Page 41 - Turning digital technology innovation into climate action

Turning digital technology innovation into climate action

Figure 10: Smart grid in South Africa Chapter 4

However, the efficacy of renewable energy in mitigating climate change must be monitored and
studied, as some preliminary findings suggest that not all renewable energy may be as ‘clean” as has
been hoped (although they are certainly cleaner than fossil fuels). This is partly due to the carbon
cost and emissions related to the manufacture, transportation, installation and even maintenance of
renewable energy infrastructure. In addition, the carbon footprint of ICT goods and services depends
in large part on how and where energy is generated, and whether power is generated from fossil fuels
or renewable energy sources. According to the French Intergovernmental Expert Group on Climate
Change (GIEC) and figures quoted by the French Society of Nuclear Energy (SFEN) (which consists
of industry professionals), carbon-fuelled power stations emit 820g equivalent of CO e per kWh of
2
energy, gas-fired power stations emit 490g equivalent of CO eper kWh– followed by photovoltaic
2
emitting 41g, hydraulic energy emitting 24g, nuclear power stations emitting 12g and wind-powered
stations emitting 11g CO e per kWh of energy.
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This is reflected in the following Figure 11, which illustrates the National Carbon Intensity of Power
Industry Production in Europe in 2018.

26 Anne Brigaudeau. ‘Climat: faut-il sortir du nucléaire pour sauver la planète ? Sept arguments pour comprendre le
débat’, 9 Jul. 2019, https:// www .francetvinfo .fr/ societe/ nucleaire/ climat -faut -il -sortir -du -nucleaire -pour -sauver -la
-planete -sept -arguments -pour -comprendre -le -debat _3504835 .html.

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