At a time of technological advancement and environmental challenges, why do we still rely on fossil fuels?

At a time of technological advancement and environmental challenges, we examine the limitations of fossil fuels and the promise of clean, renewable energy, and question why we still rely on them.

 

Starting with the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century in England, coal, one of the fossil fuels, became an important source of energy for humanity. Subsequently, the discovery of other fossil fuels, such as oil and natural gas, and the development of technologies to refine and use them led to a rapid increase in their use. Coal was the dominant energy source until the early 20th century, but now oil and natural gas, which are easier to transport and use than coal and have become cheaper due to advances in extraction technology, are the dominant energy sources. This shift is closely related to the rapid industrialization and urbanization that has led to a surge in energy demand. In particular, the development of transportation and manufacturing has further increased dependence on fossil fuels, which has significantly changed the energy structure of modern society.
Currently, Korea’s dependence on fossil fuels is over 80%. However, Korea, which has few resources, imports most of its energy from abroad, ranking fourth in the world in oil imports. In 2010, energy imports amounted to $1,216.5 billion, or a whopping 28.6 percent of total imports. This high dependence makes the country sensitive to fluctuations in energy prices and puts a lot of pressure on the economy. Furthermore, instability in international affairs threatens the stability of energy supply and demand, which in turn can affect national security.
The world consumes 27 billion barrels of oil in a year. If we continue to consume the remaining oil at the current rate, in 37 years there will be no more oil on the planet. This is not just an energy issue, but one that could have a huge ripple effect on the economy and society as a whole. As a result, we need to find alternatives to fossil fuels, and renewable energy is emerging as a viable alternative. Eco-friendly renewable energy is a non-polluting energy source that can replace fossil fuels and nuclear power, and is generally understood as a component of alternative energy. In Korea, Article 2 of the Act on Promotion of Development, Utilization, and Supply of Alternative Energy defines alternative energy as energy from 11 fields other than oil, coal, nuclear power, and natural gas. The 11 fields are divided into eight renewable energy fields, including solar, photovoltaic, biomass, wind, small hydropower, geothermal, marine energy, and waste energy, and three new energy fields, including fuel cells, coal liquefaction gasification, and hydrogen energy.
So, why should green and renewable energy be a substitute for fossil fuels?
First, in the next few years, the production cost of green renewable energy will be lower than that of fossil fuels. Of course, right now, the cost of renewable energy is higher than the cost of fossil fuels. According to data released by the Hyundai Research Institute in 2008, the unit cost of electricity production in Korea using fossil fuels is 68.9 KRW/kW. In comparison, biomass costs 69 KRW/kW, tidal power 77 KRW/kW, fuel cells 168 KRW/kW, wind 170 KRW/kW, and solar 570 KRW/kW. Biomass is still not competitive with fossil fuels in terms of cost of production. The international price of fossil fuels has continued to rise since 2008. This puts a lot of pressure on national economies in the long run and increases dependence on unstable energy supplies.
In addition, Korea is likely to be designated as a mandatory carbon credit country from 2013. Once designated, we will be required to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions to 5% or less of 1990 levels in the future, based on our 1990 carbon dioxide emissions. If we continue to use fossil fuels, we will not be able to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions to 5% or less, and we will have to buy carbon credits from countries that have reduced their emissions to 5% or less. In other words, the price of fossil fuels will continue to rise, and the cost of carbon credits will increase. This situation not only increases the cost of energy, but also causes conflicts between countries.
However, green and renewable energy can be significantly cheaper depending on the technology, application, and location. In the case of biomass, hydropower, wind power, and geothermal power plants, if the climate and location conditions are right, energy can be produced at a cost comparable to that of fossil fuels. And this cost will continue to decrease as technology develops. In the case of computers, when they were first introduced, they were extremely expensive, but as technology improved and production increased, the price continued to decrease. The same will happen with green renewable energy.
Second, renewable energy is a natural and environmentally friendly source of energy that causes very little pollution compared to fossil fuels. In the case of fossil fuels, the very act of extracting them from their natural state can be destructive to the environment. When coal is extracted, it destroys the underground ecosystem, and the abandoned coal mines and rock fragments after extraction also affect the environment. In the case of oil and natural gas, the extraction equipment itself pollutes groundwater and the sea, and if a tanker carrying oil has an accident, the nearby sea is polluted and the ecosystem is destroyed. For example, in Korea, an incident occurred in December 2007 when an offshore crane collided with an oil tanker 10 kilometers northwest of Manipo in Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, resulting in the spillage of 12,547 liters of crude oil. The incident affected 1071 hectares of farmland in 112 locations in three towns and villages in Seosan City and 4088 hectares in 361 locations in eight towns and villages in Taean County. This event caused enormous damage to the local community and economy, and the recovery effort required a lot of time and resources.
Then, on April 20, 2010, BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 drillers and injuring 17 others, and the resulting oil slick covered at least 6,500 square miles of ocean, more than the size of the Korean peninsula. Fossil fuel spills of this magnitude cause ecosystem disruption and environmental pollution, with long-lasting effects.
In addition, the production of energy from fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas produces carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming, and has been a contributing factor in recent extreme weather events. In 2009, global carbon dioxide emissions were 30.398 billion tons, of which Korea emitted 528 million tons. If we look at the increase in carbon dioxide since the Industrial Revolution, we see a sharp increase from 220 parts per million in 1800 to 380 parts per million in 2000. Many scientists warn that if we do not reduce carbon dioxide levels to 350 ppm or less, global warming will continue to cause glaciers to melt, sea levels to rise, and extreme weather events to occur. These problems directly affect not only ecosystems but also human lives, and are a major impediment to sustainable development.
Third, clean, renewable energy is a globally inexhaustible resource. While fossil fuels are finite and will eventually run out, renewable energy is not. The sun, wind, and geothermal power are harnessed from the forces of nature, so it’s unlikely that they will ever run out. For example, solar thermal and photovoltaic power harness the sun’s energy, so the energy resource will be available for as long as the sun exists. The same goes for wind power, which harnesses the wind. These energy resources are derived from the Earth’s natural cycles, so they can continue to be utilized without fear of depletion.