Short Essay: Energy Futures

ENERGY FUTURES

The DECC’s 2050 Pathways simulator (http://2050-calculator-tool.decc.gov.uk) outlines several example pathways which outline methods in which the UK can ‘keep the lights on’ while cutting its 2050 greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to 1990 levels. Note – some examples do not meet this 80% criteria.

Choose one of the example pathways as your ‘preferred option’ to be replicated in the UAE and outline the reasons for your choice. Please consider…

1. Final energy demand
2. Primary energy supply
3. Greenhouse gas emissions
4. Costs
5. Supply maps
6. Security of supply
7. Energy flows
8. Other factors

For each element above, think about…

1. Is the plan realistic?
2. What factors do you think are particularly plausible?
3. What are the changes/compromises that the pathway will require and why do you think they are achievable?
4. Why is this better than other plans? Your choice may not be perfect but show how it is better than the alternatives.

While stating the obvious pros is a good place to start, think about the deeper impacts of your chosen pathway, i.e. it is easy to see immediately which pathway is cheapest, but maybe a more expensive pathway is a better investment, e.g. there could be more jobs? Try to think of justifications that are not obvious.