such as wind , geothermal , solar , biomass , and burnt waste provided 19 % of the total energy consumed worldwide , with roughly half of that coming from traditional use of biomass . The most important sector is electricity with a renewable share of 22.8 % , most of it coming from hydropower with a share of 16.6 % , followed by wind with 3.1 % . There are many places around the world with grids that are run almost exclusively on renewable energy . At the national level , at least 30 nations already have renewable energy contributing more than 20 % of the energy supply .   Professors S. Pacala and Robert H. Socolow of Princeton University have developed a series of `` Climate stabilization wedges '' that can allow us to maintain our quality of life while avoiding catastrophic climate change , and `` renewable energy sources , '' in aggregate , constitute the largest number of their `` wedges . ''   Mark Z. Jacobson , professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and director of its Atmosphere and Energy program , says that producing all new energy with wind power , solar power , and hydropower by 2030 is feasible , and that existing energy supply arrangements could be replaced by 2050 . Barriers to implementing the renewable energy plan are seen to be `` primarily social and political , not technological or economic '' . Jacobson says that energy costs today with a wind , solar , and water system should be similar to today 's energy costs from other optimally cost-effective strategies . The main obstacle against this scenario is the lack of political will .   Similarly , in the United States , the independent National Research Council has noted that `` sufficient domestic renewable resources exist to allow renewable electricity to play a significant role in future electricity generation and thus help confront issues related to climate change , energy security , and the escalation of energy costs ... Renewable energy is an attractive option because renewable resources available in the United States , taken collectively , can supply significantly greater amounts of electricity than the total current or projected domestic demand . ''   The main barriers to the widespread implementation of large-scale renewable energy and low-carbon energy strategies are political rather than technological . According to the 2013 Post Carbon Pathways report , which reviewed many international studies , the key roadblocks are : climate change denial , the fossil fuels lobby , political inaction , unsustainable energy consumption , outdated energy infrastructure , and financial constraints .

negative: Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy The Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy is the central government ministry of Sri Lanka responsible for power and renewable energy . The ministry is responsible for formulating and implementing national policy on power and renewable energy and other subjects which come under its purview . The current Minister of Power and Renewable Energy and Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy are Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Ajith Perera respectively . The ministry 's secretary is B. M. S. Batagoda .

negative: Energy Watch Group The Energy Watch Group ( EWG ) is an international network of scientists and parliamentarians . The EWG conducts research and publishes studies on global energy developments concerning both fossil fuels and renewables . The organization states that it seeks to provide energy policy with objective information .   The EWG was founded in 2006 by the former German parliamentarian & The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany awardee Hans-Josef Fell and further parliamentarians from other countries to provide both experts and political decision makers as well as the public with information on energy issues .

negative: R20 Regions of Climate Action The R20 - Regions of Climate Action is a non-profit environmental organization founded in November 2010 , by former Governor of California , Arnold Schwarzenegger , with the support of the United Nations . R20 is a coalition of sub-national governments , private companies , international organizations , NGOs , and academic & financial institutions . Its mission is to help sub-national governments to implement low-carbon and climate-resilient projects , as well as to share best practices in renewable energy and energy efficiency in order to build a `` green economy '' . This NGO operates at the sub-national level as R20 believes sub-national governments constitute a powerful force for change and are best positioned to take action & implement green projects . Through this bottom-up approach , successful sub-national projects will be scaled-up to national and international levels to achieve a broader , global impact .

negative: International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation The Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation ( IPEEC ) is a high-level international forum which includes developed and developing countries . Its purpose is to enhance global cooperation in the field of energy efficiency and to facilitate policies that yield energy efficiency gains across all sectors globally .  IPEEC provides information to decision-makers in major economies , facilitating candid discussions for exchanging ideas and experiences and helping countries undertake joint projects to develop and implement energy efficiency policies and measures at a global scale . It is also a forum for member and non-member economies to share information about various bilateral and multilateral initiatives . IPEEC supported initiatives are open to both member and non-member nations as well as the private sector .  IPEEC is coordinating the implementation of the Group of 20 ( G20 ) Energy Efficiency Action Plan , which was agreed by G20 leaders in late 2014 as a practical approach to strengthening voluntary international energy efficiency collaboration . And since July 2016 , IPEEC is coordinating the Energy Efficiency Leading Programme ( EELP ) that provides the basis for a ` comprehensive , flexible , and adequately-resourced ' framework for strengthened voluntary collaboration on energy efficiency among G20 members and beyond .   IPEEC has two core committees : the Executive Committee and the Policy Committee . Both these committees meet twice a year to determine the forward work program and discuss results of current and previous projects .

negative: REN21 REN21 , the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century , is a global renewable energy  multi-stakeholder policy network that provides international leadership for the rapid transition to renewable energy . The network was launched in June 2004 as an outcome of the International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn , Germany . REN21 brings together governments , nongovernmental organisations , research and academic institutions , international organisations and industry to learn from one another and build on successes that advance renewable energy . To assist policy decision making , REN21 provides high quality information , catalyses discussion and debate and supports the development of thematic networks .   REN21 has produced a number of internationally recognised reports on renewable energy policy , industry and market development . Since 2005 it has produced its annual flagship publication , theRenewables Global Status Report ( GSR ) . The GSR provides a comprehensive overview of renewable energy market , industry , investment and policy development worldwide . Data is collected from a network of more than 500 contributors and researchers . REN21 also produces regional analyses such as regional reports for MENA , ECOWAS , SADC , EAC . The range of credible possibilities on the future of renewable energy is detailed in the publication Renewables Global Futures Report . Up-to-date country data on renewable energy can be accessed through REN21 's Interactive Map . This map was created to facilitate the accessibility of renewable energy knowledge to a broad range of stakeholders in the energy sector and beyond .   REN21 works in cooperation with other organisations . A sister report to REN21 's GSR is the Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment Report ( GTR ) produced by theFrankfurt School -- UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance . REN21 is also a partner of the Global Tracking Framework , which is convened by the UN Secretary General 's Sustainable Energy for All ( SE4All ) Initiative . REN21 also collaborates with other intergovernmental organisations such as the IEA , the World Bank and IRENA .   Initiated at the renewables 2004 conference in Bonn , IRECs a high-level political conference series dedicated to renewable energy policy worldwide . Dedicated exclusively to the renewable energy sector , IRECs are hosted by alternate Governments every two years and convened by REN21 . REN21 's role in the IREC process is as follows :   • Establishment of an International Advisory Committee ( IAC ) and hosting of its meetings on a frequency to be agreed to by the Parties   • Development of the IREC conference programme in collaboration with the host country   • Facilitation of the production of the IREC Conference Declaration and outcomes   • Promoting IREC on a global level through the REN21 network and its associated events   These multi-stakeholder events act as a common platform for government , private sector and civil society leaders to jointly address the goal of advancing renewable energy and have provided the impulse for several momentous initiatives over the past decade . IREC have served as motor in the respective host country ( 2004 : Germany ; 2005 : China ; 2008 : USA ; 2010 : India ; 2013 : United Arab Emirates ; 2015 : South Africa ) .   The REN21 secretariat is based at UNEP ( United Nations Environment Programme ) in Paris , France and is a registered non-profit association under German law ( e.V. ) . When established in Paris in 2006 , Paul Hugo Suding , was the first Head of Secretariat . Since formalization Christine Lins is Executive Secretary .

negative: Solar Millennium Solar Millennium is a German globally active company in the renewable energy sector founded in 1998 in Erlangen , Germany , which is specialized in the designing and implementation of solar thermal power plants . The main activities are site selection , project development , planning , design and construction of parabolic trough power plants .

negative: Energy in Hawaii Energy production in Hawaii is a difficult issue due to the islands ' isolated location and lack of local resources . The state relies heavily on imports of petroleum and coal for power although recent initiatives have increased use of alternative resources . High levels of solar photovoltaic and wind power use have led to power balance issues which have made Hawaii a study case for renewable use . Commercial-scale batteries and upgraded grid resources and management are among the solutions being advanced .   Hawaii has the most expensive electricity prices in the United States . In 2016 the average cost of electricity was $ 0.24 per kilowatt-hour , with the next highest state being Alaska at $ 0.19 . The U.S. average was $ 0.10 per kilowatt-hour across all sectors .

negative: Dispatchable generation Dispatchable generation refers to sources of electricity that can be dispatched at the request of power grid operators or of the plant owner ; that is , generating plants that can be turned on or off , or can adjust their power output accordingly to an order . Often base load power plants such as nuclear or coal can not be turned on and off in less than several hours . The time periods in which dispatchable generation plant may be turned on or off may vary , and be considered in time frames of minutes or hours . The 1,728 MW Dinorwig pumped power station can reach full output in 16 seconds .   This may be contrasted with intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar power which can not be controlled by operators .   The most common dispatchable power plant is natural gas . The only types of renewable energy which are dispatchable are biofuel , biomass , hydropower with a reservoir , ocean thermal energy conversion and concentrated solar power with thermal storage .   The main reasons for which dispatchable power plants are needed are :  - to balance electrical system ( load following , frequency control )  - to optimize generation dispatch ( merit order )  - to provide requested power spinning reserves  - to contribute to clear grid congestions/constraints  -  Load matching - slow changes in power demand between , for example , night and day , require changes in supply too , as the system needs to be balanced at all times ( see also Electricity ) .  Peak matching - short periods of time during which demand exceeds the output of load matching plants ; generation capable of satisfying these peaks in demand is implemented through quick deployment of output by flexible sources .  Lead-in times - periods during which an alternative source is employed to supplement the lead time required by large coal or natural gas fueled plants to reach full output ; these alternative power sources can be deployed in a matter of seconds or minutes to adapt to rapid shocks in demand or supply that can not be satisfied by peak matching generators .  Frequency regulation or intermittent power sources - changes in the electricity output sent into the system may change quality and stability of the transmission system itself because of a change in the frequency of electricity transmitted ; renewable sources such as wind and solar are intermittent and need flexible power sources to smooth out their changes in energy production .  Backup for base-load generators - Nuclear power plants , for example , are equipped with nuclear reactor safety systems that can stop the generation of electricity in less than a second in case of emergency .   The attractiveness of utility-scale energy storage is that it can compensate for the intermittency of wind power and solar power . However in practice , large-scale storage technologies other than pumped hydro remain in an early stage of development and are expensive .

negative: Space Solar Power Exploratory Research and Technology program The Space Solar Power Exploratory Research and Technology program ( SERT ) program , conducted by NASA , was initiated by John Mankins and led by Joe Howell in March 1999 for the following purpose :   Perform design studies of selected flight demonstration concepts ;  Evaluate studies of the general feasibility , design , and requirements .  Create conceptual designs of subsystems that make use of advanced SSP technologies to benefit future space or terrestrial applications .  Formulate a preliminary plan of action for the U.S. ( working with international partners ) to undertake an aggressive technology initiative .  Construct technology development and demonstration roadmaps for critical Space Solar Power ( SSP ) elements .   It was to develop a solar power satellite ( SPS ) concept for a future gigawatt space power systems to provide electrical power by converting the Sun 's energy and beaming it to the Earth 's surface . It was also to provide a developmental path to solutions for current space power architectures . Subject to studies it proposed an inflatable photovoltaic gossamer structure with concentrator lenses or solar dynamic engines to convert solar flux into electricity . The initial program looked at systems in sun-synchronous orbit , but by the end of the program , most of the analysis looked at geosynchronous orbit .   Some of SERT 's conclusions include the following :   The increasing global energy demand is likely to continue for many decades resulting in new power plants of all sizes being built .  The environmental impact of those plants and their impact on world energy supplies and geopolitical relationships can be problematic .  Renewable energy is a compelling approach , both philosophically and in engineering terms .  Many renewable energy sources are limited in their ability to affordably provide the base load power required for global industrial development and prosperity , because of inherent land and water requirements .  Based on their Concept Definition Study , space solar power concepts may be ready to reenter the discussion .  Solar power satellites should no longer be envisioned as requiring unimaginably large initial investments in fixed infrastructure before the emplacement of productive power plants can begin .  Space solar power systems appear to possess many significant environmental advantages when compared to alternative approaches .  The economic viability of space solar power systems depends on many factors and the successful development of various new technologies ( not least of which is the availability of exceptionally low cost access to space ) however , the same can be said of many other advanced power technologies options .  Space solar power may well emerge as a serious candidate among the options for meeting the energy demands of the 21st century .

negative: Solar Energy Corporation of India Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. ( SECI ) is a company of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy , Government of India , established to facilitate the implementation of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission . It is the only public sector undertaking dedicated to the solar energy sector . The company 's mandate has been broadened to cover the entire renewable energy domain and the company will be renamed to Renewable Energy Corporation of India ( RECI ) .   The company is responsible for implementation of a number of government schemes , major ones being the VGF schemes for large-scale grid-connected projects under JNNSM , solar park scheme and grid-connected solar rooftop scheme , along with a host of other specialised schemes such as defence scheme , canal-top scheme , and Indo-Pak border scheme .   In addition , SECI has ventured into solar project development on turnkey basis for several PSUs . The company also has a power-trading licence and is active in this domain through trading of solar power from projects set up under the schemes being implemented by it .

negative: European Energy Certificate System The European Energy Certificate System ( EECS ) is a commercially funded , integrated European framework for issuing , holding , transferring and otherwise processing electronic records . It was developed by the Association of Issuing Bodies to provide a properly regulated platform for Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin , as proposed by the Renewables Directive which supports Directive 2009/72/EC ( the Internal Electricity Market Directive ) . EECS builds upon the concept proposed by the Basic Commitment of the Renewable Energy Certificate System ( RECS ) and now supports all types of electricity , regardless of source or production technology .   The scope and focus of EECS now encompasses all forms of electricity , and supports Directive 2004/8/EC ( the CHP Directive ) . Work is currently under way to adapt EECS to support forms of energy other than electricity .   The EECS Rules set out the energy certificate issuing activities of members of the AIB at an international level ; while the implementation of EECS at a national or regional level is set out in a series of Domain Protocols .

negative: Renewable energy in Australia Renewable energy in Australia deals with efforts being made in Australia to quantify and expand renewable energy , which includes electricity , transport fuels and thermal energy . Total renewable energy consumption in Australia in 2015 was 346PJ , representing 5.9 % of Australia 's total energy consumption . This is an increase of 1.6 % from 2011 -- 12 levels ( 265PJ ) , representing 4.3 % of Australia 's total energy consumption . Of all renewable energy consumption in 2015 ( in order of contribution ) biomass ( wood , woodwaste and bagasse ) represents 53 % , hydroelectricity 19.2 % , wind 10.7 % , solar PV 5.1 % , biogas 4.7 % , solar hot water 3.8 % and biofuels 3.6 % . Bioenergy ( the sum of all energy derived from plant matter ) represented 61.3 % ( 211.9 PJ ) of Australia 's total renewable energy consumption in 2015 .   Renewable electricity has undergone substantial growth in Australia in the 21st century . It is estimated that Australia produced 35,007 gigawatt hours ( GWh ) of renewable electricity ( or equivalent ) over the year ending December 2015 , representing 14.6 % of the total production in Australia . By way of comparison , in 2006 , approximately 9,500 GWh of electricity came from renewable sources , representing less than 4 % of nationally generated electricity .   Of all renewable electrical sources in 2012 , hydroelectricity represented 57.8 % , wind 26 % , bioenergy 8.1 % , solar PV 8 % , large-scale solar 0.147 % , geothermal 0.002 % and marine 0.001 % ; additionally , solar hot water heating was estimated to replace a further 2,422 GWh of electrical generation .   Similar to many other countries , development of renewable electricity in Australia has been encouraged by government energy policy implemented in response to concerns about climate change , energy independence and economic stimulus . A key policy that has been in place since 2001 to encourage large-scale renewable energy development is a mandatory renewable energy target , which in 2010 was increased to 41,000 gigawatt-hours of renewable generation from power stations . This was subsequently reduced to 33,000 gigawatt-hours by the Abbott Government with the agreement of the Labor opposition . Alongside this there is the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme , an uncapped scheme to support rooftop solar power and solar hot water and several State schemes providing feed-in tariffs to encourage photovoltaics . In 2012 , these policies were supplemented by a carbon price and a 10 billion-dollar fund to finance renewable energy projects , although these initiatives were later withdrawn by the Federal Government .   It has been suggested that with sufficient public and private sector investment and government policy certainty , Australia could switch entirely to renewable energy within a decade by building additional large-scale solar and wind power developments , upgrading to transmission infrastructure and introduction of appropriate energy efficiency measures .

negative: Renewable Energy Certificate (United States) Renewable Energy Certificates ( RECs ) , also known as Green tags , Renewable Energy Credits , Renewable Electricity Certificates , or Tradable Renewable Certificates ( TRCs ) , are tradable , non-tangible energy commodities in the United States that represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour ( MWh ) of electricity was generated from an eligible renewable energy resource ( renewable electricity ) and was fed into the shared system of power lines which transport energy . Solar renewable energy certificates ( SRECs ) are RECs that are specifically generated by solar energy . Renewable Energy Certificates provide a mechanism for the purchase of renewable energy that is added to and pulled from the electrical grid .   These certificates can be sold and traded or bartered , and the owner of the REC can claim to have purchased renewable energy . According to the U.S. Department of Energy 's Green Power Network , RECs represent the environmental attributes of the power produced from renewable energy projects and are sold separately from commodity electricity . While traditional carbon emissions trading programs use penalties and incentives to achieve established emissions targets , RECs simply incentivize carbon-neutral renewable energy by providing a production subsidy to electricity generated from renewable sources .   A green energy provider ( such as a wind farm ) is credited with one REC for every 1,000 kWh or 1 MWh of electricity it produces ( for reference , an average residential customer consumes about 800 kWh in a month ) . A certifying agency gives each REC a unique identification number to make sure it does n't get double-counted . The green energy is then fed into the electrical grid ( by mandate ) , and the accompanying REC can then be sold on the open market . `` Retirement occurs when a Renewable Energy Certificate ( REC ) is used by the owner of the REC . Use of the REC may include , but is not limited to , ( 1 ) use of the REC by an end-use customer , marketer , generator , or utility to comply with a statutory or regulatory requirement , ( 2 ) a public claim associated with a purchase of RECs by an end-use customer , or ( 3 ) the sale of any component attributes of a REC for any purpose . Once a REC is retired , it may not be sold , donated , or transferred to any other party . No party other than the owner may make claims associated with retired RECs . ''   Energy from any grid-tied source is bought and sold with contracts specifying the generator and purchaser . In the trade of renewable energy , RECs specify that a unit of renewable energy was generated . Because once electricity is placed on the electrical grid it mixes with electricity from multiple sources and becomes indistinguishable , RECs are used to track the ownership of environmental and social benefits of the renewable energy . The majority of RECs are sold separately from the electricity itself . In these cases , the electricity is sold as `` null '' energy without its environmental and social benefits , as if it were generated by non-renewable resources such as coal , nuclear or natural gas . When RECs are purchased in combination with non-renewable electricity this constitutes the legal purchase of renewable energy . This is how electrical grid connected renewable energy is traded in the U.S. Grid-connected renewable energy is used by electric utility companies in meeting their regulatory requirements and by individuals and businesses wishing to lessen their environmental impact . RECs allow for purchasers to support renewable energy generation and allows the economic forces of supply and demand to spur the further development of renewable energy generation .

negative: Centre for Studies on Federalism The Centre for Studies on Federalism ( CSF ) was established in November 2000 with the primary purpose of studying and researching the theory and practice of Federalism both as a political doctrine and in its implementation in the institutional systems of the Modern state . CSF 's main focus is on the infra-national , macro-regional and global scale of federalism : it specifically considers regional integration at a time of globalisation , with special reference to Europe , its history and civilization , its progress towards unification and its future .

negative: Energy in Australia Energy in Australia includes energy and electricity production , consumption and export in Australia . Energy policy of Australia describes the politics of Australia as it relates to energy .   Australia is a net energy exporter , and was the fourth-highest coal producer in the world in 2009 .   Historically -- and until recent times -- energy in Australia was sourced largely from coal and natural gas , however due to the increasing effects of global warming and human-induced climate change on the global environment , there has been a greater shift towards renewable energy such as solar power and wind power both in Australia and abroad . This in turn has led to a decrease in the demand of coal worldwide .

negative: Renewable energy in Spain Electricity from renewable sources in Spain represented 42.8 % of electricity demand coverage during 2014 . The country has a very large wind power capability built up over many years and is one of the world leaders in wind power generation .   Initially Spain also positioned itself as a European leader in Solar power , by 2007-2010 the country was second only to Germany in installed capacity , however other countries ( Italy in particular ) have since leapfrogged Spanish development . By 2015 solar power in Spain though significant produced less than a third of that of wind power in 2015 .   Spain has set the target of generating 20 % of all its energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2020 and an additional 0.8 % may be available for other EU countries under the cooperation mechanism bringing the total to 20.8 % . By the end of 2014 Spain had reached a level of 16.2 % of all its energy needs from renewable energy sources .   The story of renewable energy development in Spain is both a mixed and unfinished one . Under previous subsidies the country expanded its renewable base rapidly and helped establish a domestic industry in both wind turbine and solar energy . However , support was drastically cut back following the global financial crisis and new installations stagnated between 2012 and 2015 . The debts incurred during the boom period have led to tougher and retrospective revisions of contracts to providers of renewable energy reducing returns considerably . In being one of the first-to-market countries , Spain faces the challenge of powerful competitors from countries such as Denmark , Germany and China and ironically a cheaper and more mature renewable energy sector which Spain itself helped to pioneer .   In 2015 solar power suddenly demonstrated a possible way through the impasse . The continued fall in prices for solar systems and Spain 's abundant sunshine led to prices for solar power reaching grid price parity . Suddenly there was the potential for sustained and spontaneous growth in solar installations in Spain as households and producers could produce power more economically . However the Spanish government introduced what has been dubbed the world 's first `` sun tax '' on solar installations making them economically less viable as well as draconian fines ( up to 60 million Euros ) for anyone not complying with the tax .   The tax has proved highly controversial . On the one hand the government has argued that those generating their own power still rely on the national grid for power backup and so should be liable for contributing to the cost . On the other hand , the solar industry has argued that the government is simply trying to protect the centralised established power producers whose revenues would be threatened by this competitive solar threat . Environmentalists have criticised the tax for artificially blocking Spain from continuing its long standing movement to renewable energy production .   Whatever the merits of both arguments , the controversy can only become more heightened as the price of solar energy continues to fall and if PV solar power installed capacity in Spain were to continue sliding down the EU league from 12th position in 2014 ( 102.9 kW per 1000 inhabitants ) . In the same year in terms of wind energy production Spain was much stronger in 3rd position ( 495 kW per 1000 inhabitants ) .

negative: Ecometrics Ecometrics is the quantitative analysis of economic , environmental , and societal systems based on the concurrent development of empirical theory , related by appropriate methods of inference in attempts to create more sustainable systems . Broadly defined , Ecometrics is a way to evaluate if an activity is contributing to more sustainable systems of production and consumption . Ecometrics is a system of statistical extrapolation and interpolation that uses principles of resource management in economic and environmental studies to analyze trends in consumption . With a comprehensive understanding of ecometrics , and thereby an understanding of the impacts of specific conscious or conventional opportunity costs , agents within economic systems can cause measurable change for the triple bottom line . The term was originally trademarked by Interface Global , a corporation founded by Ray Anderson . The parameters that cause change are often population , technology , transportation , consumption , public conscious , non-renewable or renewable resources , location , labor conditions , transportation and wealth . Ecometrics is used in labeling programs such as the US EPA Fuel Economy and Environment Label to determine the environmental and financial advantages of purchasing one car over another . There are many applications of Ecometrics for Environmental Impact Calculators  , infographics , and for political analysis . Because the parameters of ecometrics vary drastically for any activity , the applications of its resulting measurements are sometimes unilateral . Applied ecometrics exposes the complexity of making sustainable decisions , especially given other humanitarian goals such as third world economic development . In this way ecometrics shows any choice within consumption and production systems as wicked problems .   An instance of ecometrics is if a restaurant is determining whether to use an electric hand dryer over paper towels , they must determine :  The cost of both  How much energy the electric dryer would consume , and to what degree the energy is renewable .  How long the dryer would last .  If the towels were produced using renewable energy and resources , and to what extent they are able to be recycled without inferring greater cost to the environment ( not using further energy or chemicals ) .  The cost of continuously purchasing paper towels throughout the business 's existence .  Maintenance labor to replace the towel dispenser .   If this restaurant is located in an area with great solar potential , it is likely that a hand dryer could encourage for more solar infrastructure by being an additional load . If it was incredibly far from a paper recycling center , and the  potentially recycled material is likely to be downcycled , there would be further impetus to use a hand dryer . In addition to these considerations , the decider must choose how much they are willing to pay for the environment . In the case that has been built , if the hand dryer is to cost more , they must decide if he is willing to take responsibility by preventing the paper waste that would have been produced by buying the hand dryer and necessary energy .  In this case as in many the purchaser enables development and life for other members of all trophic levels within his economic system through his purchasing power . The decisions of consumer agents cause change for the world , and in analyzing the comprehensive impact of individuals and societal practices ; ecometrics quantitatively defines sustainable development . As there are diverse environmental and economic parameters , there are numerous unique case studies for ecometric application . The cases that are discussed here are libraries , agricultural food systems , and labeling programs . They model material cycles , energy cycles , and environmental parameter systems respectively . Levels of Magnification play a role in each as scalars in the consumption cycles . Both cycles show the need for more efficient production and consumption cycles for material and energy resources , as well sources for friction in consumer cycles .

negative: Renewable energy in the Netherlands Despite the historic usage of wind power to drain water and grind grain , the Netherlands today lags behind most EU countries in the production of energy from renewable sources . The leading renewable sources in the country are biomass , wind , solar and both geothermal and aerothermal power ( mostly from ground source and air source heat pumps ) .  In 2014 , the Netherlands produced only 5.5 % of its total energy from renewables , a small rise from 3.7 % in 2010 and just 1 % in 1990 . Among the EU countries , only Malta and Luxembourg had lower percentages .   The low take up of renewable energy may be partially explained by the flat and often sub-sea level landscape and subsequent limits to hydropower resources , although hydro poor resource countries such as Denmark have still managed to make renewables the focus of their energy needs .  In 2015 , Dutch wind turbines had a total nameplate capacity of 3,431 MW . Wind and solar power installations had a record breaking year during 2015 and this may move the Netherlands closer to its target of 37 % of electricity production coming from renewables by 2020 . A number of large offshore windfarms have either come online recently ( Gemini wind farm ) or have been granted authorisation ( Borsellee 1 and 2 , and Borsellee 3 and 4 wind farms ) . Most of the tiny contribution made to electricity generation by hydroelectricity came from three power plants .   A large part of the renewable electricity sold in the Netherlands comes from Norway , a country which generates almost all its electricity from hydropower plants .  In the Netherlands , household consumers can choose to buy renewable electricity . Since 2008 , the amount of renewable energy used by household users has been increasing , rising from 38 % in 2008 to 41 % by 2009 . and up to 44 % by mid 2010 .   One area in which the Netherlands is a relative leader is in the adoption of electric plug in vehicles .  In 2015 PEV vehicles in the Netherlands represented 9.74 % of car sales , making it the world 's second highest share after Norway . Electric vehicles are able to run on renewable electricity with zero emissions and have the potential to provide grid power storage facilities .   An interesting source of heat recovery used in the Netherlands is sourced from freshly milked milk , or warm milk . However at 0.3 % of total renewable energy production ( 2010 figures ) this source is not likely to accelerate energy transition in the country . Warm milk is still not mentioned in the EU Renewable Energy Directive , nor in international energy statistics and so is not included is gross final consumption figures . It does however provide Dutch farmers with plenty of hot water .

negative: Power take-off A power take-off or power takeoff ( PTO ) is any of several methods for taking power from a power source , such as a running engine , and transmitting it to an application such as an attached implement or separate machines .   Most commonly , it is a system comprising a splined output shaft on a tractor or truck , designed so that a PTO shaft , a kind of drive shaft , can be easily connected and disconnected , and a corresponding input shaft on the application end . The power take-off allows implements to draw energy from the engine .   Semi-permanently mounted power take-offs can also be found on industrial and marine engines . These applications typically use a drive shaft and bolted joint to transmit power to a secondary implement or accessory . In the case of a marine application , such shafts may be used to power fire pumps .   In aircraft applications , such an accessory drive may be used in conjunction with a constant speed drive . Jet aircraft have four types of PTO units : internal gearbox , external gearbox , radial driveshaft , and bleed air , which are used to power engine accessories . In some cases , aircraft power take-off systems also provide for putting power into the engine during engine start . See also Coffman starter

negative: Global governance Global governance or world governance is a movement towards political cooperation among transnational actors , aimed at negotiating responses to problems that affect more than one state or region . Institutions of global governance -- the United Nations , the International Criminal Court , the World Bank , etc. -- tend to have limited or demarcated power to enforce compliance . The modern question of world governance exists in the context of globalization and globalizing regimes of power : politically , economically and culturally . In response to the acceleration of interdependence on a worldwide scale , both between human societies and between humankind and the biosphere , the term `` global governance '' may also be used to name the process of designating laws , rules , or regulations intended for a global scale .   Global governance is not a singular system . There is no `` world government '' but the many different regimes of global governance do have commonalities :

negative: Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center ( NNMREC ) is a partnership between Oregon State University and the University of Washington . Oregon State University focuses on wave energy . University of Washington focuses on tidal energy . Both universities collaborate with each other and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory on research , education , outreach , and engagement .   Partners in NNMREC include :  National Renewable Energy Laboratory  Pacific Northwest National Laboratory  Public Utility District of Snohomish County No. 1  BioSonics , Inc. .  Electric Power Research Institute  Verdant Power  Pacific Northwest Economic Region  Sound & Sea Technology  National Marine Fisheries Service  Washington Department of Ecology

negative: Astonfield Astonfield Renewables Resources is a renewable energy company that builds , owns , and operates utility-scale solar power plants in emerging markets . Headquartered in Mumbai , its operational focus on India is supported by additional offices in New Delhi and Kolkata .

negative: Solar power in Nevada Solar power in Nevada has been growing , due to a Renewable Portfolio Standard which requires 20 % renewable energy by 2015 , and 5 % from solar power . Nevada , at the end of 2007 , became home to then-largest photovoltaic power plant in the world , the 14.2 megawatt ( peak ) Nellis Solar Power Plant , which , by selling the renewable energy credits ( RECs ) , was able to provide Nellis Air Force Base with electricity for only 2.2 cents/kWh , compared to the 9 cents they are paying Nevada Power . Since then many larger solar power stations have been built in Nevada , with more proposed .   Nevada has vast deserts , and is capable of providing a great amount of solar power . The Nellis power plant only occupies 140 acre of land .

negative: Nuclear energy policy of the United States The nuclear energy policy of the United States developed within two main periods , from 1954 -- 1992 and 2005 -- 2010 . The first period saw the ongoing building of nuclear power plants , the enactment of numerous pieces of legislation such as the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 , and the implementation of countless policies which have guided the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy in the regulation and growth of nuclear energy companies . This includes , but is not limited to , regulations of nuclear facilities , waste storage , decommissioning of weapons-grade materials , uranium mining , and funding for nuclear companies , along with an increase in power plant building . Both legislation and bureaucratic regulations of nuclear energy in the United States have been shaped by scientific research , private industries ' wishes , and public opinion , which has shifted over time and as a result of different nuclear disasters .   In the United States , there have been numerous legislative actions and policies implemented on a federal and state level to both regulate atomic energy and promote its expansion . Growth of nuclear power in the US ended in the 1980s , however the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was passed in 2005 which aimed to jump start the nuclear industry through financial loan-guarantees for expansion and re-outfitting of nuclear plants . The success of this legislation is still undetermined , since all 17 companies that applied for funding are still in the planning phases on their 26 proposed building applications . Some of the proposed sites have even scrapped their building plans , and many think the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster further dampen the success of expansion of nuclear energy in the United States .   In 2008 , the Energy Information Administration projected almost 17 gigawatts of new nuclear power reactors by 2030 , but in its 2011 projections , it `` scaled back the 2030 projection to just five '' . Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster , public support for building nuclear power plants in the U.S. dropped to 43 % , slightly lower than it was immediately after the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 , according to a CBS News poll . A survey conducted in April 2011 found that 64 percent of Americans opposed the construction of new nuclear reactors . A survey sponsored by the Nuclear Energy Institute , conducted in September 2011 , found that `` 62 percent of respondents said they favor the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States , with 35 percent opposed '' .

negative: Kardashev scale The Kardashev scale is a method of measuring a civilization 's level of technological advancement , based on the amount of energy a civilization is able to use for communication . The scale has three designated categories :   A -- also called planetary civilization -- can use and store all of the energy which reaches its planet from its parent star .  A can harness the total energy of its planet 's parent star ( the most popular hypothetical concept being the Dyson sphere -- a device which would encompass the entire star and transfer its energy to the planet ( s ) ) .  A can control energy on the scale of its entire host galaxy .   The scale is hypothetical , and regards energy consumption on a cosmic scale . It was proposed in 1964 by the Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev . Various extensions of the scale have since been proposed , including a wider range of power levels ( types 0 , IV and V ) and the use of metrics other than pure power .

negative: Deregulation of the Texas electricity market Electricity deregulation in Texas , approved by Texas Senate Bill 7 on January 1 , 2002 , calls for the creation of the Electric Utility Restructuring Legislative Oversight Committee to oversee implementation of the bill . According to the law , deregulation would be phased in over several years .   As a result , 85 % of Texas power consumers ( those served by a company not owned by a municipality or a utility cooperative ) can choose their electricity service from a variety of retail electric providers ( REPs ) , including the incumbent utility . The incumbent utility in the area still owns and maintains the local power lines ( and is the company to call in the event of a power outage ) and is not subject to deregulation . Customers served by cooperatives or municipal utilities can choose an alternate REP only if the utility has `` opted in '' to deregulation ; to date , only the area served by the Nueces Electric Cooperative has chosen to opt in .   Since 2002 , approximately 85 % of commercial and industrial consumers have switched power providers at least once . Approximately 40 % of residential consumers in deregulated areas have switched from the former incumbent provider to a competitive REP. REPs providing service in the state include : TriEagle Energy , Acacia Energy , Ambit Energy , Breeze Energy , Clearview Energy , Green Mountain Energy , Conservice Energy , Iluminar Energy , Now Power , Snap Energy , Entrust Energy , Bounce Energy , Champion Energy , Shnye Energy , Cirro Energy , Direct Energy , Dynowatt , First Texas Energy Corporation , Frontier Utilities , Gexa Energy , Glacial Energy , Just Energy , Kinetic Energy , Mega Energy , APG&E , Adjacent Energy , Spark Energy , StarTex Power , Stream Energy , Tech Electricity , Texas Power , TXU Energy , XOOM Energy and 4Change Energy .

negative: Solar power in Mississippi Solar power in Mississippi is an underutilized generation method ; however , large changes are expected by 2016 . The state reached only 1 MW of grid-connected solar electricity in 2013 . Rooftop photovoltaics can provide 31.2 % of all electricity used in Mississippi from 11,700 MW of solar panels .   In 2011 , the Sierra Club sued the U.S. Department of Energy which was providing investment in a coal gasification plant being built by Mississippi Power . In 2012 Mississippi Power had only 0.05 % renewables in its power mix . In a settlement in 2014 , Mississippi Power agreed to allow net metering , and to offer 100 MW of wind or solar power purchase agreements . Mississippi is one of only two states , along with Florida , to have no potential for standard commercial wind power , having no locations that would provide at least 30 % capacity factor , although 30,000 MW of 100 meter high turbines would operate at 25 % capacity factor .   Georgia Power which provides energy in southeast Mississippi has started a program to contract for 210 MW of solar power in 2014 , possibly increasing to 525 MW . 100 MW would be from small scale distributed installations .   Offering net metering is required by federal law , but Mississippi is one of only four states to not have adopted a statewide policy on net metering , which means it needs to be negotiated with the utility .

negative: Cubic mile of oil The cubic mile of oil ( CMO ) is a unit of energy . It was created by Hew Crane of SRI International to aid in public understanding of global-scale energy consumption and resources .   Significant sources of energy include oil , coal , natural gas , nuclear , hydroelectric , and biomass ( primarily the burning of wood ) . Other energy sources include geothermal , wind , photovoltaic , and solar thermal . The various energy units commonly used to measure these sources ( e.g. , joules , BTUs , kilowatt hours , therms ) are only somewhat familiar to the general public , and their relationships can be confusing . These common energy units are sized for everyday activities ( a joule is the energy required to lift a small apple one metre vertically ) . For regional , national , and global scales , larger energy units , such as the exajoule , the billion barrels of oil equivalent ( BBOE ) and the quad are used . Derived by multiplying the small common units by large powers of ten these larger units pose additional conceptual difficulties for many citizens .   Crane intended the cubic mile of oil to provide a visualizable scale for comparing the contributions of these diverse energy components as a percentage of total worldwide , energy use .   The global economy consumes approximately 30 billion barrels of oil ( 1.26 trillion U.S. gallons or 4.75 trillion litres ) each year . Numbers of this magnitude are difficult to conceive by most people . The volume occupied by one trillion U.S. gallons is about one cubic mile . Crane felt that a cubic mile would be an easier concept for the general public than a trillion gallons .

negative: Energy in Greece Energy production in Greece is dominated by the state owned Public Power Corporation ( known mostly by its acronym ΔΕΗ , or in English DEI ) . In 2009 DEI supplied for 85.6 % of all electric energy demand in Greece , while the number fell to 77.3 % in 2010 . Almost half ( 48 % ) of DEI 's power output is generated using lignite , a drop from the 51.6 % in 2009 .   12 % of Greece 's electricity comes from Hydroelectric power plants and another 20 % from natural gas . Between 2009 and 2010 , independent companies ' energy production increased by 56 % , from 2,709 Gigawatt hour in 2009 to 4,232 GWh in 2010 .   In 2008 renewable energy accounted for 8 % of the country 's total energy consumption , a rise from the 7.2 % it accounted for in 2006 , but still below the EU average of 10 % in 2008 . 10 % of the country 's renewable energy comes from solar power , while most comes from biomass and waste recycling . In line with the European Commission 's Directive on Renewable Energy , Greece aims to get 18 % of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 . In 2015 , according to the independent power transmission operator in Greece more than 20 % of the electricity in Greece has been produced from renewable energy sources and hydroelectric powerplants . This percentage in April reached 50 % . The same trend was the case also for 2016 .   Greece currently does not have any nuclear power plants in operation , however in 2009 the Academy of Athens suggested that research in the possibility of Greek nuclear power plants begin .

negative: Regional climate change initiatives in the United States Twenty-eight states have climate action plans and nine have statewide emission targets . The states of California and New Mexico have committed most recently to emission reductions targets , joining New Jersey , Maine , Massachusetts , Connecticut , New York , Washington and Oregon .   Regional initiatives can be more efficient than programs at the state level , as they encompass a broader geographical area , eliminate duplication of work , and create more uniform regulatory environments . Over the past few years , a number of regional initiatives have begun developing systems to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants , increase renewable energy generation , track renewable energy credits , and research and establish baselines for carbon sequestration .

negative: Skybuilt Power Skybuilt Power , a company based in Arlington , Virginia , has received some press attention for the use of its products by the US Department of Defense and CIA .   The company designs portable power stations and devices that can be used in harsh environments to provide efficient renewable energy . Its products draw upon a combination of solar and wind power , fuel cells , batteries and diesel generators to portably generate energy . The company claims its products can save up to 95 % on fuel costs in the field .   The company 's main products include :  the SkyStation , a complete power station that can be set up in rugged climates  the SkySkid , which can be transported easily via helicopter or forklift  the SkyTrailer , which directly provides energy to military grade trailers  the SkyCase and SkyPAKs , which are man-portable renewable energy generators   In-Q-Tel , a CIA-funded venture capital fund , is an investor in the company . Because many war casualties are due to attacks on fuel convoys and a strategic shift toward greater operational energy-efficiency , the US Department of Defense has increasingly begun use these types of technologies .