Water as a Potential Energy Source in the Hospitality Industry - Essay Example

Water as potential energy source in the hospitality industry I. Introduction: need to shift to renewable and low-carbon energy sources There is an urgent need to shift to low or zero carbon emitting renewable energy sources for 2 reasons. Firstly, we have to recognize anthropogenic global warming and conventional science as pointed out by the United Nationals Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (UN-IPCC). The UN IPCC has identified carbon emissions as an important source of global warming. Global warming kills. Global warming can result to violent typhoons, tornadoes, and weather abnormalities. It can reduce areas of land on earth as virtual desserts. It can elevate sea levels and sink islands, archipelagos, and homes. Recognizing this, the government of the United Kingdom has a basic policy aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions [Ren21 2008: 30]. Carbon emissions from vehicles and fossil energy are believed to be the primary cause of anthropogenic global warming. Secondly, the earths current sources of energy are not finite. Sooner or later, if man does not use or use enough renewable energy sources, there will be zero or little energy for future generations. In the words of Ren21 [2008:2], renewable energy sources are important because: "Renewable energy offers our planet a chance to reduce carbon emission, clean the air, and put our civilization on a more sustainable footing. It also offers countries around the world the chance to improve their energy security and spur economic development." Mikhani [2008] has shown that we do not need nuclear nor fossil energy to sustain the worlds economies. According to Mikhani [2008: 133], an electricity grid can derive power from solar photovoltaics (as much as 35%), biomass (as much as 25%), wind energy (as much as 15%), and the rest from hydropower and related energy sources. Mikhani [2008] pointed out that renewable sources are cheaper (p. 133). A renewable energy that is low if not zero on carbon emission is energy from water. II. Hotel industry and its power needs Hotels and motels spend about $2,196 per room on energy that represents 6% of their operating costs [EPA 2007: 2]. Hotels and motels mainly use energy from electricity and natural gas [EPA 2007: 2]. Utilization of two sources of energy is as follow [EPA 2007: 2]: Figure 1. Hotel and utilization of energy from electricity and natural gas by hotels and motels Source: EPA 2007: 3 based on surveys Citing the experience of European hotels and motels, Hendrikx [2008: 5] reported that 40% of the energy used by hotels is obtained from electricity. Hendrikx also reported that 31% of hotel/motel energy requirements are used for space heating, 17% for heating tap water, 15% for cooling, 12% for lighting, 5% for cooking, and the rest for miscellaneous use (p. 6). In contrast, however, 45% of electricity is used for lighting alone (p. 6). Thus, the hotel/motel industry is a potential large-scale user of energy from water. At the same time, the industry can be a beneficiary in the shift to renewable energy so long as renewable energy is cheap as per the claim of Mikhani [2008]. III. State of renewable and environment-friendly sources of power In its latest report available, Ren21 [2008: 6] revealed that, worldwide, electricity from renewable energy increased by 50% to 240 gigawatts in 2007 compared to 2004. However, renewable energy is still only around 5% of global capacity and only 3.4% of the earths power generation. Nevertheless, the World Energy Council [2003: 1] recognizes that renewable energy, particularly large hydro, has been an important source of global energy. Although the use of renewable energy, including those with low carbon emissions, has been growing fast, the growth has been attributable to a low base. However, the share of modern renewables, including large hydro, has been only about 4% [World Energy Council 2003: 2]. One difficulty with regard to managing energy supply is that the bulk of energy cannot be stored but has to be produced at almost the same time that the energy is needed [World Energy Council 2002: 3]. Ren21 [2008: 6] reported encouraging news: Electricity power generated by renewables is equivalent to the electricity power generated by 25% of the worlds nuclear plants. Wind power constitutes the largest part of renewables generation capacity. This energy type increased 28% globally in 2007 and supplies 95 gigawatt worldwide. As to capacity, wind power registered an increase of 40% in 2007. Grid-connected solar photovoltaic is the fastest growing energy source. Cumulative growth in the energy source is about 50% between 2006 and 2007. Today the energy source supplies around 7.7 gigawatts (GW). Rooftop solar water heaters now provide the hot water requirements of at least 50 million households all over the world. These solar water heaters provide an energy equivalent to 105 gigawatts of electricity. As mentioned earlier, another energy source that has a very great potential to be a main source of energy is water as water compose a large part of the planet. IV. Water as power source: potential and feasibility The DOE-US [2001:2-7] identified several ways in which energy can be produced from water: Hydropower is the most developed renewable energy source. It has no carbon emission. It uses a dam or a reservoir to store water that is released to a turbine to generate power. However, hydropower energy can affect water bodies and habitats. Geothermal energy consists of hot water (flash steam) and steam (dry steam) in six miles of the earths crust. The volume of geothermal energy available on earth is 50,000 times of the energy of all the oil and gas of the planet. Oceans can produce power in two ways. Oceans can produce thermal energy from the suns heat on the oceans. The thermal energy can be converted into electricity. Further, the oceans can produce mechanical energy from tides and waves that can be converted into electricity. There is also potential in hydrogen from water and then use the hydrogen to generate energy that will give off water as by-product. However, what is immediately feasible is the derivation of hydrogen from carbon via a process known as reforming. SECO-Texas [2008: 6-7] indicated that potential energy from ocean waves worldwide is about 2 TW or terawatt. A terawatt is one trillion watts. However, the risks that can arise from energy derived from ocean tidal power includes disturbance of the sea beds and coral reefs, disturbance on wildlife and organisms, and disturbance on salinity and natural temperatures [SECO-Texas 2008: 6-4]. In addition, ocean wave energy systems would require a large area and infrastructure to generate energy [p. 6-4]. A 90 megawatt power plant, for example, can require 4,000 acres of ocean surface [p. 6-4]. Citing "various estimates", Holzman [2007: 1] reported that ocean power can supply electricity equivalent to 10-25% of world production or around 2-5% of end-use energy. There is also a report from Hoffman [2005] that energy can be produced from bottom of the sea based on the temperature differential between "normal" and cold temperature. The basis for the view is the works of John Craven. However, Cravens technology may have to undergo further refinements as there is no evidence yet that his technology has been adopted by any country. The relevance of using water as one important source of energy arise also because, as shown by Table 1, European countries are targeting to increase their utilization of renewable sources of energy. For the United Kingdom, the target is to increase by 15% the overall reliance of total energy requirements on renewable energy. Table 1. Targets on renewable energy of European nations Source: Figure 12, Ren21 [2008: 22] Energy from water is among the cheapest energy source. This is shown in Table 2. Table 2. Energy source and typical energy costs Source: Ren21 [2008: 14] In the years to come, utilizing renewable energy will promote profitability in all industries, including the hotel industry. This is because countries all over the world are promoting the use of renewable energy and have offered discount, incentives, and subsidies. This is shown on Table 3. In the United Kingdom, some of the incentives used to promote the use of renewable energy are portfolio standards, capital subsidies, grants, rebates, reduction in taxes, and tradeable renewable energy certificates, Table 3. Incentives being offered for using renewable energy Source: Part of Table 2, Ren21 [2008: 23] V. Cautions in shifting towards energy from water in the hotel industry Nevertheless, as we recognize the potential of energy from water in providing a large part of the worlds energy needs, including those of the hotel and motel industry, we point out the following: 1. There are renewable technologies with low carbon emissions that can derive energy from water that are relatively mature but there are also technologies that are in their development or early stage. This matter is indicated in Table 4. Table 4 is indicative of the energy development technology that are "mature" or those whose reliability have been proven by experience. Thus, the other technologies on water development are only emerging or immature technologies at the moment and will still require time for them to undergo further improvement and development before popular use. Table 4. Renewable energy gigawatts added and existing capacity in 2006 Source: Table R1, Ren21 [2008: 37] Table5. Share of electricity from renewables Source: Table R8, Ren21 [2008:41] Meanwhile, as shown by Table 5, although the share of renewable energy is already 18% worldwide, it is only 4.1% in the UK and the immediate target is to increase it to only 10% by 2010. Thus, in the United Kingdom, promoting the use of renewable energy has to gain wider acceptability. If relatively mature renewable energy has to be popularized first, then there is greater hurdle in making the UK accept energy from water technologies that are relatively young or immature. 2. There are localities in which the use of energy from water is immediately practical and feasible and there are localities in which this is not the case. Viewed from a global perspective, it is highly likely that the appropriateness of deriving water from energy would be a function of water availability in specific localities. Figure 2 indicates that there are areas in which water are abundant and there are areas in which water are scarce. This indicates that it is highly likely that there will be areas where deriving energy from water is most appropriate and, at the same timer, there will areas in which deriving energy from water would not be very appropriate. Figure 2. Water availability from a global perspective Source: International Union for the Conservation of Nature and International Water Management Institute as cited in The World Economic Forum [2009:12] 3. Mixed sources are probably more appropriate for many of the hotels. Given that some of the technologies that will allow the derivation of energy from water is still young or immature, the appropriate course of action is to derive energy from multiple sources, especially those sources whose reliability and business-compatibility have already been proven. Of course, institutions and firms who want to be innovative will have to accept that there will be some risks in adopting technologies that are so new. The good news, however, is that there are technologies that seek to obtain energy from water that have been proven to be reliable. As discussed earlier, these technologies include hydropower and energy from the ocean tides. 4. Phased but serious implementation of a shift to low or zero carbon emitting and renewable energy sources may be more appropriate for the hotel industry. Even the World Energy Council, with its deep concern for renewable energy, expressed caution on compulsory targets for compulsory because of the possibility that such could produce distortions [2002: 1]. Given an energy requirement, the World Energy Councils attitude is to identify the several ways in which energy can be derived from sources that will not exacerbate contributions to global warming. Similarly, the hotel industry can adopt this track. In the interest of fighting or mitigating global warming as well as improving profitability (because renewable energy is cheaper), the hotel industry should increase its consumption of renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. In increasing its utilization of renewable energy rather than fossil fuel energy, the use of renewable energy including energy from water technologies can be implemented in phases until such time when the rest of the technologies on deriving energy from water has undergone development or "maturity". VI. Conclusion In conclusion, responsibility requires that the hotel industry contributes to the effort to derive its energy needs from renewable and low-carbon emitting sources. The better approach lies in combining several sources of zero or low-carbon emitting renewable energy. Energy from water technologies is one such low-carbon emitting renewable energy source. The hotel industry should join the global concern for the environment and enjoy improved profitability at the same time. The industry is large user of energy and energy from water is generally cheap. Energy direct from water remains a continuing option. In years to come, as the technology on deriving energy from water improves, hotels and motels should use the technology to the protect the environment and improve its profit position as well. Reference List DOE-US (Department of Energy-United States). (2001). Renewable energy: An overview. DTI-UK (Department of Trade and Industry-United Kingdom). (2002). Energy consumption in the United Kingdom. EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). (2007). Energy star building manual 12: hotels and motels (revised December). Hendrikx, N. (2008). Power quality & utilization guide (application for hotels). European Copper Institute: Laborelec, 1-21. Hoffman, C. (2005). The mad genius from the bottom of the sea. Wired, 13 (6), 1-3. Retrieved 13 December 2009, from http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.06/craven.html Holzman, D. (2007). Blue power: Turning tides into electricity. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115 (12), 591-593. IEA (International Energy Council). (2002). United Kingdom. _________: International Energy Council. Available from http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2000/UK_comp02.pdf [Accessed 17th December 2009]. Makhijani, A. (2008). Nuclear isnt necessary. Nature Reports Climate Change, Vol. 2. Macmillan Publishers, 132-134. NUS Consulting Group (2009). Global energy market analysis/forecast. 11 November. OECD-IEA (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-International Energy Agency). (2007). The United Kingdom: 2006 review (Energy Policies of IEA Countries). Paris: OECD-IEA. Ren21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century). (2008). Renewables 2007: Global status report. Paris: Ren21 Secretariat. Rentricity (2007). Rentricity partners with UK Water Industry Authority and Mouchel Parkman in global clean energy recovery plan for water companies. Available from http://www.prweb.com/pdfdownload/529143.pdf [Accessed 17th December 2009]. Roth, E. (2005). Why do we call energy from the sun, wind or water renewable? ______: www.sealnet.org, 1-3. Available from http://www.leonardo-energy.org/repository/Library/Papers/MisnomerRES.pdf [Accessed 13th December 2009]. SECO-Texas (State Energy Conservation Office-Texas). (2008). Chapter 6. Renewable Energy. Available from http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/publications/renewenergy/energyfromwater.php [Accessed 13th December 2009] UN (United Nations). (2002). United Kingdom country profile (for the Johannesburg Summit 2002 for the implementation of Agenda 21). WEC (World Economic Council). (2003). Renewable energy targets. London: World Energy Council. WEF (World Economic Forum). (2009). Energy vision updates 2009: Thirsty Energy, water and energy in the 21st century. __________: World Economic Forum in partnership with Cambridge Energy Research Associates. Read More