5.1 The Fourth Industrial Revolution
153
a. Shift the energy mix from fossil fuel to renewable sources.
b. Make renewable energy cost less than non-renewable energy to make it globally
acceptable.
c. As an alternative, increase the cost of non-renewable energy.
d. Motivate/compel urban population to adopt energy mix with greater share of
renewable, especially solar water heaters, solar cookers, and solar lamps.
e. Encourage/compel commuters to use public transport system.
f. Subsidize low/zero carbon emission fuels.
At the same time, there is a need to shift emphasis from the irresponsible consumption of energy to improved provision of energy services, and the true indicator of the
sustainable energy development should be the level of energy services enjoyed by the
population, particularly the rural poor, along with the magnitude of per capita energy
consumption. This is undoubtedly a difficult task for many countries, including India
that will continue to use conventional sources including biomass-based fuels irrespective of the climate consequences (Srivastav 2019). Poverty will compel people not to
pay high cost for renewable energy, and the current economic collapse (COVID-19
impact) will only add fuel to the fire with higher living cost, massive jobs cut, reduced
wages, and escalating inflation. Energy reforms, even in the developed world will take
the back seat and, in all likelihood, Germany will continue to use coal despite current
EU policy of 20-20-20 (Musall and Onno 2011). Similarly, France will continue to be
committed to nuclear energy, and Britain goes all out for shale gas and nuclear energy.
All indicators point to the fact that use of conventional energy will continue unabated
till the cost of energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar remains higher
than nuclear, coal, and gas generated electricity.
Fourth industrial revolution is evolving differently from its predecessors in the
sense that either knowledge workers or robots or a combination of both will produce
most goods and services by focusing on creativity and achieving organizational
goals more efficiently. In simple terms this will mean super-skilled humans will
produce goods and services with minimum energy. The revolution thus offers a great
opportunity to all countries to usher into a more sustainable energy management
system that is environment-friendly. With the introduction of solar cells and high
storage lithium batteries, the transportation system will see incredible revolution, coal
and oil mining will be history, manufacturing will witness 90–100% automation and
household/building energy management will be highly energy-efficient. With these
energy forecast, it will be counterproductive for India to remain thirsty for oil and
coal irrespective of the perceived devastations both environment and economic. With
the demand for electricity alone expected to cross 950 gigawatts by 2030, India will
have to commit huge upfront investment in energy sector and human skills to remain
competitive economy.
153
a. Shift the energy mix from fossil fuel to renewable sources.
b. Make renewable energy cost less than non-renewable energy to make it globally
acceptable.
c. As an alternative, increase the cost of non-renewable energy.
d. Motivate/compel urban population to adopt energy mix with greater share of
renewable, especially solar water heaters, solar cookers, and solar lamps.
e. Encourage/compel commuters to use public transport system.
f. Subsidize low/zero carbon emission fuels.
At the same time, there is a need to shift emphasis from the irresponsible consumption of energy to improved provision of energy services, and the true indicator of the
sustainable energy development should be the level of energy services enjoyed by the
population, particularly the rural poor, along with the magnitude of per capita energy
consumption. This is undoubtedly a difficult task for many countries, including India
that will continue to use conventional sources including biomass-based fuels irrespective of the climate consequences (Srivastav 2019). Poverty will compel people not to
pay high cost for renewable energy, and the current economic collapse (COVID-19
impact) will only add fuel to the fire with higher living cost, massive jobs cut, reduced
wages, and escalating inflation. Energy reforms, even in the developed world will take
the back seat and, in all likelihood, Germany will continue to use coal despite current
EU policy of 20-20-20 (Musall and Onno 2011). Similarly, France will continue to be
committed to nuclear energy, and Britain goes all out for shale gas and nuclear energy.
All indicators point to the fact that use of conventional energy will continue unabated
till the cost of energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar remains higher
than nuclear, coal, and gas generated electricity.
Fourth industrial revolution is evolving differently from its predecessors in the
sense that either knowledge workers or robots or a combination of both will produce
most goods and services by focusing on creativity and achieving organizational
goals more efficiently. In simple terms this will mean super-skilled humans will
produce goods and services with minimum energy. The revolution thus offers a great
opportunity to all countries to usher into a more sustainable energy management
system that is environment-friendly. With the introduction of solar cells and high
storage lithium batteries, the transportation system will see incredible revolution, coal
and oil mining will be history, manufacturing will witness 90–100% automation and
household/building energy management will be highly energy-efficient. With these
energy forecast, it will be counterproductive for India to remain thirsty for oil and
coal irrespective of the perceived devastations both environment and economic. With
the demand for electricity alone expected to cross 950 gigawatts by 2030, India will
have to commit huge upfront investment in energy sector and human skills to remain
competitive economy.