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Courtesy
of Jurek Tarnowski
Windmills off the coast of Copenhagen. |
The U.S. has barely 4 percent of the world’s
population, but manages to consume a quarter of
the world’s energy. The U.S. is importing approximately
55 percent of its oil and, if current trends continue,
should expect to be importing 72 percent by 2020.
While we search the world to find more fossil fuels,
one key question arises, how long can conventional
forms of energy meet our energy demands?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates
oil supplies will peak in 30-40 years depending
on usage rates. The oil companies themselves estimate
that there are 40 years or so of conventional oil
reserves left and about 70 years for gas.
Experts broadly agree that the world is using more
fossil fuel than is being discovered. Not to mention
that global electricity consumption is expected
to double by 2030.
The hard facts have not kept the U.S. from guzzling
oil in what therapists might label, addictive behavior.
The good news is that the world seems to be awaking
from its state of denial and seeking help. President
Bush acknowledged in his latest State of the Union
address that the U.S. has "a serious problem:
we are addicted to oil."
A worldwide effort to wean ourselves from oil is
being initiated. The British government, for example,
recently made headlines with its suggestion to ban
the standby button on TVs, video, DVD players and
other household equipment. Research shows that stand-by
buttons account for 8 percent of domestic energy
use. While this is a step in the right direction,
we can’t expect energy use to drop as industry
continues to grow. In fact, the total demand for
energy worldwide has risen 15 percent during this
century. What we need is a plan to implement alternatives
so that we can have our energy without dependence
on an expensive, health hazardous, and disappearing
source.
In 2005, Vestas presented a new vision- Wind, Oil
and Gas. "Wind is the ideal add on to the existing
oil portfolio," explained Vestas CEO, Ditlev
Engel. There is no longer a rivalry between oil
giants and renewable energy leaders, the two industries
have joined forces. Shell, for example, has invested
more than one billion dollars in renewable energy
development in the last five years. "We have
more than doubled our investment level since 2002
to help meet growing demand for energy, diversify
oil and gas supplies, reduce the environmental impact
of fossil fuels, and develop alternatives,"
says CEO Jeroen van der Veer. One of Shell’s
latest projects has been an offshore collaboration
with Vestas.
Vestas new vision of a partnership between Wind,
Oil and Gas challenges the incorrect assumption
that wind power is chosen purely on account of environmental
consideration, when in fact wind is also a choice
that economically competes with oil and gas. Wind
power is competing with most fossil fuels and is
becoming a strong alternative even without cost
subsidies. With the constant advance of technology,
experts believe that it will not be long before
wind has outpaces its fossil cousins.
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DENMARK
