Why do we need Renewable Energy

• Our fossil fuel reserves are finite.
• As the finite resource become scarce, they will become more expensive, affecting all economies
• Over 80% of current energy needs are based on finite fossil fuel reserves
• Over 55% of current energy needs are based on oil and gas
• Geographical imbalance of reserves and consumption is a source for political conflict.
• Using fuels affects the environment
• Use of carbon-based fuels releases carbon dioxide
• Nuclear fuels produce radioactive waste
• Operational problems in nuclear power plant may lead to events with large-scale implications

• Combusting coal, oil, or gas necessarily has carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a by-product
• Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the CO₂ content of the atmosphere has increased by about 30% from 280 to 370 ppm (parts per million)
• The annual increase of CO₂ is consistent with the emission from using fossil fuels
• Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the mean temperature has increased by about 1K.
• Changes through the millennium before were ±0.2K