Advantages and disadvantages of renewable energies: from one dependency to another?
Rhea Fares, Alice Dhellin, Lucrezia Iaia, Thalisson Rojo, Elisa Darquenne
Contexte - A live sitcom
You are in front of : the cabinet of the Ministry of Energy of a fictional European country called Listenbourg
The members of cabinet will help the Minister decide whether the country should commit to transitioning by debating on the pros and cons of renewables
So you know the minister is not very smart...
quick definition
What is and is not renewable energy ?
Electricity sourced from natural replenishing resources - sunlight, wind, hydropower
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Energy from natural sources with the lowest environmental impact and zero pollutants - often renewable but it refers to pollution and environmental health
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Focuses on meeting present needs without compromising the future
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Sources of energy that are not necessarily renewable thus green and sustainable but doesn't use fossil fuels
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Green energy
Sustainable energy
Renewable energy
Alternative energy
Title
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
synopsis Timeline
The promise of renewable energies
A more nuanced reality
But actually who decides ?
Renewable energies you might Know?
Hydroelectric energy comes from water. Moving water has mechanical energy, when it passes through turbines, it makes them rotate, and those turbines drive a generator that converts kinetic energy into electricity.
Wind energy converts the kinetic energy of air currents into electricity through turbines. It's one of the fastest-growing renewable sources globally - Wind and solar together generated 15% of global electricity in 2024.
Title
Title
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Sun hits panel which transforms sunlight into electricity
Subtitle
Subtitle
Subtitle
Bioenergy is produced from biomass - organic materials like agricultural residues, wood and waste. It's the most versatile renewable : it can be converted into electricity, heat and transport fuels. It's actually the largest source of renewable energy in Europe.
Geothermal energy comes from heat stored within rocks and fluids deep within the earth's crust. It can be used for electricity generation and direct heating. Unlike wind and solar, it doesn't depend on weather - It's available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Title
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Subtitle
ACT 1: The Promise
positive sides of renewables energy
Stability
Independence
Growth
Economic growth
Cost Efficiency
- Can you physically access the energy?
- Fossil fuels: maritime routes, pipelines, ...
- Renewables: local production
- Does the energy source exist in sufficiant quantity?
- Fossil fuels: geology, extraction costs
- Renewables: replenish!
Accessibility
Availability
IEA 4 pillars
Acceptability
Affordability
- Is the energy economically viable?
- Long run costs are cheaper
- Price stability
- Is the energy source socially and environmentally legitimate?
- Align with climate commitments
- reduce public health costs
Successfull cases
Iceland
- 100% from geothermal and hydroelectricity
- Energy sovereignty
Denmark
- 55% from wind
- Exports its technology globally
- Built a competitive advantage
Norway
- 90% from hydropower
- Low-cost, stable and domestically controlled
- Also an oil exporter
Ethiopia
- The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is the largest project in Africa
- Regional energy provider
First mover advantage
the structural benefit that accrues to the actor who enters a new market or technology before competitors do.
it shapes the infrastructure, the standards and the dependencies that everyone will have to follow
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
- the largest hydropower project in Africa
- 5,150 MW capacity
- but 45% of the population still lacks electricity.
- Becoming a regional energy provider
Successfull case in the global south
In conclusion ...
The transition is a strategic economic choice.
But… does this transition create new dependencies?
ACT II: The Reality
Structural limits
High upfront costs
Intermitency
Social controversy
Space monopolization
Intermitency
You cannot increase renewable output on demand
- UK, Germany, and Denmark wind capacity from 20-26% to 14%
- Germany : +25% increase in carbon emissions from electricity, first half of 2021
High upfront costs
Investment in wind and solar energy can be amortized over 8 to 15 years, for 25 to 30 year of free production.
Geothermal energy, initial investment = $2,000 to $8,000 per kilowatt installed
10 Kw
$20 000 - $80 000
1 Kw
$2 000 - $8 000
+ Geological surveys, exploratory drillin And still riscking of not finding anything
But initiating investement is harder than just paying for fossil fuel bills.
Renewable energy is anchored to specific geological zones. You can't have just any one anywhere.
Space monopolization
The profitability of the kilowatt-hour is much higher than that of wheat or milk.
- Nuclear power plant exceeds 1000 MW,
- Natural gas or coal-fired plant 500 to 800 MW,
- Wind farm or a solar power plant a few tens of MW.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
1/3 of the Brussels-Capital Region
7,700 football pitches
55 km²
Subtitle
Social controversy
2 to 4 birds killed by wind turbines per year
from a product's first conception to its final use
The global Value chains
What it really looks like
from russian GAS and oil DEPENDENCY
to Chinese manufactered RENEWABLEs DEPENDENCY
In conclusion ...
There are structural limitations inherent to renewable energies, that cannot be underestimated.
And China controls the gvc of renewables...does it have more strategic leverage?
ACT III: Who decides?
Who's the World leaders in installed renewable energy capacity ?
~1,135 GW 1st China 2nd USA 3rd Germany ~48%
~1,360 GW 1st China 2nd Brazil 3rd USA ~30%
~2,000 GW 1st China 2nd USA 3rd EU ~40%
Title
Title
Title
Wind
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Solar
Hydroelectric
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Subtitle
Subtitle
~145 GW 1st China 2nd USA 3rd Brazil ~25%
~16 GW 1st USA 2nd Indonesia 3rd Philippines ~25%
Title
Title
Bioenergy
Geothermal
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Subtitle
Critical MINERALS by renewable energy source
WIND
SOLAR
China is the most producing country.
But to get a usable product, it has to go through China.
Europe does not lack the minerals entirely.
BATTERIES
HYDROELECTRIC
GEOTHERMAL
KNOWLEDGE
FINANCE
EU engineers leftChinese refineries
Belt and Road Initiative
PRODUCTION
SECURITY
Cheaper products than local
Export tariffs
GLOBAL SOUTH
Extraction of resources
Money does not come back
Resources leave
Recycling infrastruction
Toxic waste
continued or rising CO2 emissions
FOSSIL FUELS
Accumulation
energy overproduction thus more consumption
RENEWABLES
false sens of progress
Conclusion
FINAL ASSESSMENT
PROS
CONS
Intermittency
Reduce exposure to fossil fuels price volatility
High upfront costs
Creates industrial opportunities
Space monopolisation
Reduce gaz emissions and slow down climate change
China dependency (GVC + Power) and impact on the Global South
Allow energy independency -> Energy Security
Accumulation logic
Reduces geopolitical conflicts
No multilateral governance
LGenerally local
THREE SCENARIOS
Maintains the status quo or adds accumulation which can have serious impacts on the environment in the long term
Wait
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Keep on relying on fossil fuels...
Subtitle
Buy Chinese renewables
Faster and cheaper transition, but market and standard rules are dictated by China thus creating a structural dependency
Build European
Title
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Slower, more costly, but more multilateral governance and ours
Shift the existing market rules
Follow the existing market rules
Subtitle
Subtitle
we'll have to transition at some point
we've reached a conclusion...
but in the meantime...
Minister of Energy
Mr. President
Thank you!
Economic Development
Renewable energy supports growth and infrastructure.
- Renewable energy creates jobs across sectors.
- It supports infrastructure development.
- It improves energy access in rural areas.
- Biomass can produce electricity, heat, and biofuels.
Knowledge
- 1990s, EU liberalisation of energy
- Energy = market >< strategy
- Entry barriers decreased
Finance
Price Stability
Fossil fuels are highly sensitive to global shocks. Global crises cause sudden price fluctuations. Import dependence increases vulnerability. Energy markets can become unstable overnight. Renewables provide stable and predictable costs.
Production
- Solar panels, wind turbines, batteries are cheaper.
- China refines and produces the product
Interactivity is the key to capturing the interest and attention of your audience. A genially is interactive because your audience explores and interacts with it.
Energy Independence
Renewable energy reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Europe avoided 63 exajoules of fossil fuel imports over the last 5 years. China avoided 87 exajoules. To put in perspective, 63 EJ is equivalent to 1.5 billion tons of oil, it could power the world for approximately 37 days. Less imports mean stronger economic stability and reduced exposure to global price volatility.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore.
Security
To highlight super-relevant data. 90% of the information we assimilate comes through our vision.
Cost Efficiency
Renewable energy is becoming the most cost-effective option.
Solar energy costs have declined significantly. Renewables are now cheaper than coal and gas in most markets and long-term costs are more predictable. The transition isn’t just ecological. It’s economic.
Advantages and disadvantages of renewable energies: from one dependency to another?
Alice Dhellin
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Transcript
Advantages and disadvantages of renewable energies: from one dependency to another?
Rhea Fares, Alice Dhellin, Lucrezia Iaia, Thalisson Rojo, Elisa Darquenne
Contexte - A live sitcom
You are in front of : the cabinet of the Ministry of Energy of a fictional European country called Listenbourg
The members of cabinet will help the Minister decide whether the country should commit to transitioning by debating on the pros and cons of renewables
So you know the minister is not very smart...
quick definition
What is and is not renewable energy ?
Electricity sourced from natural replenishing resources - sunlight, wind, hydropower
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Energy from natural sources with the lowest environmental impact and zero pollutants - often renewable but it refers to pollution and environmental health
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Focuses on meeting present needs without compromising the future
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Sources of energy that are not necessarily renewable thus green and sustainable but doesn't use fossil fuels
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Green energy
Sustainable energy
Renewable energy
Alternative energy
Title
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
synopsis Timeline
The promise of renewable energies
A more nuanced reality
But actually who decides ?
Renewable energies you might Know?
Hydroelectric energy comes from water. Moving water has mechanical energy, when it passes through turbines, it makes them rotate, and those turbines drive a generator that converts kinetic energy into electricity.
Wind energy converts the kinetic energy of air currents into electricity through turbines. It's one of the fastest-growing renewable sources globally - Wind and solar together generated 15% of global electricity in 2024.
Title
Title
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Sun hits panel which transforms sunlight into electricity
Subtitle
Subtitle
Subtitle
Bioenergy is produced from biomass - organic materials like agricultural residues, wood and waste. It's the most versatile renewable : it can be converted into electricity, heat and transport fuels. It's actually the largest source of renewable energy in Europe.
Geothermal energy comes from heat stored within rocks and fluids deep within the earth's crust. It can be used for electricity generation and direct heating. Unlike wind and solar, it doesn't depend on weather - It's available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Title
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Subtitle
ACT 1: The Promise
positive sides of renewables energy
Stability
Independence
Growth
Economic growth
Cost Efficiency
Accessibility
Availability
IEA 4 pillars
Acceptability
Affordability
Successfull cases
Iceland
Denmark
Norway
Ethiopia
First mover advantage
the structural benefit that accrues to the actor who enters a new market or technology before competitors do.
it shapes the infrastructure, the standards and the dependencies that everyone will have to follow
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
Successfull case in the global south
In conclusion ...
The transition is a strategic economic choice.
But… does this transition create new dependencies?
ACT II: The Reality
Structural limits
High upfront costs
Intermitency
Social controversy
Space monopolization
Intermitency
You cannot increase renewable output on demand
High upfront costs
Investment in wind and solar energy can be amortized over 8 to 15 years, for 25 to 30 year of free production.
Geothermal energy, initial investment = $2,000 to $8,000 per kilowatt installed
10 Kw
$20 000 - $80 000
1 Kw
$2 000 - $8 000
+ Geological surveys, exploratory drillin And still riscking of not finding anything
But initiating investement is harder than just paying for fossil fuel bills.
Renewable energy is anchored to specific geological zones. You can't have just any one anywhere.
Space monopolization
The profitability of the kilowatt-hour is much higher than that of wheat or milk.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
1/3 of the Brussels-Capital Region
7,700 football pitches
55 km²
Subtitle
Social controversy
2 to 4 birds killed by wind turbines per year
from a product's first conception to its final use
The global Value chains
What it really looks like
from russian GAS and oil DEPENDENCY
to Chinese manufactered RENEWABLEs DEPENDENCY
In conclusion ...
There are structural limitations inherent to renewable energies, that cannot be underestimated.
And China controls the gvc of renewables...does it have more strategic leverage?
ACT III: Who decides?
Who's the World leaders in installed renewable energy capacity ?
~1,135 GW 1st China 2nd USA 3rd Germany ~48%
~1,360 GW 1st China 2nd Brazil 3rd USA ~30%
~2,000 GW 1st China 2nd USA 3rd EU ~40%
Title
Title
Title
Wind
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Solar
Hydroelectric
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Subtitle
Subtitle
~145 GW 1st China 2nd USA 3rd Brazil ~25%
~16 GW 1st USA 2nd Indonesia 3rd Philippines ~25%
Title
Title
Bioenergy
Geothermal
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Subtitle
Critical MINERALS by renewable energy source
WIND
SOLAR
China is the most producing country.
But to get a usable product, it has to go through China.
Europe does not lack the minerals entirely.
BATTERIES
HYDROELECTRIC
GEOTHERMAL
KNOWLEDGE
FINANCE
EU engineers leftChinese refineries
Belt and Road Initiative
PRODUCTION
SECURITY
Cheaper products than local
Export tariffs
GLOBAL SOUTH
Extraction of resources
Money does not come back
Resources leave
Recycling infrastruction
Toxic waste
continued or rising CO2 emissions
FOSSIL FUELS
Accumulation
energy overproduction thus more consumption
RENEWABLES
false sens of progress
Conclusion
FINAL ASSESSMENT
PROS
CONS
Intermittency
Reduce exposure to fossil fuels price volatility
High upfront costs
Creates industrial opportunities
Space monopolisation
Reduce gaz emissions and slow down climate change
China dependency (GVC + Power) and impact on the Global South
Allow energy independency -> Energy Security
Accumulation logic
Reduces geopolitical conflicts
No multilateral governance
LGenerally local
THREE SCENARIOS
Maintains the status quo or adds accumulation which can have serious impacts on the environment in the long term
Wait
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Keep on relying on fossil fuels...
Subtitle
Buy Chinese renewables
Faster and cheaper transition, but market and standard rules are dictated by China thus creating a structural dependency
Build European
Title
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Slower, more costly, but more multilateral governance and ours
Shift the existing market rules
Follow the existing market rules
Subtitle
Subtitle
we'll have to transition at some point
we've reached a conclusion...
but in the meantime...
Minister of Energy
Mr. President
Thank you!
Economic Development
Renewable energy supports growth and infrastructure.
Knowledge
Finance
Price Stability
Fossil fuels are highly sensitive to global shocks. Global crises cause sudden price fluctuations. Import dependence increases vulnerability. Energy markets can become unstable overnight. Renewables provide stable and predictable costs.
Production
Interactivity is the key to capturing the interest and attention of your audience. A genially is interactive because your audience explores and interacts with it.
Energy Independence
Renewable energy reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Europe avoided 63 exajoules of fossil fuel imports over the last 5 years. China avoided 87 exajoules. To put in perspective, 63 EJ is equivalent to 1.5 billion tons of oil, it could power the world for approximately 37 days. Less imports mean stronger economic stability and reduced exposure to global price volatility.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore.
Security
To highlight super-relevant data. 90% of the information we assimilate comes through our vision.
Cost Efficiency
Renewable energy is becoming the most cost-effective option.
Solar energy costs have declined significantly. Renewables are now cheaper than coal and gas in most markets and long-term costs are more predictable. The transition isn’t just ecological. It’s economic.