Title: Can Renewables Replace Fossil Fuels For A Cleaner Future?

SUMMARY: With the world still largely dependent on fossil fuels, there is an urgent need to leverage the
limitless offered by renewable sources on a war footing.
The ongoing global debate on the adverse effects of using fossil fuels like global warming and climate
change and major world economies now seriously contemplating a massive switchover to renewable
sources like solar and wind energy, has raised a fundamental question Can renewable resources
replace fossil fuels for a cleaner future for all of us?
Coal, oil and natural gas are the three main sources of fossil fuels that have powered the world till date and
continue to do so. The problem is fossil fuels are non-renewable, limited in supply and will one day be
depleted.
Despite the inherent potential offered by renewable energy projects, they provide only a miniscule 7%
percent of the worlds energy requirement, as per the Energy Information Agency. In stark contrast, fossils
fuels in tandem with nuclear energy, supply approx 93% our energy requirement.
The total world energy demand has been estimated at approx 400 quadrillion British Thermal Units (BTUs)
per annum by the US Department of Energy (US-DoE). A BTU is roughly equal to the energy and heat
generated by a match. Oil, coal and natural gas supply nearly 88% of the worlds energy needs or approx
350 quadrillion BTUs.
Burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, the number one greenhouse gas contributing to global
warming. Air pollution is also a direct result of the use of fossil fuels, resulting in widespread ecological
degradation.

 By the year 2020, world energy consumption is projected to rise by upto 50% (approx 207 quadrillion
BTUs). Assuming the global consumption of renewable energy sources remains constant, existing
reserves of fossil are likely to be consumed in approx 104 years, as per the US-DoE. Not surprising then,
energy from renewable sources is likely to play an increasingly vital role in the power generation mix in the
future.
Energy harnessed from renewable sources like solar and wind are non-polluting and inexhaustible. They
also help reduce global carbon dioxide emissions and our over-dependence on limited reserves of fossil
fuels.
Essentially, these renewable energy sources produce their own energy. We need to devise ways and
means to harness their abundant potential and convert it into electricity in an effective and efficient way to
cater to our growing energy needs.
Existing renewable energy sources are more than enough to all the energy we need, but the challenge
lies in our capabilities to develop the required technology and mechanism needed to effectively produce,
capture, store and utilise this energy as and when needed.
Welspun Renewables is on a mission to hasten the development of wind and solar energy in India by
exploiting the abundant renewable resources.

Awards
GLOBAL SOLAR ENERGY LEADERSHIP AWARD 2015

Contact Us
MUMBAI
406, Hubtown Solaris, NS Phadke Marg,
Andheri East, Mumbai - 400069,
Phone: +91-022-61408000
Fax: +91-022-26844888
NEW DELHI
3rd Floor, Press Trust of India Building. 4
Parliament Street, New Delhi - 110001
Phone: 91-011-66034600
Fax: 91-011-66273091
General Enquiries
Email: welspunenergy@welspunenergy.com
Website: http://www.welspunrenewables.com