Let’s now recall what’s been happening recently. Last week’s seventh consecutive day of fuel price increases was reversed when Brent crude oil prices dropped by more than 10%. In an environment where we’re normally accustomed to constant increases, the price drop surprised everyone. Naturally, the increases continued.
The higher diesel price increase is attributed to high demand in global markets and the fact that Russia has the largest production refineries. Rising transportation and insurance costs, along with refineries’ increased profit margins, are contributing to the gasoline price increase.
The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources announced that Turkey will continue to purchase oil from Russia. Deputy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar expressed hope that the sanctions imposed on Iran will be lifted.
The Current Situation in Our Country
Bayraktar, reminding that Turkey imported 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Iran before the US reimposed sanctions against it in 2018, said, “We suddenly dropped to zero. We can’t have a supply problem with Russia this time either.” According to Bayraktar, it’s unlikely Turkey will be able to source the oil it buys from Russia from anywhere else. Turkey meets 45% of its natural gas demand, 17% of its oil, and 40% of its gasoline demand from Russia. In other words, we continue to buy increasing amounts of fossil fuels like gasoline, diesel, and natural gas from a country that declared war on our neighbor Ukraine under the guise of a blatant pretext, despite posing no threat to the country and causing the deaths of thousands. In a sense, we are continuing to increasingly finance the war.
What are other countries doing? The US recently announced a ban on oil, coal, and natural gas imports from Russia. The UK will also phase out its purchases of oil and petroleum products from Russia by the end of 2022. It is not yet known whether the EU will be involved in the decision. The EU imports approximately 40% of its natural gas and 30% of its oil from Russia.
The price of gasoline per gallon (3,785 L) in the US is at $4.173, the highest since 2000. In California, the most expensive region, drivers pay an average of $5.444 per gallon. This amount was $3.26 a year ago. In Los Angeles, where the price of gasoline exceeds $7 per gallon at some stations, the number of cyclists is increasing daily.
The Solution: Ending Fossil Fuel Consumption
So, how can we end the consumption of fossil fuels such as oil, diesel, natural gas, and coal in our country and globally? The answer is quite simple: By switching to 100% renewable energy, as developed countries have done. Is this possible? If the government demonstrates the will, it is quite possible. We can phase out fossil fuels and meet all our energy needs from renewable energy within three years at most. I’d like to share two articles I’ve written on this topic in the past:
The first is my article titled “Why Turkey Should Aim for 100% Renewable Energy?” in Turkish Policy Quarterly: http://turkishpolicy.com/article/632/why-turkey-should-aim-for-100-renewable-energy-summer-2013
The second is my blog post entitled, “The Reflection of the Global Energy Revolution on Turkey”: https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/dunyadaki-enerji-devriminin-turkiyeye-yansimalari
Steps of the Energy Revolution
In this article, I explained the main headings of the global energy revolution. Accordingly, the energy revolution is being implemented by taking the following steps:
1) Meeting 100% of energy needs from renewable energy
2) Using fossil fuels as raw materials
3) Minimizing energy consumption through energy efficiency
4) Making electricity the primary energy source to meet every need
5) Allowing everyone to produce their own energy and meet their own needs through distributed systems.
Solar-Electric and Hydrogen Vehicles
We’re also talking about the constant rise in fuel and gasoline prices due to the Russian crisis. If you’re wondering how we’re going to eliminate fossil fuels from vehicles, the answer is quite clear:
1) Solar-Electric Vehicles: Vehicles need to be solar-electric. Imagine all vehicles being converted to electric and having their exteriors covered with solar cells. This way, electricity will become the primary source of energy for vehicles, and these vehicles will generate their own electricity from the solar cells on their hoods while driving during the day.
2) Hydrogen Vehicles: Almost all vehicles can be solar-electric. Of course, a storage system will be essential here. Electricity storage is a crucial issue in itself. Some large vehicles, such as trucks, lorries, ships, and aircraft, can be converted to hydrogen hybrids beyond the battery system that stores electricity, or they can be marketed solely as hydrogen vehicles.
To establish a market for electric and hydrogen vehicles, the following steps must be taken:
1) Banning fossil fuel-powered vehicles
2) Ensuring that all new vehicles are marketed as solar-electric, solar-electric/hydrogen hybrid, or hydrogen vehicles
3) Opening and supporting battery production facilities
4) Launching and supporting a business to convert all vehicles on the market to electric vehicles
5) Launching and supporting a business to convert large vehicles on the market to hybrid or hydrogen vehicles
6) Ensuring the spread of charging stations across the country (homes, offices, shopping malls, gas stations, etc.)
7) Converting a highway lane into a wireless electric charging lane
Benefits of Quitting Fossil Fuels
If we can spread the use of solar-electric and hydrogen vehicles throughout the country and phase out fossil-fuel-powered vehicles—which is highly possible with governmental will—then we will end our dependence on fossil fuels. I would like to reemphasize the benefits of phasing out fossil fuels as an energy source:
1) If we reduce our carbon emissions to zero as a country, we will make a significant contribution to the fight against climate change for humanity.
2) Energy imports are causing significant harm to our economic order. If we eliminate energy imports by utilizing our own natural resources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy, we will instantly turn our current account deficit into a current account surplus. This would have a very positive impact on everyone in the country and increase the country’s prosperity.
That said, let me share the latest released current account deficit figures. The current account deficit increased by $5.34 billion in January compared to the same month in 2021, reaching $7.11 billion. This was the highest current account deficit since December 2017, and the 12-month current account deficit reached $20.22 billion. You can read the related news at https://www.bloomberght.com/cari-acik-4-yilin-zirvesine-cikti-2301250?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%F0%9F%92%8A+T%C3%BCkeniyoruz .
3) Everyone who owns a car, motorcycle, truck, tractor, trailer, boat—in short, a vehicle that uses fossil fuels—will experience significant relief. We will be free from the ever-increasing and increasingly pressing costs of fossil fuels like fuel, which are a burning hole in everyone’s pockets. This will have positive effects not only on the individual level, but also on all sectors. Imagine our farmers changing from the classic phrase “I can’t afford diesel fuel” to “These electric tractors are fantastic, our production costs have dropped significantly”… We will have solved a significant problem.
4) We will achieve energy independence as a country. In my opinion, this is a matter of national security. Being independent of any country for a basic need like energy will also guarantee our country’s sovereignty.
5) We will stop supporting countries like Russia, which use fossil fuel revenue to underdevelop and crimes against humanity, such as strengthening their armies and ultimately invading other countries.
In conclusion, I’d like to address the relevant authorities: Regardless of your perspective, abandoning fossil fuels and establishing a system based on 100% renewable energy is a vital issue for our country, our nation, and all of humanity, and we must make this transition as soon as possible.
Note: While writing this article, I used the Kapsül Daily Bulletin for key news. I thank everyone who contributed.
Tag: lifestyle, energy, ecology
