Regarding electricity generation, the national production of the Andean country measured in gigawatt-hour (GWh), in March of this year by all types of sources, amounted to 5,375 GWh.
Energy is vital for the development of a country. In the last century, the industrialization and progress of the world was based mainly on fossil fuels such as oil and coal, but at the same time they are the main causes of global pollution and climate change, with the consequent rise in global temperature. atmosphere. For example, Peru is most frequently impacted by rains, floods and droughts.
For this reason, global concern now focuses on the “energy transition” from using hydrocarbons to renewable energies, including non-conventional ones, such as sunlight, wind, the power of the seas, says a report published in the Diario El Peruvian .
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has already made it clear: “if we do not end fossil fuel pollution and accelerate the transition to renewable energy, we will incinerate our only home.”
What is the magnitude of the problem? The United Nations points out that “fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, are the largest drivers of global climate change, because they are responsible for more than 75% of total global greenhouse gas emissions and close to 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions.”
Likewise, it shows the still strong dependence of the world on energy from highly polluting sources and the hope that is opening up with sustainable sources, specifying that "fossil fuels still account for more than 80% of energy production worldwide." the world, although cleaner energy sources are increasingly gaining strength.”
About 29% of electricity currently comes from renewable energy sources.
ENERGY TRANSITION
This energy transition is not only vital for the sustainability of the world in order to prevent further rising temperatures, causing severe climate changes, but it is also very economically profitable.
For example, we are seeing the appearance of electric vehicles that generate savings in maintenance for their users and owners; They also favor countries like Peru that export copper, a fundamental mineral for the new economy based on sustainable energy.
“The science clearly indicates: to avoid the most negative impacts of climate change, emissions must be reduced by almost half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050,” says the United Nations.
For this reason, this international organization established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to have a sustainable world in social, economic and environmental aspects.
SDG 7 aims to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”.
HOW ARE WE IN PERU?
Regarding electricity generation, national production measured in gigawatt-hour (GWh), in March of this year by all types of sources, amounted to 5,375 GWh.
Hydroelectric plants were the main source with a 60.1% share, followed by thermoelectric plants with a share of 32.7%, wind plants with a 5.5% share, and solar plants with 1.8%. of participation.
“In addition, including the energy produced through the energy resource Bagasse and Biogas, in March 2024 the generation of non-conventional renewable energy had a participation of more than 7.3% of national electricity production,” states the Ministry of Energy and Mines. (Minem) in its Monthly Electricity Report for March 2024.
What is notable in these figures, according to the report, is the growth of non-conventional renewable energies.
Thus, in the case of wind plants, they had a production of 295 GWh in March of this year, a growth of 152.8% compared to the same month in 2023, and solar plants produced 95 GWh, an increase of 61, 7% in the compared period.
Geothermal energy is also another source of non-conventional renewable energy. Recently, the Peruvian Minister of Energy and Mines, Rómulo Mucho, pointed out that about five projects have already been identified that “can easily generate 3,000 megawatts of energy” and that there are Canadian companies interested in invest in these projects.
POTENTIAL
The Peruvian Association of Renewable Energies (SPR), recently founded in 2017, brings together companies and organizations that are committed to the development of non-conventional Renewable Energies, such as solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, biomass and small hydroelectric, highlighting the potential of Peru to attract and promote investment in this area.
The SPR points out that "currently in Peru there are generation projects with renewable sources on hold that constitute an investment of US$ 11,608 million," which can generate 80,000 direct and indirect jobs immediately within a period of five years.
Likewise, he highlights that this investment will be accompanied by “social projects that will benefit local communities and millions of dollars in the improvement and reinforcement of road infrastructure.”
BET ON NEW SOURCES
The United Nations details five reasons to adopt a greater share of renewable energy. The first is “renewable energies are around us” by highlighting that their potential has not been fully exploited, and according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (or IRENA, for its acronym in English) 90% of the world's electricity can, and must originate from renewable energies by 2050.
The second is “renewable energies are cheaper”, because the costs of the technology used to produce energy with non-conventional renewable sources are decreasing rapidly.
The third is “renewable energies are healthier,” and states that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 99% of the people on the planet breathe air “that does not reach adequate quality limits.” And therefore adopting clean energy sources not only contributes to fighting climate change, but also to improving the health of millions of people.
The fourth reason is “renewable energies create new jobs”, and states that “every US dollar invested in a renewable source is capable of creating three times more jobs than the fossil fuel sector” and by 2030 there could be create 14 million new jobs in the world.
The fifth reason is, “renewable energies are reasonable in economic terms”, because the reduction of pollution and the negative impact on the climate could generate savings of up to US$ 4.2 trillion annually in the world in 2030.
DATA
- The cost of electricity from solar energy between 2010 and 2020 fell 85%, while in wind it fell 56% in onshore locations and 48% offshore, indicates the United Nations.
- 90% of the world's electricity could come from renewable energy by 2050, says the UN.
- In 2018, pollution caused by fossil fuels caused economic and health spending in the world of US$ 2.9 trillion, about US$ 8 billion a day, according to the United Nations.
