The Wicked Problem of Transitioning to Renewable Energy
By Keith L. Seitter
As we replace fossil fuels with power sources that largely rely on weather, significant technological and policy challenges will need to be untangled.
This Article From Issue
November-December 2024
Volume 112, Number 6
Page 336
How much energy people use depends on the weather. Fuel usage increases to heat buildings in winter, and electricity demand spikes when we use air conditioning to keep our workplaces and homes comfortable in the hot summer months. Large day-to-day fluctuations in temperature, sunshine, wind speed, and other factors also affect heat gain and loss in buildings. A whole industry has grown up to provide specialized weather forecasts to energy providers to help them anticipate demand and determine the most cost-effective ways of delivering energy to their customers. But the way weather affects energy is becoming more complicated than ever before.
QUICK TAKE
- Because weather systems provide the conditions needed to generate wind and solar electricity, weather should be considered the fuel for renewable energy sources.
- Being highly variable, weather is a much more complicated energy source than coal or gas. Technological and policy innovations are needed to harness its power.
- The interconnected technological and policy issues involved when using weather as fuel create a wicked problem that requires interdisciplinary solutions.
American Scientist Comments and Discussion
To discuss our articles or comment on them, please share them and tag American Scientist on social media platforms. Here are links to our profiles on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If we re-share your post, we will moderate comments/discussion following our comments policy.