Energy transition facts for kids
Energy transition is a big change where countries switch to cleaner ways of getting energy. This means using renewable energy sources like sun and wind, being smart about how we use energy (called energy efficiency), and building a sustainable future. The main goal is to stop using energy sources that harm the planet, like nuclear power, coal, and other fuels that run out.
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Energy Transition Around the World
Austria's Green Energy Journey
Austria started its energy transition, called Energiewende, many years ago. Because of its mountains and rivers, Austria gets a lot of its energy from hydropower, which is a renewable source. In 2013, about 78% of the energy produced in Austria came from renewable sources. Austria also has a law that says no nuclear power plants can operate there.
However, Austria only produces about 36% of the total energy it uses. The rest is imported. This total energy includes fuel for cars, electricity, and heating. In 2013, oil, renewable energy, gas, and coal were the main sources for Austria's total energy use. Over the past 20 years, Austria has moved away from coal and oil towards more renewable energy. The European Union wants Austria to get 34% of its total energy from renewables by 2020, and Austria was very close to this goal in 2013.
Some towns in Austria are leading the way. For example, the town of Güssing makes much more clean heating and electricity from renewable sources than it needs.
Denmark's Wind Power Focus
Denmark was greatly affected by the 1973 oil crisis because it relied on imported oil. This made people talk about building nuclear power plants. But a strong group of people who were against nuclear power stopped these plans. In 1985, Denmark decided not to build any nuclear power stations.
Instead, Denmark chose to focus on wind power. Wind turbines have been used in Denmark for a very long time, since the late 1800s. By 1974, experts thought Denmark could get 10% of its electricity from wind. Denmark worked on building large wind farms.
By 1986, Denmark had about 1,200 wind turbines, but they only made about 1% of the country's electricity. This amount grew a lot over time. In 2011, renewable energy provided 41% of Denmark's electricity, and wind power alone made up 28%. The government wants wind energy to provide 50% of its power by 2020. They also aim to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution by 40%.
In 2012, Denmark made a plan for its energy future. From 2013, new buildings could not install oil or gas heating. This rule also applied to existing buildings starting in 2016. Denmark wants to use 33% less fossil fuels by 2020. The country plans to be completely free from oil and natural gas by 2050.
France's Green Economy Plans
Since 2012, France has been discussing how to make its economy more sustainable through energy transition. The Minister of the Environment, Delphine Batho, even used the term "ecological patriotism."
The government started a plan to figure out how to begin this energy transition. They wanted to answer questions like:
- How can France become more energy efficient and save energy? This includes thinking about changes in how people live, produce, consume, and travel.
- How can France reach its energy goals for 2025? The country aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and 60% by 2040.
- Which renewable energies should France use more of? How can they encourage more wind and solar energy?
- What will it cost to support alternative energy, research, and expand heating systems using biomass (energy from plants) and geothermal energy (energy from the Earth's heat)?
In 2015, France passed a law to encourage the use of vehicles that produce low emissions. France is one of the countries with the lowest carbon emissions compared to its economic output, second only to Denmark.
Germany's Energiewende
Germany's main plan for its Energiewende was released in 2010, even before the Fukushima nuclear accident. Laws to support this plan were passed in 2011. Key parts of Germany's plan include:
- Reducing greenhouse gases: 80–95% less by 2050.
- Renewable energy goals: 60% of energy from renewables by 2050.
- Energy efficiency: Electricity use to be 50% more efficient by 2050.
- Research and development: A big focus on new energy technologies.
Japan's Nuclear Power Decisions
In September 2012, the Japanese government decided to stop using nuclear power by the 2030s, or 2040 at the very latest. They said they would do "all possible measures" to reach this goal. However, a few days later, the government changed its mind slightly after industries argued that stopping nuclear power would hurt the economy and make them pay more for imported oil, coal, and gas. The government then approved the energy transition but did not set a firm date for closing nuclear power stations.
United Kingdom's Offshore Wind Power
The United Kingdom is mainly focusing on wind power, both on land and at sea. They are especially promoting offshore wind power (wind farms built in the ocean). The UK is a world leader in offshore wind power, with a large amount of installed capacity. By the end of 2012, the UK had a lot of wind power capacity overall, ranking fourth worldwide. The government initially used a system to encourage wind power, but when targets were missed, they switched to a feed-in tariff, which pays people for the renewable energy they produce.
United States' Green Jobs and Wind Farms
The Obama administration strongly supported green jobs, especially during its first term. In the United States, the amount of electricity generated from renewable energy (not including hydropower) grew from 3.3% in 1990 to 5.5% in 2013.
In December 2016, the Block Island Wind Farm became the first commercial offshore wind farm in the US. It has five large turbines located about 3.8 miles from Block Island, Rhode Island, in the Atlantic Ocean. At the same time, a company called Statoil spent a lot of money to lease a large area off the coast of New York for more offshore wind development.
Images for kids
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A booth for the Citizens' Climate Lobby at a science rally in Minnesota, 2018.
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6 advantages of an energy transition (for example in Europe) - Energy Atlas 2018
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How Denmark made its electricity from different sources.
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See also
In Spanish: Transición energética para niños
