In the article, “How can Southeast Asia’s clean energy transition
be sped up?”, Daubach (2019) mentioned that energy experts from Temasek’s
Ecosperity conference explained the challenges faced by Southeast Asia as the
region changes its dependence on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources at a
slow pace. Also, the experts stated ways to quicken the pace and the importance
of that. The buildup of carbon emissions, risk millions of lives by increasing
sea levels and triggering water shortages. The article noted that the region’s
economies are at dissimilar stages of growth. The transition can be quickened
by better collaboration, reducing costs, implementing efficiency measures and
deploying alternative technologies such as district cooling systems. In the
areas of electricity generation, storage, and transfer, the article stated how
Singapore can generate from nuclear fusion or zero-emissions fuel since it
cannot house large scale solar and wind power infrastructures. Such
technologies, unfortunately, are not obtainable at an inexpensive price.
While the article
mentioned how Southeast Asian countries can speed up the process, it did not
give any example of how technology and companies from outside the region can contribute. Southeast Asia has to consider all options since it is unlikely
that the region will halt its reliance on coal anytime soon (Guo, 2018).
Southeast Asian countries can get solar power through cables from
Australia. Recently, Greber (2019) explained that Mike
Cannon-Brookes will invest in a daring $25 billion project to “create the
world's biggest solar farm, its biggest power storage system, and a
3000-kilometer cable to export energy to Asia”. According to the article, the
tech entrepreneur had talks on ways to supply 25 percent of Singapore's energy
needs within a decade, with the Singapore government. The billionaire claimed
that the sun shines on Australia the most, outside the Sahara and is very near
to countries that lack space or resources for renewable power generation. He
further added that the country has been debated to have the best resources for
wind quantity and quality. This explains how Australia, a country outside
Southeast Asia can contribute, by exporting energy to its surrounding
countries.
Even a company from as far as the United States
of America can help. Bill Gates in an article explained that advanced nuclear
is one of many climate change solutions (Greene, 2019). His startup,
TerraPower has been developing something called a “travelling-wave reactor”,
which uses depleted uranium, lowering costs and improving safety. According to
(Greene, 2019), a spokeswoman from The Energy Department said that the agency
sees opportunities to export the technology worldwide to nations that pursue
such technologies for nonviolent purposes. TerraPower was counting on a China
pilot to validate the technology until the recent trade policy change by the
Trump administration. Now looking for another partner, once this new advanced
nuclear technology has been validated and then spread across the globe,
Southeast Asia’s transition could be faster.
Guo (2019) mentioned in an article on the use
of carbon capture and storage (CCS). The technology drains the carbon dioxide
produced when burning coal and isolates it for reuse. The International
Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that CCS can supply a fifth of the total carbon cuts
needed to keep emissions within tolerable boundaries over the next 3 decades if
properly harnessed. Hence, this technology should be included in the article as
it helps slow the rate at which carbon emissions escape to the
atmosphere.
To conclude, the world needs to collaborate to
reduce the amount of carbon emissions faster before unwanted natural events
occur. Everyone has a part to play to keep the planet livable for the next
generations.
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References
Daubach, T. (2019, July 19). How can Southeast
Asia's clean energy transition be sped up? Eco-Business.
Retrieved from
https://www.eco-business.com/news/how-can-southeast-asias-clean-energy-transition-be-sped-up/.
Greber, J. (2019, September 24). Cannon-Brookes'
plan to power Singapore. Australian Financial Review. Retrieved
from
https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/cannon-brookes-plan-to-export-aussie-solar-power-to-singapore-20190924-p52u9o?fbclid=IwAR2yhp-hzzKd0I51EeHNwIksjYrxdIqsBzi7NYrLaFlZTAG88xR5cXuhcB8.
Greene, J. (2019, January 1). Trump's Tech Battle
With China Roils Bill Gates Nuclear Venture. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved
from
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-tech-battle-with-china-roils-bill-gates-nuclear-venture-11546360589.
Guo, G. (2018, December 4). Southeast Asia's
Clean Energy Challenge. The Diplomat. Retrieved from
https://thediplomat.com/2018/12/southeast-asias-clean-energy-challenge/.
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