green-engineering-climate-change-innovation

The evolution to the use of cleaner, “greener” energy sources worldwide isn’t a matter of if, but when.

It’s reported that the year 2030 will see a nearly ten-fold increase in the number of electric vehicles on the road relative to current levels. The presence of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology will generate a significantly greater share of electricity than it does today. Another prediction is the sale of electric heat pumps will overtake fossil fuel-consuming boilers for the first time. Plus, 2030 could see three times more investment in offshore wind turbines than conventional coal- and gas-fired power plants.

All of this green activity will result in a significant rise in the global share of electricity generated by renewable sources, a number which currently stands at 29-30% but could nearly double to roughly 50% in the next five years, according to the 2023 World Energy Outlook. 

A Historic Transition

Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas are major contributors to global climate change. As explained in a short informative video from the Museum of Science, Boston, data reveals that since the 1960s, atmospheric CO2 has increased 100 times faster in the past 60 years than in all previous natural increases.

By contrast, green/renewable energy generated by naturally replenishable sources emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the atmosphere. (These sources include the sun, wind, water, waste, and the Earth’s own heat.)

Based on the abundance and accessibility of green energy sources globally, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) believes that 90% of the world’s electricity could be generated by renewable energy by 2050. Among its many benefits, green energy is a less-expensive source than fossil fuel-generated electricity. With World Health Organization studies attributing over 13 million deaths globally to air pollution and other environmental hazards each year, green energy is also a far safer and healthier source. According to industry experts, the growth of renewable energy will also drive a wealth of employment opportunities. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that the coming decade will create more than 30 million jobs to support the design and manufacture of green, low-emission, renewable technologies in the coming decade. This figure would significantly offset the five million jobs that may be lost within the waning field of fossil fuel production.

Green Energy Advancements Abound

A wide variety of innovative technologies are helping usher in a new day in the green energy landscape. These include ongoing advancements in solar power and battery energy storage (BESS), developments in the growing field of windmills and wind turbines, and the emergence of smart grid technologies that enable intelligent and efficient two-way monitoring of energy transmission, consumption, distribution, and maintenance.

Additionally, green radio techniques are boosting efficiency and reducing the power consumption associated with modern wireless cellular networks.

A new class of power semiconductors are supporting the drive trains that deliver power from a vehicle’s engine to its wheels in the growing population of electric vehicles.

Furthermore, across many other industries, artificial intelligence (AI) has been identified as “an enabler of cleaner energy deployment.” For example, AI can analyze trends in big data to improve energy output at the generating level, make strategic decisions regarding electric grid planning, and efficiently manufacture the semiconductors that power many green technologies, including autonomous and electric vehicles, mobile phones, laptops, LEDs, and more.

Leading the Way in Green Engineering eLearning

Let IEEE help inform your understanding of climate change and green engineering. The microlearning course, Engineering Solutions for a Sustainable Future, is a great way to get started!

It covers a broad range of timely and critical climate change-related topics, such as intelligent urban networks that can reduce congestion, V2G solutions for distribution system reliability, and hybrid home energy management systems for emission reduction. Other green innovations covered in the course include sustainable Internet of Things (IoT) device development solutions, optimum energy-efficient data center policies for climate control, optimized resource scheduling based on export rates, battery swapping stations for electric vehicles, and more. The course’s informative and highly accessible 7- to 10-minute modules provide learners with a solid overview of the many pressing engineering and sustainability challenges as well as the innovative solutions making headlines in today’s green energy arena.

As a globally recognized organization that plays a significant role in shaping the fields of electrical engineering, electronics, and computer science, IEEE is committed to help combat, mitigate effects of, and adapt to climate change through the coordination and education of engineers, scientists, and technical professionals. In an effort to address growing concerns about climate change and its impact on various industries, IEEE offers eLearning specifically focused on climate change.

Additional IEEE Climate Change eLearning Courses

As a globally recognized professional organization playing a significant role in shaping the fields of electrical engineering, electronics, and computer science, IEEE offers a wide variety of eLearning courses related to climate change. Available courses include:

Interested in accessing these courses for your organization? Contact an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn about the IEEE eLearning Library.

 

Resources:

(24 October 2023). The Energy World is Set to Change Significantly by 2030, Based on Today’s Policy Settings Alone. International Energy Agency.

Renewable Energy – Powering a Safer Future. United Nations.

Climate Change. IEEE TryEngineering.

(16 March 2021). Fast-Track Energy Transitions to Win the Race to Zero. International Renewable Energy Agency.

Sinha, Sumant. (26 February 2024). AI Can Power The Green Energy Transition. Forbes.

climate-change-engineering-solutions

Climate change, the long-term shift in temperature and average weather patterns, is a huge societal concern. Extreme precipitation, wildfires, and droughts, as well as shifts in temperature, wind patterns, and rising sea levels are all recently observed examples of climate change. While temperatures can be altered naturally by the sun or volcanic activity, today’s climate change crisis has mainly been caused by human activity. 

Major sectors such as energy, transport, and buildings, burn fossil fuels exponentially. By producing greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide and methane, they are contributing to global warming.

The Importance of Climate Change

Climate change affects regions in different ways. Rising sea levels have already forced some communities to relocate. Others are in fear of food shortages due to droughts. In order to maintain a livable climate, the average annual global temperature increase can be no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (34.7 degrees Fahrenheit). While there are solutions that could help achieve this goal, countries need to prioritize their deployment.

Cutting emissions, adapting to climate impacts, and financing the required adjustments are three broad categories of action. When it comes to lowering emissions, divesting from fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy is often explored first. Popular choices include solar and wind power. However, using solar or wind energy can be expensive and impractical in some circumstances, which leaves room for new innovation in the space. Engineers and technologists have the ability to create climate change engineering solutions and tools that address environmental degradation, playing major roles in creating a greener planet.

Benefits of IEEE Climate Change eLearning Course Programs 

As a globally recognized organization that plays a significant role in shaping the fields of electrical engineering, electronics, and computer science, IEEE is committed to help combat, mitigate effects of, and adapt to climate change through the coordination and education of engineers, scientists, and technical professionals. In an effort to address growing concerns about climate change and its impact on various industries, IEEE offers eLearning specifically focused on climate change.

These eLearning courses hold significant importance for several reasons:

  • Awareness and Understanding: eLearning courses raise awareness about the importance of addressing climate change while equipping participants with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions.
  • Integration of Climate Considerations: Climate change has far-reaching implications for technology development and deployment. Our eLearning courses emphasize the integration of climate considerations into engineering practices and technological solutions.
  • Technological Innovation: Climate change presents a pressing challenge that requires innovative solutions. IEEE eLearning courses highlight the opportunities for technological innovation in mitigating and adapting to climate change. By fostering creativity and knowledge exchange, the courses seek to inspire professionals to develop new technologies, systems, and policies that can address climate change effectively.
  • Professional Development: Hundreds of select IEEE eLearning courses offer professional development credit upon completion. The courses also provide valuable insights into emerging trends, best practices, and evolving standards in the field of climate change mitigation and adaptation. This knowledge can empower professionals to contribute effectively to projects, research, and policies related to climate change.
  • Global Perspective: Climate change is a worldwide issue that requires extensive collaboration. As a global organization, IEEE eLearning courses allow learners to gain insights into climate change challenges faced by different regions and countries, as well as facilitate cross-cultural understanding and collaboration in addressing this problem.

By equipping professionals and students with the necessary knowledge and skills, these courses contribute to addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change in the fields of engineering, electronics, and computer science.

To learn more about IEEE climate change resources, please visit climate-change.ieee.org.

Resources:

Climate Change. IEEE.

What Is Climate Change? United Nations.

(9 August 2021). Climate change widespread, rapid, and intensifying. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Global Warming vs. Climate Change. NASA.

Murgusean, San. (21 April 2022). How Engineers Can Help Protect Earth From Worsening Climate Change. IEEE Spectrum.