‘Tackling the trilemma requires world-class energy research and leadership’ says Scotland’s Energy Academy chief

The ‘energy trilemma is the perfect policy storm’ at the heart of which lies the food-water-energy nexus facing a world population predicted to top 8 billion by 2030 and who will require 50% more energy, 50% more food and 30% more fresh water than presently supplied.

This trilemma was summed up yesterday at Heriot Watt University’s first energy ‘showcase’ by Prof Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Director of the university’s Energy Academy (pictured above).

And the shape of the ‘trilemma’ – security of supply, reducing C02 emissions and minimising costs/ prices – is different for different countries and different economies, she added.

Prof. Maroto-Valer said that part of the solution to this trilemma lay in a number of energy technology options comprising: 

1. Improve energy efficiency
2. Reduce C02 emissions / increase renewable and hydrogen-based energy, and
3. Carbon capture and storage

 She added: “Energy research is a core activity at Heriot Watt University and our interaction with the international agenda of climate-change, security and sustainability has informed our ‘big picture’ vision.

 “Notwithstanding the precise nature of the technological options open to us, all options must meet the economic, energy and environmental objectives.

“For example, a 50% reduction in global C02 emissions could entail building 80 carbon-capture storage plants ever year from 2030 – and our strategy at the Energy Academy is to provide enabling tools for world-class energy research and leadership”.