Energy is a collective term for the physical property of being able to do something.
Energy exists in different forms: As e.g. mechanical energy to be able to perform work or as kinetic energy to move objects, we need e.g. electrical energy to surf the internet, to get a lamp to light up or an electric motor to run and thermal energy as heat for heating or cooking.
Without energy, no life and no economic activity is possible. Without energy, no raw materials can be processed and no products or food can be produced. A secure energy supply is therefore essential for people's lives and for the functioning of national economies. A prolonged blackout would be fatal for everyone!
Against this backdrop, the way in which the so-called energy transition has been and is being handled, particularly in Germany and some other countries, appears to be highly negligent.
There is no question that the existing structures must be questioned and, where possible, changed, optimised or replaced. What must be questioned, however, is the speed of the turnaround and the choice of energy sources presented as substitutes for all problems and called renewable energies, such as wind energy and biogas use.
The term renewable energy is a mirage, because energy cannot be renewed, but only transformed: For example, electricity from wind means that the flow energy of the wind is converted into electrical energy by slowing it down.
Both forms of energy have enormous ecological side effects, as will be explained in detail here. First, however, it should be clarified why the demand for energy is constantly increasing and how it is currently being met.
Population development:
Global energy demand is directly linked to technological development and population growth.
Industrial society has developed over the last 150 years. In the same period, the world's population has grown by a factor of 4-5, from just over 1.2-1.3 billion people to around 8 billion people now. Every second the number grows by around 2.6 people, which corresponds to an annual growth of around 80 million, or roughly the population of Germany.
Fossil energy sources:
The following graph shows the distribution of energy sources: 84.3 % of global primary energy use comes from fossil energy sources! Incidentally, the amount consumed in 2018 was around 584 exajoules or 162,352 terawatt hours (= 162,352,000,000,000 kWh).
Between the year 1990 and the year 2020, global primary energy consumption has increased by about 50%, from about 400 to about 600 exajoules! However, this is not yet reflected to the same extent in the CO2 content of the air.
So if we want to change something about the climate in the long term, we first have to pay attention to these figures, or rather facts. We disregard the natural CO2 emissions. If 85 % of primary energy consumption is due to fossil sources, then the next step is to find out where the main consumers are.
As can be seen from the following graph, the massive increase in primary energy consumption - i.e. the increase of 50 % in the last 30 years - took place mainly in Asia and only to a small extent in Europe.
Total energy consumption in Germany fluctuates around 2,500 TWh, which is only about 1.5% of world energy consumption.
The main consumers are industry and transport, each with around 30%. Private households follow with about 25% and trade, commerce and services account for 15%. The relatively constant values over about 30 years are interesting.
By strongly promoting the thermal use of thermal solar energy for hot water production, the consumption of fossil fuels could be reduced quickly and sustainably.