Research shows renewable energy is too land intensive
Governments and environmentalists alike are pushing for far greater use of renewable energy. The aim is to end the dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear energy. While this in itself is a worthwhile goal, the reality of such a move using current technologies is far less attractive. According to a report by Jesse Ausubel, a professor of environmental science and director of the Human Environment programme at New York’s Rockefeller University, the use of wind farms, solar cells, hydro-electric dams and biofuels to generate electricity would require huge amounts of countryside to be industrialised or converted to intensive farmland for biofuels. Either way, the prospect is not good for the environment.
The question is, what is the best way forward? I like the idea of biomass to power electricity generating plants. Biomass can be made from existing waste products and therefore the environmental impact is reduced. The other option that I think will work well, are off-shore wind farms, the new floating type being tested at the moment look the most promising. Governments need to be spending more money on research and development of these and other potentially beneficial projects.
