Energy solutions

Letter July 17, 2022
Energy solutions

KARACHI:

Several options exist when transitioning from a fossil fuel economy to a sustainable one. Hydropower, biomass, wind, geothermal, and solar energy are reliable alternative sources of renewable energy and have been a growing part of Pakistan’s energy mix. Nuclear energy is another zero-carbon alternative, but it is expensive and leaves behind long-lasting radioactive waste that is dangerous and costly to dispose. Additionally, methane naturally generated by decomposition in landfills and by manure from livestock production can be captured to produce heat and power.

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings, vehicles, and industrial appliances is perhaps the most immediate and cost-effective way for a government to reduce energy use and cut down on emissions. Orienting cities and towns around public transit, instead of using private vehicles can also help reduce energy demands. It is also possible for carbon emitted by the fossil fuel sector to be collected and injected back into the earth through a process called carbon capture and storage (CCS). In 2020, twenty-six commercial CCS plants were in operation throughout the world, capturing 40 million tons of carbon or 0.11% of total yearly global emissions. The number of CCS plants is expected to increase as the technology continues to improve. However, increasing carbon capture and storage does not mean industries should continue burning fossil fuels unabated.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2022.

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