88
N. Kidunduhu
3.3.3 Energy Security
Renewable energy is often championed as the panacea for the narrow
conception of energy security, i.e. stable supply. From this narrow
perspective, renewable energy is indeed the magic bullet for energy security. This is because renewable energy sources are not prone to the risk
of exhaustibility and it is therefore possible to secure energy supply
over the long term, provided that the renewable energy resources are
deployed sustainably.
68 Contemporary energy security however concerns
itself with issues such resource distribution, resource availability, supplier
reliability, import dependency, diversity in energy resources and infrastructure reliability. From this perspective, it becomes apparent that
renewable energy is not a cure-all because of the issues discussed below:
Diversity
At first, when the infiltration of renewable energy is still low, diversity
of sources in the energy mix increases thereby increasing energy security. However, the increased use of renewables leads to the domination
of renewables in energy production thus undoing any initial diversity
gains. The energy system essentially becomes a monopoly.
69 As a result,
the energy system becomes exposed to the vagaries of a monopoly and
particularly high prices which are incompatible with energy security.
Distribution of resources
It is generally assumed that renewable energy is a domestic resource
and its utilization will therefore do away with import dependence.
70
However, the availability and distribution of renewable energy sources
is country-specific and even in the countries with considerable renewable resources, the resources are usually sparsely distributed. This coupled
with the variability of renewable energy sources already poses a risk to
energy security. In order to smoothen this, these countries will have
to depend on energy imports. Countries with relatively scarce endowment of renewable resources will also need to import renewable energy to
68 Ibid. (n 2).
69 Juozas Augutis and others ‘Impact of the Renewable Energy Sources on the Energy Security’
Energy Procedia Vol 61 (2014).
70 Ibid. (n 16).
N. Kidunduhu
3.3.3 Energy Security
Renewable energy is often championed as the panacea for the narrow
conception of energy security, i.e. stable supply. From this narrow
perspective, renewable energy is indeed the magic bullet for energy security. This is because renewable energy sources are not prone to the risk
of exhaustibility and it is therefore possible to secure energy supply
over the long term, provided that the renewable energy resources are
deployed sustainably.
68 Contemporary energy security however concerns
itself with issues such resource distribution, resource availability, supplier
reliability, import dependency, diversity in energy resources and infrastructure reliability. From this perspective, it becomes apparent that
renewable energy is not a cure-all because of the issues discussed below:
Diversity
At first, when the infiltration of renewable energy is still low, diversity
of sources in the energy mix increases thereby increasing energy security. However, the increased use of renewables leads to the domination
of renewables in energy production thus undoing any initial diversity
gains. The energy system essentially becomes a monopoly.
69 As a result,
the energy system becomes exposed to the vagaries of a monopoly and
particularly high prices which are incompatible with energy security.
Distribution of resources
It is generally assumed that renewable energy is a domestic resource
and its utilization will therefore do away with import dependence.
70
However, the availability and distribution of renewable energy sources
is country-specific and even in the countries with considerable renewable resources, the resources are usually sparsely distributed. This coupled
with the variability of renewable energy sources already poses a risk to
energy security. In order to smoothen this, these countries will have
to depend on energy imports. Countries with relatively scarce endowment of renewable resources will also need to import renewable energy to
68 Ibid. (n 2).
69 Juozas Augutis and others ‘Impact of the Renewable Energy Sources on the Energy Security’
Energy Procedia Vol 61 (2014).
70 Ibid. (n 16).