Engineers and the Renewable Energy Transition: Challenges and Opportunities

摘要

There was always a point where the engineer said, "And here we can put a power dam," or, "The power plant will then be located at..." It might seem as if all the engineering projects of the future that do not deal with transportation are concerned with energy and power. It not only seems that way; it is so (Ley 1954). Climate change, peak oil, air pollution, green jobs, or energy security: there is a great deal of momentum towards renewable energy these days. Between 2005 and 2010 the clean energy sector experienced investment growth of 230% (Pew Charitable Trusts 2010). The technical complexities of the renewable energy challenge will require more technical expertise. Such technical challenges cross disciplinary and institutional boundaries and often involve matters beyond the realm of technics.