Sustainability Of Renewable Sources Of Energy In Australia

Sustainability in Australia

Discuss about the Sustainability of Renewable Sources of Energy in Australia.

Sustainability is composed of two words, “sustain” and “ability”. Combination of the two highlights the ability of the companies and organizations to preserve the resources for the fulfillment of the needs of the future generation. Delving deep into the inner essence of the term sustainability, it bestows the future generation with quality products for the fulfillment of their basic needs (Mowforth and Munt 2015 p.56).

The major drive behind this is the judicious utilization of the organizational resources by the personnel. Conscious approach towards the regulation of waste emission is itself an agent for the achievement of sustainable growth, which enhances the reputation of the companies and organizations.

This essay attempts to speculate the measures adopted by the companies and organizations to achieve sustainable growth. Herein, the reference of Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd proves appropriate (Cfcl.com.au 2017). This is in terms of establishing relevancy with the requirements of the essay. The in-depth discussion of the aspects of sustainability in the essay format enhances the preconceived knowledge of the readers regarding the preservation of the ecological biodiversity.    

Renewable sources of energy play an important part in preserving the ecological diversity. Considering it a wicked problem reflects a different mentality, which contradicts the prefix “renew” in the type of the energy (Markard, Raven and Truffer 2012 p.960). This contradiction negates the approach towards the preservation of the ecological biodiversity, which acts as a deviation from the requirements of the essay. Countering this, exposure of consciousness towards preservation of the greenery in the environmental ambience establishes relevancy with the propositions of the essay. Recycling of the waste products can be correlated with the phrase “renewable”, which acts as a typical example of this consciousness (Moldan, Janoušková and Hák 2012 p.11). Attachment of the concept of sustainability in this context, establishment of the fact regarding recycling of the waste materials adds value to the functionality of the Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd. The reference to an organization enhances the clarity of the readers towards understanding the ways and means through which the sources of energy is reused for providing innovative products to the public domain (McKinno et al., 2015, p.123). Herein, lays the appropriateness of the subsequent paragraphs, which perceives sustainability from the social, economic and environmental parameters.

Sustainability refers to the endurance of processes and systems. Sustainability is a socio-ecological and economic process with a pursuit of common ideal. An ideal is usually unattainable in a given space and time. However, a sustainable system is achieved by dynamically and persistently approaching it (Wang et al., 2015 p.1631). In ecology, the healthy forests and wetlands are examples of a sustainable biological system. A healthy environment is very necessary for the survival of humans and other species, which is a major challenge. Sustainability is also a social challenge which includes national and international laws, ethical consumerism, urban planning and the changing lifestyle (Epstein and Buhovac 2014 p.234).  Environmental degradation, population growth, climatic changes and unlimited growth of economy in a closed system has questioned the importance of sustainability.

The three pillars of Sustainability

The economy, society and the environment form the three pillars of sustainability. These three pillars are interdependent on each other and none of them can exist without the others. Sustainable development can be achieved only by balancing the efforts to meet the human needs without harming or degrading the environment (Terrapon et al., 2014 p.4). Respect for nature, economic justice, universal human rights and a culture of peace for the base of a sustainable global society. However, humans neglect the importance of a sustainable environment and emphasize more on personal gains. Here arises the importance of systems thinking in developing solutions to tackle these sustainability challenges. Systems thinking are an approach to problem solving that balances the holistic and the reductionist thinking. The system thinking examines the linkages and interactions between the various elements that compose to form the entire system (Twidell and Weir, 2015 p.345). It acknowledges the fact that an improvement in one area can have an adverse effect on the other area in the system. Therefore, it promotes communication at all levels of organization in order to avoid the silo effect. System thinking techniques are very useful in studying any kind of system such as biological, social, economical, scientific and conceptual system (Suberu, Mustafa and Bashir 2014 p.500).

The basic environmental problem for the future of humanity is the anthropogenic change in the climate. There has been a massive change in the global environment with the advent of industrial revolution. Human activities have immensely affected the environment since ages. Humans completely rely on nature for raw materials, food and shelter; however, they ignore the fact that they are also a part of the nature (Bhandari et al., 2014 p.234). The Earth is experiencing a massive change in the global environment, which is complex and has various causes. With the advent of industrial revolution in 1850’s, the impact of humans on the environment became massive. This was explained by a new term- the Anthropocene, which explained the extent, duration and magnitude of such impacts on the environment (The Conversation 2014). The various environmental issues caused were land degradation, deforestation, soil erosion, decline in the availability of fresh water and fish stocks, excessive wastes generation, air pollution, depletion of non-renewable sources of energy, pollution from toxins and many more. One example of environmental problem is the “Not in my backyard” attitude (Parliament of Australia 2017). This attitude is observed when humans derive benefits and profits from the nature but refuse to take the responsibility to address the damage caused to the environment by them. This problem is mostly observed in case of oil exploring and refining business wherein excessive oil is extracted from the natural oil refineries but no one is interested in building an oil refinery in the neighborhood. Due to such issues, it becomes necessary for Government and businesses to take active participation in solving these issues (Australian Government 2017). Formation of various institutions by the Government for preserving the environment becomes necessary. It also becomes necessary for the businesses to perform their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by helping in the removal of poverty and neutralizing the negative impacts of globalization and industrialization on the environment as it is the environment that will give them the opportunity to earn profits (Pan et al., 2015).

Systems thinking in developing solutions to tackle sustainability challenges

Economic growth refers to the increase in the production of goods and services as a result of increase in consumption that leads to economic development. The major challenge is to achieve economic growth and development while maintaining sustainable environment. Humans extract raw materials from the nature in the form of food and fuel, which is further processed and sold to earn profits and these processes generate wastes and other emissions that are harmful for the environment (Larcher and Tarascon 2015). The combination of natural capital, financial capital, manufactured capital and human capital helps in production of goods and services in the economy. However, unlimited growth of the economy is not possible due to the presence of limited non-renewable resources and the limited capacity of the nature to absorb pollution from industrial activities. Here, the system thinking is required in the form of social, informational and institutional mechanisms in order to keep a check on the overshoot and collapse in the economy (Pan et al., 2015). One of the solutions to prevent this is the decoupling of economic growth and use of resources. An economy is required to have a sustainable GDP growth without harming the environment. For example, the use of CNG in automobiles can help in maintaining profits along with reduction in air pollution.

Social sustainability involves all the activities of humans. Social sustainability occurs when all the formal and informal processes, structures, systems and relationships support the current and the future generations to create a livable society. A society is said to be sustainable when there are equal opportunities for everyone and the basic needs of every individual are met. Such a society encourages diversity and is interconnected within and outside the community (Parliament of Australia 2017). Such a society has a proper accountable governance structure. Focus on social capital formation is important for sustainability and a social agency is important to mobilize the social capital. A social market is regulated by the social values, norms and the government. Social framing of the economy helps in attaining a sustainable society. For attaining a sustainable society, it becomes very necessary to socially include every individual by providing him job, access to services, social connection and having their voice heard. 

Putting a critical reflective vision to the highlighted parameters, all the parameters are interlinked with each other. The social and economic parameter can be conjoined, which enhances the corporate social responsibility of the companies and organizations including Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd (Cfcl.com.au 2017). Adopting innovative means for recycling the waste products helps the company to mitigate the pollution level, which regulates the health hazards of the public domain. Effective and judicious utilization of technologically advanced machines helps the company to provide quality renewable sources of energy to the public. This highlights the environmental parameter. Minute speculations of the revealing result in equal alignment of the three parameters in an equal alignment.

The Anthropocene and environmental issues

Counter arguing this, the environmental parameter includes the social and economic parameter. Herein, lays the appropriateness of the example of the utilization of environment friendly materials for the production of quality fuel cells, which can be renewed and reused. The aspects of renewable and re-utilization broadens the perspectives of the essay as well as the scope and arena of the company in terms of attaining sustainable growth (Parliament of Australia 2017). Delving deep into the intensity of the earlier sentence, the prefix “re” is common between the aspects of renewal and re-utilization. Viewing it from the perspective of the company, Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, the prefix “re” energizes the company to reutilize the resources in a judicious way. Perceiving it from a critical perspective, the prefix “re” instigates the companies like Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd to make effective utilization of the organizational resources. This brings sustainability growth for the companies including the Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd (Cfcl.com.au 2017).

Incapability to make judicious utilization of the resources aggravates the pollution levels, which increases the intensity of the health hazards for the public domain. Exposure of negligent attitude in overcoming the challenges stalls the growth process for the companies and organizations in terms of sustainability. On the contrary, adoption of technologically advanced machines for regulating the waste and smoke emission reflects the ability of the companies and organizations to sustain the resources for the future generation (Suberu, Mustafa and Bashir 2014 p.512). Herein, lays the symbolic signification of the attribute of sustainability.

Viewing it from other perspectives, sustainability inculcates the skill of saving among the personnel of the company, Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd. Effective utilization of this skill proves beneficial for the personnel to complete every operations in an efficient and effective manner. Emerging failures in preserving the resources for the future needs compels the personnel to witness an empty stock, which delays the completion of the tasks (Twidell and Weir 2015 p.435). Herein, lays the effectiveness of the systems, which compel the personnel to put on thinking caps for the betterment of the situation.

The aspect of thinking cap provides an opportunity to the employees to evaluate their exposed performance in terms of the organizational goals and objectives. Viewing it from the other perspective, thinking caps enhances the individuality of the personnel, which is a gradual progression towards the attainment of professionalism. Emerging successful in evaluating the self exposed performance itself results in the outpour of better performance. This perspective guarantees success in terms of achieving sustainable growth (Terrapon et al., 2014 p.9). However, running after the earning profit contradicts the true essence of sustainability. On the contrary, envisioning the wellbeing of the public domain, acts as an agent in enhancing the reputational status of the company. Herein, lays the inner essence of the aspect of corporate social responsibility.

Corporate Social Responsibility

This essay emerges successful in providing an insight into the aspect of sustainability. Interplay with the words might distort the integrated structure of the attribute; however, it aligns with the experimental abilities of the companies and organizations to attain sustainable growth. The critical approach towards the essay highlights the main fact of judicious utilization of the resources, which bestows adequate resources on the future generation for the fulfillment of their needs. The reference of Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd enhances the clarity of the essay, which makes the issue clear to the readers. As a final touch, the essay takes the stand on ensuring the wellbeing of the public domain, which adds to the aspect of sustainability.

References

Australian Government, 2017, “Solar Energy”, viewed 7^th April 2017 <https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BriefingBook44p/EnergyResources>

Bhandari, B., Lee, K.T., Lee, C.S., Song, C.K., Maskey, R.K. and Ahn, S.H., 2014. A novel off-grid hybrid power system comprised of solar photovoltaic, wind, and hydro energy sources. Applied Energy, 133, pp.236-242.

Cfcl.com.au, 2017, “About Us”, Viewed 7^th April 2017 <https://www.cfcl.com.au/>

Epstein, M.J. and Buhovac, A.R., 2014. Making sustainability work: Best practices in managing and measuring corporate social, environmental, and economic impacts. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Larcher, D. and Tarascon, J.M., 2015. Towards greener and more sustainable batteries for electrical energy storage. Nature chemistry, 7(1), pp.19-29.

Markard, J., Raven, R. and Truffer, B., 2012. Sustainability transitions: An emerging field of research and its prospects. Research Policy, 41(6), pp.955-967.

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Parliament of Australia, 2017, “Australian energy resources”, viewed 7^Th April 2017 <https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/energy/resources/other-renewable-energy-resources/solar-energy>

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The Conversation, 2014, “Renewable Energy is ready to supply all of Australia’s electricity”, July 21, 2014 viewed 7^th April 2017 <https://theconversation.com/renewable-energy-is-ready-to-supply-all-of-australias-electricity-29200>

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