A couple of months after the devastating Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, the energy security debate around the world is in motion. This is not only because of a changed risk perception regarding nuclear energy. An increasing number of countries seem to accept the benefits of a diversified energy supply for transforming their economies and are adjusting their energy mix accordingly. A report on the status of global sustainable energy investments, published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), shows that in 2010 developing economies for the first time outpaced developed countries in terms of new investments in renewable energy – roughly $72 billion was invested in developing countries, compared to $70 billion in developed economies, thus proving the tremendous dynamic of alternative energy development around the world.



The new report, however, did not cover the South African Renewable Initiative (SARI) to be announced by the South African government in the course of the Durban climate change summit at the end of this year. With SARI, South Africa can become a motor of a green economy in Southern Africa and beyond: Until 2025, the country aims to increase the share of electricity produced by renewable energy from the current level of nearly zero to 15 percent. That amount of energy is equal to 23 gigawatts, or the capacity of about 20 nuclear power plants.



In Europe, the German government’s decision to phase out nuclear energy over the next decade as a consequence of Fukushima is probably the most far reaching change in risk perception. According to the revised German national energy concept, this transformation should be largely “climate neutral” via additional energy efficiency and further efforts to expand renewables.



The situation in the United States (US) is quite different. Decision makers such as Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu see no need for an overall change of course as far as nuclear energy is concerned: “[The] American people should have full confidence that the United States has rigorous safety regulations in place to ensure that our nuclear power is generated safely and responsibly,” he declared after Fukushima during a testimony to the US House of Representatives. The susceptibility of nuclear power plants to external shocks, however, can also be observed in the United States. Due to the Missouri River flooding a few weeks ago, the Fort Calhoun nuclear power station was shut down. At the same time, the largest concentrated solar power project worldwide, Blythe, California, has been started in June indicating the vast innovation potential in the US.



However, energy security based on the expansion of renewable energy also faces risks and hurdles. For example, the SARI initiative is still searching for financing options. In addition, the implementation of green energy strategies may cause new forms of resource competition – at least in the short term. China’s export restriction on rare earth, a key resource for clean technology production, was considered by the World Trade Organization to be in violation of international trade law. These days, providing energy security is a risky business. (Dennis Taenzler)



For the UNEP report, please see here.



For a study series of future resource conflicts, a research project by adelphi and the Wuppertal Institute completed in early 2011, please see http://www.adelphi.de



Follow the blog “ThinkProgress” for updates on the US debate on climate change and energy security: http://www.thinkprogress.org/romm/issue/

Published in: ECC-Newsletter, 3/2011