Assignment Coversheet

Name of the student Rakshya Acharya

Class NAVITAS Academic English 3 (AE3)

Name of the teacher Sioban Kearns

Title of assignment Literature Survey

Due Date 30/04/2018, 8:00 am

Student’s signature: Rakshya Acharya Date of submission: 29/04/18

RakshyaAcharya_Literature_Survey_Sioban Word Count=1982 1

Abstract

This literature survey analyses two research articles. Both articles focus on the need to promote

renewable energy in Asia. Firstly, the literature survey provides a brief summary of the central

ideas of each article. Then, both articles are compared in regards to the contents, which indicate

that they share some similarities regarding increasing usage of fossil fuels and advantages of

renewable energy in spite of the fact that they have different views regarding solutions. Finally,

both papers are evaluated based on their academic quality and their significance for further

research on similar topics. It is concluded that both of the papers have good academic quality.

However, paper 2 is more useful for future research as it presents in-depth technical analysis and

views the problem in a global perspective.

Introduction

The main aim of this survey is to review two research articles in order to evaluate their usefulness

for secondary research regarding promotion of renewable energy in order to meet the increasing

energy demand in Asia. The papers under consideration are: Paper 1- Renewable energy diffusion

in Asia: Can it Happen Without Government Support? by H.B. Dulal, K.U. Shah, C. Sapkota, G.

Uma and B. Kandel; Paper 2- The Future Renewables Linked by a Transnational Asian Grid by S.

Taggart, G. James, Z. Dong and C. Russel.

Both papers address the issue of the rising energy demand in Asia. Due to continuous economic

and population growth, there has been a rapid rise in energy demand in Asian countries. If the

future electricity demand is met by fossil fuels only, then it would result in excessively high

emission of greenhouse gases. Hence, both papers state the need to promote renewable energy

resources in order to reduce the usage of fossil fuels. In this regard, Paper 1 highlights the need

for government support to increase the utilization of renewable energy. On the other hand, Paper

2 suggested a Pan-Asian energy infrastructure that can interconnect generated renewable energy

like solar energy and wind energy between Asia and Australia.

Paper One

This paper focuses on the need for government support in diffusing renewable energy, which is

necessary to meet the growing energy demand in Asia. First, the paper provides information and

statistics on the growing demand for energy across Asian countries. Then, it states that most of

RakshyaAcharya_Literature_Survey_Sioban Word Count=1982 2

the demand is being met through non-renewable fossil fuels. If this continues, it will result public

health and environment cost burden to governments in the near future. Hence, the necessity to

promote renewable energy is expressed. The barriers to renewable energy diffusion are identified

and need for government support to tackle these barriers are explained. Finally, effective

strategies through which government can support the distribution of renewable energies are

suggested.

In the introduction section, the authors state that there has been a significant increase in energy

demand, especially in Asia, due to continuous population growth. Increase in energy demand is an

important issue because most of the supplies at present are made by fossil fuels that are a major

source of (GHG) emissions.

The following section provides an outlook on energy demand in different countries, such as China,

India, Bangladesh, and the dependency on fossil fuels to meet this demand. It has been stated

that only some mountainous countries generally depend on hydropower, while most other

countries with fast-growing economies are attracted exploit carbon fuels, which will generate

electricity quickly and cheaply.

The third section articulates the adverse effects of continuing the usage of fossil fuels in order to

meet the future demand. Increase in utilization of fossil fuels will increase carbon emissions, which

has negative effects. These effects range from increased cost of public health care to increased

cost of managing climate change. Hence, the reliance on fossil fuels is disadvantageous to the

economic growth of Asian Countries.

The next section presents initiatives taken by countries like Japan, Korea, China, India, Malaysia

and Thailand on sourcing renewable energy in order to progressively replace energy supply that

comes from fossil fuels. It has also been argued that the policy frameworks relating to the

renewable energy are inadequate. As a result, the renewable sources are not exploited to their

fullest potential, and the distribution of renewable energy has been very limited.

The authors identify the barriers that are obstructing the development of renewable energy

technologies (RETs) and inhibiting the countries to move into a lower emission pathway. Various

market, economic, institutional, technical and socio-cultural barriers contributing to

underutilization of renewable energy were explained.

RakshyaAcharya_Literature_Survey_Sioban Word Count=1982 3

The subsequent section expresses the need for government support in order to overcome these

barriers because the markets alone will not be able to overcome these barriers. To this point,

there has not been much work from the government end, due to which, only 20-25% of the total

renewable energy potential has been realised in almost three decades. Hence, government

interventions are required to support the advancement of renewable energy, especially in poor

countries like Afganistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

In next section, the authors suggest effective models which can be implemented by the

government in their respective countries to support the widespread diffusion of renewable energy.

These models are (i) fiscal incentives for RETs, (ii) institutional strengthening, (iii) institutional

investment, (iv) renewable energy certificates, and (v) cross-subsidization. These strategies are

aimed at increasing government support to the private sector, subsidizing the cost of generation

for the market, and subsidizing the cost of electricity to make it more affordable to consumers.

Finally, the authors again highlight the role of government in addressing issues and problems of

private sectors, while being mindful of the changing energy needs of consumers and their ability to

afford the renewable energy.

Paper Two

The main issue addressed in this paper is the increasing reliance on fossil fuels in Asian countries.

The dependency on fossil fuels is mainly caused by increasing population and economic

development. The major effects of this much dependency on fossil fuels include the increase in

greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. In order to minimize these effects, the authors

propose the idea of a large multinational electrical connection between China and Australia and

their concept is similar to an initiative in Europe called European DESERTEC industrial initiative

(DII). This connection will bring renewable energy sources scattered in different countries like

China, Mongolia, Vietnam and Australia together and decrease the overall use of fossil fuels.

The authors state that Asia currently emits one-third of the global greenhouse gases, and the

amount of greenhouse gases will expand in future without mitigation efforts. They also state that

there is abundant wind energy in China and Mongolia and solar energy in Australia. They study

world’s three largest renewable energy resources which are solar, wind and ocean energy and

RakshyaAcharya_Literature_Survey_Sioban Word Count=1982 4

decided to consider only solar and wind energy. They estimate the output of generation from these

two energy sources.

In the next section, the author’s state that Australia’s solar energy potential is large enough to

meet Asia entire electricity, and China’s wind energy can easily meet China’s electricity needs.

Hence, the authors seek an approach to deliver these potential energies into the market. They

state the answer to this question is difficult but possible. Asia’s geography offers two types of

electrical connection between China and Australia, one by land and another by sea, and it will

connect many countries in between. This large electrical connection is called Pan-Asian Grid. Many

benefits of this grid were found. First, it will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by reducing

the usage of fossil fuels. If renewable energy can supply main power in Pan-Asian countries then

coal and hydropower can be used as backup energy and used to meet seasonal energy demands.

This backup energy can also be used during natural disasters like earthquake and tsunami in

Japan.

The following section presents a simulation study done to examine the cost effectiveness of

interconnected Asian energy market. The generation of renewable energy in future is calculated

based on the global climate data for 2010. The authors study the transmission flow and market

behaviour for a full year. They conclude that the Pan Asian network will result in the reduction of

total emission costs.

The authors examine some obstacles that can obstruct the construction of Pan-Asian energy

Infrastructure. One of them is earthquake-prone regions in the oceans. However, the authors think

that this obstacle can be avoided after careful study because natural gas pipelines were used in

other places in the world in similar conditions. The other obstacles are transmission line losses,

need to new regulations, and dependence upon a central infrastructure as mentioned by the

authors. They also examined costs related to this project and concluded that a deeper analysis of

all costs is necessary.

Finally, the authors conclude that interconnection of different Asian countries through large energy

network will result in positive and long-term economic and environmental outcomes.

RakshyaAcharya_Literature_Survey_Sioban Word Count=1982 5

Comparison

These two papers deal with some similar issues while they share many thematic differences. In

general, both papers address the issue related to increasing usage of fossil fuels in Asia. However,

they share differences in regards to the approach they suggest to promote renewable energy in

order to minimize the usage of fossil fuels.

The most striking similarity between these two papers is they address the issues related to the

increasing energy demand in Asia. Firstly, the authors of both papers study the energy supply and

demand in Asia. They establish that if current trend of energy generation is continued to meet the

future demand, there will be excessively high emission of greenhouse gases. Secondly, both

papers argue that renewable energy sources should be exploited to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

Thirdly, the authors of both papers state that huge amount of investment is needed to replace

most of the electricity generation by renewable energy.

The major difference between these two papers is in the approach they consider to promote

renewable energy in Asian countries. First, Paper one stresses on the need for government support

to develop renewable energy infrastructures especially in poor Asian countries such as Nepal and

Maldives. Alternatively, the second paper proposes the development of energy infrastructure that

interconnects renewable energy sources between countries of Asia and Australia. Second, the first

paper suggested some practical models for strategic government interventions. However, the

effectiveness of these models is not analysed. On the other hand, the Pan-Asian energy

infrastructure proposed by the second paper is supported by preceding initiatives in Europe and

simulations conducted based on software models. Hence, the approach mentioned in Paper two is

more convincing compared to Paper one.

Evaluation

Both papers under consideration are peer-reviewed and they appear in highly respected journals.

Hence, both of them are reliable and authentic research papers. The first paper was published in

2013, and the second paper was published in 2012, therefore, they are reasonably up-to-date.

Overall, their accuracy and currency can be trusted. Regarding authority, the authors of both

papers are highly qualified and they are from reputed organizations. Both of these papers present

extensive reference list and they have been cited multiple times by other research papers.

Furthermore, the authors share a significant number of publications between them. The authors of

RakshyaAcharya_Literature_Survey_Sioban Word Count=1982 6

both papers have provided their contact information, and no biased information is given in the

paper. As a result, they have met the case for objectivity. In terms of clarity, the first paper has

less technical language and it is easier to read. By contrast, the second paper is comparatively

difficult to read and understand as it presents an in-depth technical analysis of their approach.

Lastly, in relation to coverage, the second paper is much more comprehensive than the first one

because it studies the issue of increasing energy demand from a global viewpoint. In contrast to

recommendations provided in paper one, the recommendations of paper two are backed by

simulation results. Hence, the second paper presents itself as more useful information for future

research.

RakshyaAcharya_Literature_Survey_Sioban Word Count=1982 7

References

Dulal, H. B., Shah, K. U., Sapkota, C., Uma, G., & Kandel, B. R. (2013). Renewable energy

diffusion in Asia: Can it happen without government support? Energy Policy, 59(C), 301-

311. Retrieved from,

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421513002188

Taggart, S., James, G., Dong, Z., & Russell, C. (2012). The Future of Renewables Linked by a

Transnational Asian Grid. Proceedings of the IEEE, 100(2), 348-359. Retrieved from,

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c7be/ee6c0f609743f57966ca4364ad7b8b8be262.pdf

RakshyaAcharya_Literature_Survey_Sioban Word Count=1982 8