Global warming is the most significant issue of our time.
Climate data shows clearly that the greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere as a result of human activities is, with a high degree of certainty, the primary cause of higher temperatures on land and in the oceans and of increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and their resultant acidification, and melting icecaps and resulting rise in sea levels. Left unchecked the frequency of extreme weather events is expected to increase, changes in regional weather patterns and rainfall will likely cause crop failures and famines, which in turn drive population shifts and increase social and political tension.
The good news is that solutions to climate change are available today and governments around the world are committing their nations to positive and substantive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide emissions in particular. Targets for emissions reduction put forward by nearly 200 nations as INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) at COP21 in December 2015, are being ratified; the aim of limiting global warming to less than +2oC by 2100 and making every effort to achieve a preferred outcome of less than +1.5oC has been accepted by most nations. While INDCs are not yet sufficient to achieve these targets, the concerted global effort that has already started will build momentum and establish renewable energy, wind and solar in particular, as the lowest cost sources of energy. Just as the rate of increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere is the highest experienced in the timescale of human evolution, global collaboration can turn this situation around provided the investments needed in energy efficiency, electric vehicles, renewable energy power generation and storage and carbon dioxide capture and sequestration are made now; any delay waiting for more advanced technology makes the problem exponentially more difficult.
Far from this investment in new energy infrastructure being a cost burden, it will instead be an engine of economic growth delivering affordable clean energy and eliminating a range of atmospheric pollutants that impact human health today.
At the present time REE is working to develop its first project with the aim to ultimately own a portfolio of operating plants. The business model offered is to build, own and operate solar power generation plants and carbon emissions reduction facilities in return for long term (15+ years) power purchase or emissions treatment agreements. Applications REE has identified include grid connected power generation, supply of solar power to industrial plants to reduce carbon emissions through replacement of fossil fuels, and solar-powered carbon capture and sequestration in industrial plants and conventional power stations. Industries covered include main grid power supply, LNG, mining including mineral commodity transportation, iron and steel, cement-making and fossil fuel power stations. Typical solar power plant output capacities range from 20-300+MW (50-800GWh pa).
REE is continuing to advance a number of project opportunities for applications in solar energy supply and carbon emissions reduction across the resources and energy sector in Australia and overseas. Contact us if your company has a project or application to propose or would like REE to indicate possible applications in your business. See our Offer page if you would like REE to undertake a preliminary economic assessment of an application relevant to your company.
If you are an individual concerned about climate change wishing to support large scale solar power and storage and solar-powered carbon emissions reduction projects please visit our Participate page or contact us. A crowd funding option is being established that can provide a path to participation in project development and specific projects. So let us know if you would be interested in that type of investment what level of investment would be considered as that will help us gauge the level of interest and structure the crowd funding offer.
Follow REE for updates on project development and progress towards growing a portfolio of operating assets that play a part of the global effort in providing solutions for management of climate change risk.
Thanks for your interest and please visit again soon.
Author: Charles Jones