Humanity uses a huge and growing amount of energy, and has gained enormous advantage from so doing. Unfortunately, most of the energy we use derives from the burning of fossil fuels which has adverse and increasing impacts on global climate. We now need to make a substantial change to how we obtain and use energy in a short period of time in order to tackle climate change. C-Questor is focusing on sustainable low carbon energy sources in combination with energy efficiency as a major part of our strategy to reduce greenhouse gasses. We aim to use Solar, Wind, Biofuel, Wave, Tidal and Geothermal energy sources as part of this process.
‘C-Questor is dedicated to ensuring that it provides as many energy sources in number and variety as possible that do not add to the atmosphere’s carbon load.’
C-Green Fuels is focussed on producing bio-diesel through growing of biomass on non-food producing land and marine algae in the sea, and the processing of the resultant biomass in mobile containerised micro-refineries either mounted on the decks of oil tankers or on flat-bed trucks. Both C-Questor’s bio-diesel and bio-ethanol are made more efficient by the addition of unique oxidising fuel additives from FuelCo. Land-based vehicles are responsible for approximately 5% of all GHG emissions. A combination of approaches including electric and electrochemical fuel cells will play an important part in reducing these emissions, while marine bio-diesel, and possibly kite sails will play a similar role for shipping.
The Current Energy Situation
Presently, the world is using energy equivalent to 11.1 billion tonnes of oil per annum (not counting bio-fuels or non-hydro renewables, which serve a small proportion of total demand). Of this figure, around 9.7 billion tonne of oil equivalent is in the form of traded fossil fuels. Consumption went up 2.4% in 2007, with the largest rise in coal, which is the most carbon intensive of the fossil fuels. This situation is likely to continue into the near future with global rises in CO2 emissions of the order of 2-3% per annum for the next few years.
‘Carbon dioxide from traditional energy production and transportation is a major source of atmospheric carbon. Much of this can be avoided by using alternative energy sources and replacing mineral oils.’
To put this in perspective, assuming that each kWh of electricity results in 400g of CO2, and with each turbine on average generating a quarter of its nameplate capacity, we would need to be building the clean energy equivalent of around 120000 to 200000 wind turbines a year of 2Mw each in order to keep CO2 emissions constant while meeting increased demand. This energy requirement will need to be met by a mixture of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and possibly carbon sequestration and nuclear power if we are collectively to achieve our aims of containing climate change.
The United Nations Framework on Climate Change is recommending a global target of 50% CO2 emission reduction by 2050. It is thought that such a reduction may contain global temperature rise to a maximum figure of 2C as a result of human activities. C-Questor is very keen to apply its knowledge of Renewable Energy Technologies, carbon reduction and the financial markets to help achieve this target, and will be active in using Renewable Energy Technologies to help meet the growing energy needs in particular of the developing nations. Clearly, as illustrated, this is a massive undertaking, and will require concerted coordinated efforts by nations, companies, and the public to achieve. Also, to achieve the desired change will require the expenditure of a colossal amount of money possibly in excess of £200 to £300 billion per annum over a sustained period. Against this, the current system is unsustainable, and will cost a massively larger sum, a great deal of human suffering and huge habitat damage over a similar period if climate change is not brought under control.