Author(s): David Elliot
In this briefing, Dave Elliott establishes the basic sustainable energy options. However, his main aim is to look at potential problems ahead in the short, medium and long term, and deal with the counter-arguments. He looks at the UK wind farm issue and at some other examples, including the problems facing hydro power and waste combustion. The medium term example concerns a sustainable transport policy: whether we can develop a green energy system to meet that demand as well. The final example concerns the longer term limits of the sustainable energy approach: whether it is possible to use renewable sources to sutain economic growth indefinitely.
David Elliott is Profesor of Technology Policy in the Faculty of Technology at the Open University and Director of the OU Energy and Environment Research Unit.