Course:ELEC300E/CaseStudies/TippingTowardsCleanEnergy
Context: Tipping Towards Clean Energy
| Tipping Towards Clean Energy |
|---|
 |
| Content / Topics |
| Grief Bots |
| AI Chatbots |
| AI Ethics |
| Relevant Analysis Strategies or Tools |
| Decision Impact Assessment |
| Plutchik's Wheel |
| Needs Analysis |
A report by the University of Exeter (and recent winner of a large environmental research prize) outlines several positive tipping points for climate action. What is a positive tipping point? These are situations where relatively small changes could trigger big positive impacts through positive feedback.
Solutions with the greatest potential for ‘tipping’ are those positioned to unlock reinforcing feedbacks – where early adopters inspire others, costs fall with scale, ecosystems recover enough to sustain their own recovery, or new norms and policies spread from one community or country to the next.
One of these positive tipping points is Clean Electricity and Combustion Phase-Out (page 45-47):
Researchers argue that a positive tipping point would be reached as sustainability solutions become more politically tractable - due in part to how combustion plants impact public health:
Reinforcing feedback:
- Health narratives: The fact that coal combustion is directly linked to mortality makes coal phase-out politically tractable.
- Speed of Air Quality Changes: Coal plant closures improve air quality quickly and measurably - more political traction.
- Withdrawing coal financing: Decreased financing of coal plants makes these energy sources less affordable.
- Wright's Law learning curve. Solar and battery costs are falling with more research and investment.
- Electrification cascade: Electrifying end uses (like increasing EVs) raises electricity demand and 'improves clean electricity economics'.
- Trade policy: Policies like the EU Net-Zero Industry Act increase demand for renewable energy.
- Capital cost reduction loop: More successful renewable plants will decrease investor risk perception
Working against:
- Coal dependent communities: Coal plant closures impact specific communities
- State owned coal generation: These generators are politically protected
- Stranded Capital: If they are closed early, coal plants fail to earn their expected returns ('stranded asset accounting')
- Emerging coal markets: Demand for coal is increasing in some markets (AI datacenters?)
- Grid expansion lag: Grid infrastructure needs to be updated and expanded in many markets.
- Permitting bottlenecks: Deployment of clean energy projects can be slow because of permitting.
- Global South capital cost premium: Clean energy projects are more expensive in the Global South due to higher cost of capital.
- Fossil fuel political constituencies: Economies dependent on fossil fuels resist transition to clean energy.
Case: Renewable Energy In the Southern Interior
Read this case study from Community Energy Association.
Researchers interviewed community members in the Southern Interior about their perspectives on renewable energy projects. There are several different types of renewable energy projects operating in the region, including wind farms, solar facilities, biomass facilities, geo-exchange projects, and hydro projects.
As you read the case study, consider how it relates to the 'positive tipping point' described above. Is there any other positive tipping points, or threats to renewable clean energy that you might add
Discussion Questions
Here are a few questions to help you begin analyzing the issues discussed in this case study. The purpose of these questions is to prompt reflection and further consideration: there are no right or wrong answers!
- Emotional Responses: Take stock of your reaction to this case study, and discussions around renewable energy. Do these conversations bring up 'climate grief' or 'climate anxiety', or do you feel more optimistic about potential outcomes?
- Contradictory viewpoints and outcomes: The case study focused on regional benefits, and doesn't focus on the concerns of participants. What do you think the main concerns of the participants might have been if they were asked?
- Positive action: Do any optimistic 'positive feedback loops' stand out to you in the case study? What concrete changes could help take advantage of that potential?
- Interruptions and invitations: Based on this case study, how important do you think local community buy-in is important when it comes to transitioning towards renewable energy? Why?
- Physical connections: What do you know about your local air quality, and the sources of electricity where you live? Look it up! Are you surprised by what you find?
- Social and Historical Context: Renewable energy projects in BC have not always been positive for local communities - and Indigenous communities in particular. For example, the Site C Dam near Peace River flooded Indigenous territories, infringing Indigenous Treaty rights and damaging ecosystems. The case study focuses on positive aspects of renewable energy projects, but do some of the quotes from community members hint at past social and environmental harms?
- Positive Practices: This case study discusses how public climate education, outreach and communication plays an important role in the success renewable energy projects. What types of public education, communication or outreach might be relevant to you in your future work as an engineer? How might ineffective public communication undermine engineering projects?