This game was played one evening at the Thurles conference by several dozen of
the participants. It proved very popular. Players remarked afterwards that it had
made them think about the choices involved in planning a country's energy future
This version of the Energy Challenge aims to
get the players to look in a light-hearted way at
possible energy balances for a hypothetical
future when the Republic of Ireland is powered
by 100% renewable energy. Whilst it is not
meant to be technical or detailed (for example it
does not ask them to go into issues of power or
to carry out an economic assessment), it
demonstrates a process which may need to be
carried out "for real" sooner than we think.
It is a team game and part of the exercise is for
the players to co-operate and agree on each
issue. If they need help with any aspect of the
exercise there will be a facilitator on hand to
answer their questions. The challenge to each
team is to place on the wall a poster it is proud
of that depicts how its 100% renewable energy
solution would work.
Your team's aim is to produce a renewable energy
scenario for the Republic of Ireland, based
on an assumption that ALL energy must come
from renewable resources. You must produce a
poster that details your scenario and these will
later be put on display. You may wish to go
through your sheet personally in advance of the
programmed exercise, calculating some numbers
and filling them in pencil, ready to discuss
with your team.
1. Plan the use of your time and which member
of the team is going to carry out which
task. You may wish to identify an "artist" to
make an early start on the presentation. You
could also appoint a "recorder" to jot down your
ideas and assumptions and a "calculating officer"
to do the sums. However everyone is
encouraged to participate in the formulation of
the final scenario.
2. Go through the exercise sheet filling in the
boxes as you go. You can do this individually
and then discuss your results and fill in a team
sheet, or you can go straight for the team sheet.
At the end of this you will have decided how
much energy the Republic of Ireland will use
and how it will be generated. This isn't just
about developing enough renewable energy to
meet the energy demands of today. Energy efficiency
and energy conservation can be utilised
to reduce the actual amount of energy that is
required. Come up with some ideas and figures,
but don't be too serious!
3. Market your scenario. Be dramatic! Be positive!
Make your posters outstanding, inspired
and eye-catching!
Look at the current land use and population statistics
for the Republic of Ireland and then
decide what the values will become in your
future scenario.
HOW TO PLAY
STEPS IN THE EXERCISE
HINTS, TIPS AND RULES
LAND USE STATISTICS
Energy is currently delivered to the consumer as (figures in TWh/yr):
The current energy split between the following sectors is (figures in TWh/yr):
Now plan the demand in your future scenario. Think about satisfying energy; don't worry about power.
Our team's future energy split between the following sectors will be (figures in TWh/yr):
Which renewable energy technologies will your scenario employ? If you feel that the Republic of Ireland can produce more energy than it needs, you could export the surplus. Go through quickly to get a feeling for the possibilities, then your team needs to agree a figure for each white box.
Now put your totals for each kind of energy into the table below. If your figures do not add up you will have to go back and reassess the demand, production or imports/exports accordingly.
The Energy Challenge was devised by Energy 21 (www.energy21.org.uk).
Energy 21 can provide facilitators and background data.
This is one of almost 50
chapters and articles in the 336-page large format book, Before the Wells
Run Dry. Copies of the book are available for £9.95 from Green Books. Continue to Hail...and Farewell
