Experts of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) predict that the population of Earth in 2030 will increase 28 percent - from 6.5 billion in 2005 to 8.3 billion, while global income per capita by an average of 58 percent - from $5,900 up to $8,600. Demand for food, drinking water, energy sources will increase. Processes to ensure these vital human resources will also accelerate. However, the means by which people obtain and use natural resources impose serious problems to the sustainability of ecosystems of the planet. According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment project, 60 percent of the basic components of Earth's ecosystems - rivers, lakes, ocean fisheries, forests, air quality, systems of crop production - are degraded or used unsustainably, damaging the environment. (The bioeconomy to 2030: designing a policy agenda - ISBN-978-92-64-03853-0 © OECD 2009).
Governments in many countries understand that in spite of huge resources, the current energy sources exhaust whenever, and try to find alternative solutions: cars operating on bio-fuels, LED lamps, drinking water, derived from atmospheric water, solar panels on the roof of houses - even although still it does not take a mass character, and not improved by the end, but it is important, from day to day experience, which sooner or later lead to a redistribution of roles between the traditional and alternative sources of energy.
Azerbaijan devised a strategy for economic development, the contents of which are declared for diversification and modernization, reducing economic dependence on energy and ensuring sustainable development. The concept of sustainable development defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987), assumes, in particular, the conservation of natural assets for future development.
There are several beaten ways to solve the problem. Firstly this is the use of renewable energy resources. Secondly energy conservation, efficient use of energy resources through energy-saving technologies. Energy conservation is a strategic issue for the government: saving domestic energy resources, reducing cost of energy, rising industrial production. The report on the level of energy efficiency in Azerbaijan presented by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in May 2009 indicates that large Azerbaijani companies can reduce their energy costs by 20 percent (under their readiness for this process) for three years that enable them to increase sustainability in the conditions of global competition.
One example: most recently in Russia and Ukraine, senior officials of these States have announced energy efficiency and energy conservation as one of the priority directions for development and modernization of the economy. In these countries, there are plans to implement concrete projects, in particular, use of LED-technology. LED lamps, being more expensive than incandescent lamps or fluorescent lamps, are much more economical and durable and do not contain harmful substances, are more reliable and environmentally safe. They can be used almost everywhere.
With regards to the use of renewable energy resources in Azerbaijan, as seen from the graph, non-renewable energy resources still fully dominate in Azerbaijan:
Several years ago, in comments on establishment of alternative energy in Azerbaijan, officials expressed that the prime cost of electricity produced from renewable sources will be significantly higher than production from traditional - oil and gas, and therefore, it is ineffective. Specifically, the speech at that time was about wind energy. Nevertheless, 2007 contacts were established with the foreign experts to explore the potential of Azerbaijan to use wind, solar energy, small hydropower plants and, according to preliminary studies, within five years, there are plans to build nearly 100 alternative sources of electricity. Even letters of intent were with several foreign companies on the implementation of projects for the construction of wind power plants. It was good initiative, but was not continued.
According to the forecasts of all leading international organizations, the electricity consumption in the world will steadily grow. Possibly if to measure the profitability of renewable energy resources, taking into account only the financial side of this, it is really cheaper to use the existing mineral resources. If to consider that gradually increasing the share of alternative energy resources, the state can create balance and reduce dependence on traditional sources, keeping some of them as emergency supplies. The world trend of development of alternative energy also say this:
Another point that should be mentioned: to promote the development of wind power, the U.S. government included in the Energy Policy Act of 1992 a tax credit for producing wind energy at 1.5 cents per 1 kilowatt/h. This discount, which is used for wholesale of electricity generated at wind power plant in the first ten years of its operation. Each year the amount changes, taking into account the inflation. The item on tax credit is usually introduced for several years and upon expiry, can be revised and extended. In February 2009, President Barack Obama signed a bill, where the tax credit for production of solar, wind, geothermal and bio-energy was extended by 2012-2013 and amounted to 2.1 cents per 1 k/h electricity. Thus, the U.S. government, assuming part of the financial burden, provides support to private businesses, and at the same time, addresses strategic task of the development of alternative energy.
Many countries, even in the conditions of global economic crisis, invest in research and development of "clean" and energy-saving technologies, alternative energy sources. In 2009, the EU allocated €3.2 billion for research on the manufacture of cars operating with bio-fuel, construction of buildings with low energy consumption. Germany wants to invest half a billion euros in the development of hybrid (fuel and electricity) and other clean vehicle technologies.
South Korea has directed almost its entire package of measures for stimulation of the economy to the Green New Deal, planning investments totaling $4.7 billion in the next four years basically for research. Investments will be invested in "clean" cars, creating renewable energy, energy-saving technologies. Within the same measures, the United States addresses the task of reducing dependence on oil, doubling production of renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency, developing new intellectual energy systems, allocating $30 billion for these purposes. However, majority of OECD countries take a number of more stringent regulatory measures to improve energy efficiency. (data from the OECD report "Policy responses to the economic crisis: investing in innovation for long-term growth", June 2009).
Global challenges compel many countries to adopt preventive measures and rationally use available resources, through a careful analysis of the situation. The increasing population, the gradual depletion of fossil energy resources, environmental problems - if still they are not visible, it does not mean that they do not exist. Can anyone now admit that clean drinking water will cost more expensive than oil?