According to India's Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, there's enough in the world for everone's need but not enough for everyone's greed.
Inspite of the fast paced development of numerous economies world over, both in terms of GDP as well as human development Index measures, the distribution of benefits of development have been very uneven, with income disparities remaining persistent and sometimes increasing over time. The no. of extremely poor and the no. of mal-nourished people across the globe have remained high even in the wake of persistent efforts by United Nations,NGOs and other bodies worldover. In some areas these numbers have even increased, despite the global middle class achieving relative affluence.
Also, there have been major negative impacts of development on the environment and on
existing social structures. Many traditional societies have been devastated by
removal of forests, development of fresh/potable water systems, and intensive fisheries. There has been an unbalanced development in the developing nations with urban areas commonly suffering from inadequate transportation, water, sewer and medical infrastructure.The manifold increase in vehicular population in these areas has added air pollution to their list of woes. To complicate further, the industrialized economies have contributed their share of air pollution as well creating a situation where the layers of atmosphere around us have been critically impacted creating the slow but eventually devastating phenomenon of Global Warming.
Issues such as these cannot be brushed aside any longer. We have reached a stage where the effects are beginning to appear and the consequences are expected to be far reaching,long lasting & global in nature, which can eventually lead to the collapse of all the essential ecosystems.
Thus arises the need for sustainable development. Sustainable development is a pattern of resource usage that aims to meet human needs and the social challenges while preserving the environment for future by keeping in view the concerns related to carrying capacity of natural systems.
The Brundtland Commission first coined this term ,which is now often defined as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
The idea of sustainable development grew from numerous environmental movements in earlier decades. Summits such as the Earth Summit in Rio, Brazil, 1992, were major international meetings to bring sustainable development to the mainstream.
As obvious, at the core of sustainable development are numerous inter-related global issues such as poverty, inequality, hunger and environmental degradation.
The United Nations 2005 World Summit Outcome Document refers to the "interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars" of sustainable development as economic development, social development, and environmental protection. These are also famously known as three dimensions for profitability (triple bottom line).
Sustainable development calls for resolving the conflict between the various competing goals, and involves the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity. This translates to investment in R&D on cleaner technologies for power generation, adoption of healthy environmental and housekeeping practices and discipline.World over there are initiatives being planned and executed towards reduction of carbon foot print at industrial, commercial and domestic levels.
In India, Sustainable development now encompasses a variety of development schemes in social, cleantech (clean energy, clean water and sustainable agriculture) and human resources segments. Both public and private sectors, along with the Central and state governments are increasingly taking interest in building awareness on this.In fact, India is expected to begin the greening of its national income accounting, making depletion in natural resources wealth a key component in its measurement of gross domestic product (GDP).
Through incentivization of generation and consumption of renewable energy, the Indian Government is encouraging public-private participation in projects on green energy from sources like solar and wind. Also there is a renewed thrust on Super critical and Ultra Super Critical Technologies, which are expected to considerably reduce the carbon footprint in the near future.India's sustained effort towards reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) will ensure that the country's per capita emission of GHG will continue to be low until 2030-31, and it is estimated that the per capita emission in 2031 will be lower than per capita global emission of GHG in 2005.
To summarize, sustainable development recognizes the interdependence of environmental, social and economic systems and promotes equality and justice through people empowerment and a sense of global citizenship. We must understand that inaction will have consequences and we must find innovative ways to change institutional structures and influence individual behaviour. We must initiate policy changes and improve practices at all levels, from the individual to the international to be able to flourish while preserving the environment long enough for our future generations to enjoy the fruits of our technical advancements in a clean and green environment.
Showing posts with label Renewable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Renewable. Show all posts
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Energy Conservation through Recycling
Amongst the various initiatives towards a more energy sufficient future , an important one is Recycling of wastes.
Recycling involves processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production.Materials to be recycled are either brought to a collection center or picked up from the curbside, then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing.
In a strict sense, recycling of a material would produce a fresh supply of the same material, for example used office paper to more office paper, or used foamed polystyrene to more polystyrene. However, this is often difficult or too expensive (compared with producing the same product from raw materials or other sources), so "recycling" of many products or materials involves their 'reuse' in producing different materials (e.g., paperboard) instead. Another form of recycling is the 'reduction' of certain materials from complex products, either due to their intrinsic value (e.g., lead from car batteries, or gold from computer components), or due to their hazardous nature (e.g., removal and reuse of mercury from various items).
There is some debate over the economic efficiency of recycling systems. Economic analysis of recycling also includes what economists call externalities, which are un-priced costs and benefits (reduced air pollution and greenhouse gases from incineration, reduced hazardous waste leaching from landfills, reduced energy consumption, and reduced waste and resource consumption etc) that accrue to individuals outside of private transactions. The debate however is on just how much energy is saved through recycling.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) states on its website that "a paper mill uses 40 percent less energy to make paper from recycled paper than it does to make paper from fresh lumber." Some other good examples of downstream energy savings outweighing the upstream collection of recyclable materials are in recycling metals. Aluminium is generally agreed to use far less energy when recycled rather than being produced from scratch. The EPA states that "recycling aluminum cans, for example, saves 95 percent of the energy required to make the same amount of aluminum from its virgin source, bauxite.'The Truth About Recycling' (The Economist, 2007) lists down the following materials and the percentage of energy saved by recycling them.
1) Aluminum - 95%
2) Plastics - 70%
3) Steel - 60%
4) Paper - 40%
5) Glass - 30%
Critics often argue that in the overall processes, it can take more energy to produce recycled products than it does to dispose of them in traditional landfill methods. No doubt, it is difficult to determine the exact amount of energy consumed or produced in waste disposal processes because the quantum of energy used in recycling depends largely on the type of material being recycled and the process used to do so.
Some countries even trade in unprocessed recyclates, but there have been numerous complaints about the ultimate fate of recyclates sold to another country being unknown as these recyclates often end up in landfills instead of being reprocessed. There are reports of illegal-waste imports to China, where dismantling and subsequent recycling is done solely for monetary gain, without consideration for health of workers or environmental damage. Though the Chinese government has banned these practices, it has not been able to eradicate them.
An important aspect in 'Recycling' is waste management. Increasingly the authorities are promoting a multi step approach to waste management:
• The segregation of waste at the source
• Storage of waste at the source
• Primary collection (of wastes)
• Secondary collection
• Secondary transportation
• Composting
• Land fill.
If the waste is segregated at the source, it is easy to dispose off the waste in an environment friendly manner. Segregation saves time, energy and money.
Aside from the industrial and large scale applications of 'reduce-recycle-reuse' approach, even in our day to day lives, there are numerous opportunities through which we can significantly contribute to energy savings:
• Switching off of lights, electronic equipment, power appliances when not required (Even on standby mode, there's a continuous power wastage)
• Using cloth/jute bags instead of plastic bags.
• Encouraging foods made of jowar, bajra, instead of rice and not wasting food.
• Buying materials in bulk/without packing
• Using both sides of paper when writing.
• Using Mechanical pencils, ink refills (instead of buying new pens) and recycled paper folders/products
• Using copper bottomed stainless steel utensils
• Reducing wastage of water by turning off Taps showers etc (when not in use) , while brushing teeth and bathing
• Running washing machines only on full load
• Adopting Digital Cameras, LCD Monitors, LNG/CNG/electric vehicles
• Growing plants
The time has come when everyone has to be conscious about his contribution towards environment and optimal usage of scarce energy. Adopting healthy habits of Recycling and Conservation will not just help in reducing the massive gap in the supply and demand of energy but also create a more liveable environment for the future generations. The Key words are "Act Now!"
Recycling involves processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production.Materials to be recycled are either brought to a collection center or picked up from the curbside, then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing.
In a strict sense, recycling of a material would produce a fresh supply of the same material, for example used office paper to more office paper, or used foamed polystyrene to more polystyrene. However, this is often difficult or too expensive (compared with producing the same product from raw materials or other sources), so "recycling" of many products or materials involves their 'reuse' in producing different materials (e.g., paperboard) instead. Another form of recycling is the 'reduction' of certain materials from complex products, either due to their intrinsic value (e.g., lead from car batteries, or gold from computer components), or due to their hazardous nature (e.g., removal and reuse of mercury from various items).
There is some debate over the economic efficiency of recycling systems. Economic analysis of recycling also includes what economists call externalities, which are un-priced costs and benefits (reduced air pollution and greenhouse gases from incineration, reduced hazardous waste leaching from landfills, reduced energy consumption, and reduced waste and resource consumption etc) that accrue to individuals outside of private transactions. The debate however is on just how much energy is saved through recycling.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) states on its website that "a paper mill uses 40 percent less energy to make paper from recycled paper than it does to make paper from fresh lumber." Some other good examples of downstream energy savings outweighing the upstream collection of recyclable materials are in recycling metals. Aluminium is generally agreed to use far less energy when recycled rather than being produced from scratch. The EPA states that "recycling aluminum cans, for example, saves 95 percent of the energy required to make the same amount of aluminum from its virgin source, bauxite.'The Truth About Recycling' (The Economist, 2007) lists down the following materials and the percentage of energy saved by recycling them.
1) Aluminum - 95%
2) Plastics - 70%
3) Steel - 60%
4) Paper - 40%
5) Glass - 30%
Critics often argue that in the overall processes, it can take more energy to produce recycled products than it does to dispose of them in traditional landfill methods. No doubt, it is difficult to determine the exact amount of energy consumed or produced in waste disposal processes because the quantum of energy used in recycling depends largely on the type of material being recycled and the process used to do so.
Some countries even trade in unprocessed recyclates, but there have been numerous complaints about the ultimate fate of recyclates sold to another country being unknown as these recyclates often end up in landfills instead of being reprocessed. There are reports of illegal-waste imports to China, where dismantling and subsequent recycling is done solely for monetary gain, without consideration for health of workers or environmental damage. Though the Chinese government has banned these practices, it has not been able to eradicate them.
An important aspect in 'Recycling' is waste management. Increasingly the authorities are promoting a multi step approach to waste management:
• The segregation of waste at the source
• Storage of waste at the source
• Primary collection (of wastes)
• Secondary collection
• Secondary transportation
• Composting
• Land fill.
If the waste is segregated at the source, it is easy to dispose off the waste in an environment friendly manner. Segregation saves time, energy and money.
Aside from the industrial and large scale applications of 'reduce-recycle-reuse' approach, even in our day to day lives, there are numerous opportunities through which we can significantly contribute to energy savings:
• Switching off of lights, electronic equipment, power appliances when not required (Even on standby mode, there's a continuous power wastage)
• Using cloth/jute bags instead of plastic bags.
• Encouraging foods made of jowar, bajra, instead of rice and not wasting food.
• Buying materials in bulk/without packing
• Using both sides of paper when writing.
• Using Mechanical pencils, ink refills (instead of buying new pens) and recycled paper folders/products
• Using copper bottomed stainless steel utensils
• Reducing wastage of water by turning off Taps showers etc (when not in use) , while brushing teeth and bathing
• Running washing machines only on full load
• Adopting Digital Cameras, LCD Monitors, LNG/CNG/electric vehicles
• Growing plants
The time has come when everyone has to be conscious about his contribution towards environment and optimal usage of scarce energy. Adopting healthy habits of Recycling and Conservation will not just help in reducing the massive gap in the supply and demand of energy but also create a more liveable environment for the future generations. The Key words are "Act Now!"
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Smart Grids for Smart Power management
Efficient transmission and distribution of electricity is a fundamental requirement for providing citizens, societies and economies with essential energy resources.
Today, the electricity supply industry is wrestling with an unprecedented array of challenges, ranging from a supply-demand gap to rising costs and global warming. Electricity networks have been set up across the western world to provide vital links between electricity producers and consumers and have been very successful for many decades.
The drive now is for lower-carbon generation technologies, combined with greatly improved efficiency on the demand side. More interactive and customer-centric networks are the way ahead and these fundamental changes will impact significantly on network design and control.
In this context, the European Technology Platform (ETP) SmartGrids was set up in 2005 to create a joint vision for the European networks of 2020 and beyond.
The SmartGrids' vision is about a bold programme of research, development and demonstration that charts a course towards an electricity supply network that meets the needs of future through:
• Flexiblility:fulfilling customers’ needs whilst responding to the changes and challenges ahead;
• Accessiblility: granting connection access to all network users, particularly for renewable power sources and high efficiency local generation with zero or low carbon emissions;
• Reliability: assuring and improving security and quality of supply, consistent with the demands of the digital age with resilience to hazards and uncertainties;
• Economic viability: providing best value through innovation, efficient energy management and ‘level playing field’ competition and regulation.
Although there is no standard global definition, ETP defines smart grids as electricity networks that can intelligently integrate the behaviour and actions of all users connected to it - generators, consumers and those that do both – in order to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure electricity supplies.
A smart grid includes an intelligent monitoring & control system along with communication, and self-healing technologies that keeps track of all electricity flowing in the system. It also incorporates the use of superconductive transmission lines for reduced power loss, as well as the capability of integrating renewable
electricity such as solar and wind. When power is least expensive the user can allow the smart grid to turn on selected home appliances such as washing machines or factory processes that can run at arbitrary hours. At peak times it could turn off selected appliances to reduce demand.
Thus smart grids
* Better facilitate the connection and operation of generators of all sizes and technologies;
* Allow consumers to play a part in optimising the operation of the system;
* Provide consumers with greater information and options for choice of supply;
* Significantly reduce the environmental impact of the whole electricity supply system;
* Maintain or even improve the existing high levels of system reliability, quality and security of supply;
* Maintain and improve the existing services efficiently;
* Foster market integration towards European integrated market.
Smart grids not only supply power but also information and intelligence. The “smartness” is manifested in making better use of technologies and solutions to better plan and run existing electricity grids, to intelligently control generation and to enable new energy services and energy efficiency improvements.
India has limited experience with smart grid deployments and advanced metering, especially for small consumers and farmers. Key factors that will drive the adoption of the smart grid in India are:
Supply shortfalls: According to some official estimates, India suffers with a significant shortfall of 12% for total energy and 16% for peak demand. Demand
continues to outpace India’s power supply. and managing growth and ensuring supply is a major driver for all programs of the Indian power sector.
Loss reduction: India’s aggregate technical and commercial losses are thought to be about 25-30%, but could be higher given the substantial fraction of the population that is not metered and the lack of transparency.
Managing “human interface”: in system operations through automated meter readings thereby reducing accidental and deliberate errors, which are thought to be significant reasons for losses.
Peak load management: through more “intelligent” load control, either through direct control or economic pricing incentives that are communicated to customers in a dynamic manner. Such measures would help mitigate the supply-demand gap.
Renewable energy: India has mostly supported the implementation of renewable energy for wind power, but the newly announced National Solar Mission and its goal to add 20,000 MW of solar energy by 2020 along with environmental concerns and the desire to tap into all available sources of power can also be a accelerant for development of smart grid.
Technological capabilities: Just as India became a hot bed for telecom sector advancements and consumption, India can very well leapfrog into a new future for
electricity. Also, the “smart” in a smart grid is ICT — an area of unique capability in India.
India’s electric power delivery system is much like the telecommunications network of the past – dated and increasingly costly for consumers. Like the
telecommunications revolution, which created new technologies, choices and improved service levels, there is a need for a similar revolution in the power sector.
Being a highly regulated sector, regulatory intervention is imperative for successful smart grid implementation across the key areas of Funding,Consumer
awareness,Establishing common standards,Playing the role of a “watchdog”,Cyber-security and Interoperability.
As India continues to develop the smart grid, communication will play an ever-larger role in the power sector. It might be advantageous to encourage close coordination between the telecommunication and power sectors, with the participation of policy makers and regulators.
Today, the electricity supply industry is wrestling with an unprecedented array of challenges, ranging from a supply-demand gap to rising costs and global warming. Electricity networks have been set up across the western world to provide vital links between electricity producers and consumers and have been very successful for many decades.
The drive now is for lower-carbon generation technologies, combined with greatly improved efficiency on the demand side. More interactive and customer-centric networks are the way ahead and these fundamental changes will impact significantly on network design and control.
In this context, the European Technology Platform (ETP) SmartGrids was set up in 2005 to create a joint vision for the European networks of 2020 and beyond.
The SmartGrids' vision is about a bold programme of research, development and demonstration that charts a course towards an electricity supply network that meets the needs of future through:
• Flexiblility:fulfilling customers’ needs whilst responding to the changes and challenges ahead;
• Accessiblility: granting connection access to all network users, particularly for renewable power sources and high efficiency local generation with zero or low carbon emissions;
• Reliability: assuring and improving security and quality of supply, consistent with the demands of the digital age with resilience to hazards and uncertainties;
• Economic viability: providing best value through innovation, efficient energy management and ‘level playing field’ competition and regulation.
Although there is no standard global definition, ETP defines smart grids as electricity networks that can intelligently integrate the behaviour and actions of all users connected to it - generators, consumers and those that do both – in order to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure electricity supplies.
A smart grid includes an intelligent monitoring & control system along with communication, and self-healing technologies that keeps track of all electricity flowing in the system. It also incorporates the use of superconductive transmission lines for reduced power loss, as well as the capability of integrating renewable
electricity such as solar and wind. When power is least expensive the user can allow the smart grid to turn on selected home appliances such as washing machines or factory processes that can run at arbitrary hours. At peak times it could turn off selected appliances to reduce demand.
Thus smart grids
* Better facilitate the connection and operation of generators of all sizes and technologies;
* Allow consumers to play a part in optimising the operation of the system;
* Provide consumers with greater information and options for choice of supply;
* Significantly reduce the environmental impact of the whole electricity supply system;
* Maintain or even improve the existing high levels of system reliability, quality and security of supply;
* Maintain and improve the existing services efficiently;
* Foster market integration towards European integrated market.
Smart grids not only supply power but also information and intelligence. The “smartness” is manifested in making better use of technologies and solutions to better plan and run existing electricity grids, to intelligently control generation and to enable new energy services and energy efficiency improvements.
India has limited experience with smart grid deployments and advanced metering, especially for small consumers and farmers. Key factors that will drive the adoption of the smart grid in India are:
Supply shortfalls: According to some official estimates, India suffers with a significant shortfall of 12% for total energy and 16% for peak demand. Demand
continues to outpace India’s power supply. and managing growth and ensuring supply is a major driver for all programs of the Indian power sector.
Loss reduction: India’s aggregate technical and commercial losses are thought to be about 25-30%, but could be higher given the substantial fraction of the population that is not metered and the lack of transparency.
Managing “human interface”: in system operations through automated meter readings thereby reducing accidental and deliberate errors, which are thought to be significant reasons for losses.
Peak load management: through more “intelligent” load control, either through direct control or economic pricing incentives that are communicated to customers in a dynamic manner. Such measures would help mitigate the supply-demand gap.
Renewable energy: India has mostly supported the implementation of renewable energy for wind power, but the newly announced National Solar Mission and its goal to add 20,000 MW of solar energy by 2020 along with environmental concerns and the desire to tap into all available sources of power can also be a accelerant for development of smart grid.
Technological capabilities: Just as India became a hot bed for telecom sector advancements and consumption, India can very well leapfrog into a new future for
electricity. Also, the “smart” in a smart grid is ICT — an area of unique capability in India.
India’s electric power delivery system is much like the telecommunications network of the past – dated and increasingly costly for consumers. Like the
telecommunications revolution, which created new technologies, choices and improved service levels, there is a need for a similar revolution in the power sector.
Being a highly regulated sector, regulatory intervention is imperative for successful smart grid implementation across the key areas of Funding,Consumer
awareness,Establishing common standards,Playing the role of a “watchdog”,Cyber-security and Interoperability.
As India continues to develop the smart grid, communication will play an ever-larger role in the power sector. It might be advantageous to encourage close coordination between the telecommunication and power sectors, with the participation of policy makers and regulators.
Green Fuels - Is this the next 'big' thing in Energy sector?
Recently I came across a web article on 'Green Fuels' . I think this could be a good topic for discussion. The main ideas were the following:
Green fuel, also known as biofuel, is a type of fuel distilled from plants and animal materials, believed by some to be more environmentally friendly than the widely-used fossil fuels that power most of the world. In the desperate search for alternative energy sources, green fuel has evolved as a possible fueling option as the world drains its fossil fuel resources. Detractors suggest that the term "green fuel" is a misnomer, as the processing of crops into biofuel actually creates a considerable amount of pollution that may be just as damaging to the environment as current practices.
In creating basic forms of biofuel, crops are broken down into two types: sugar producing and oil producing. Sugar and starch producing crops, such as sugar cane or corn, are put through a fermentation process to create ethanol. Oil producing plants, like those used in vegetable oils, can be used much like fossil sources of oil; they create diesel that can be burned by cars or further processed to become biodiesel.
Recent technological innovations have created the fields of advanced biofuels, which focus on non-food sources and waster renewal as energy. By converting landfill material, as well as wood and inedible plant parts, into green fuel, we not only cut down on the use of fossil fuels but also effectively recycle enormous amounts of waste. These biofuels help quell the debate on whether growing crops for fuel will result in fewer available food crops.
A new form of fuel can literally be called green, as it is derived from green algae. Algae, often seen growing on bodies of water, is a tiny plant with a rapid growth rate. Its usefulness as fuel is derived from the fact that it has an extremely high oil content that can be processed like other oil-producing crops. Many countries are now doing extensive research on algae, which is easy to cultivate and grows extremely quickly. According to some estimates by start-up algae oil companies, one acre of algae can produce 200 times as much oil as one acre of corn.
Some detractors warn against the assumption that green fuel is free from pollution-causing attributes. The processing of sugar and starch plants into ethanol has come under heavy criticism in recent years; not only do these plants take away food-growing space, the fermentation process releases considerable pollution into the air. Moreover, green fuel does not necessarily burn clean, and may emit formaldehyde, ozone, and other carcinogenic substances when used.
It is not yet clear whether the green fuel currently available is the wave of the future or merely an interim step on the journey away from fossil fuel use. Governments around the world are devoting enormous resources to the research of clean, sustainable fuels to replace the pollutant and quickly disappearing oil reserves used today. Green fuel may not be a perfect solution to the problems of oil need and global protection, but it remains an important innovation that may pave the way to a better future.
Green fuel, also known as biofuel, is a type of fuel distilled from plants and animal materials, believed by some to be more environmentally friendly than the widely-used fossil fuels that power most of the world. In the desperate search for alternative energy sources, green fuel has evolved as a possible fueling option as the world drains its fossil fuel resources. Detractors suggest that the term "green fuel" is a misnomer, as the processing of crops into biofuel actually creates a considerable amount of pollution that may be just as damaging to the environment as current practices.
In creating basic forms of biofuel, crops are broken down into two types: sugar producing and oil producing. Sugar and starch producing crops, such as sugar cane or corn, are put through a fermentation process to create ethanol. Oil producing plants, like those used in vegetable oils, can be used much like fossil sources of oil; they create diesel that can be burned by cars or further processed to become biodiesel.
Recent technological innovations have created the fields of advanced biofuels, which focus on non-food sources and waster renewal as energy. By converting landfill material, as well as wood and inedible plant parts, into green fuel, we not only cut down on the use of fossil fuels but also effectively recycle enormous amounts of waste. These biofuels help quell the debate on whether growing crops for fuel will result in fewer available food crops.
A new form of fuel can literally be called green, as it is derived from green algae. Algae, often seen growing on bodies of water, is a tiny plant with a rapid growth rate. Its usefulness as fuel is derived from the fact that it has an extremely high oil content that can be processed like other oil-producing crops. Many countries are now doing extensive research on algae, which is easy to cultivate and grows extremely quickly. According to some estimates by start-up algae oil companies, one acre of algae can produce 200 times as much oil as one acre of corn.
Some detractors warn against the assumption that green fuel is free from pollution-causing attributes. The processing of sugar and starch plants into ethanol has come under heavy criticism in recent years; not only do these plants take away food-growing space, the fermentation process releases considerable pollution into the air. Moreover, green fuel does not necessarily burn clean, and may emit formaldehyde, ozone, and other carcinogenic substances when used.
It is not yet clear whether the green fuel currently available is the wave of the future or merely an interim step on the journey away from fossil fuel use. Governments around the world are devoting enormous resources to the research of clean, sustainable fuels to replace the pollutant and quickly disappearing oil reserves used today. Green fuel may not be a perfect solution to the problems of oil need and global protection, but it remains an important innovation that may pave the way to a better future.
Carbon Sequestration - Is it a viable option ?
"Carbon sequestration" is the term given to a suite of technologies that can remove CO2 from large point sources, such as power plants, oil refineries and industrial processes, or from the air itself.
Natural carbon sequestration is a cycle that's been happening on this planet for billions of years. It's simply the process by which nature has achieved a balance of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere suitable for sustaining life. Animals expel carbon dioxide, as do plants during the night; forest fires belch carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, volcanic eruptions and magma reservoirs deep beneath the ground also play their part.
Nature provided trees, the oceans, earth and the animals themselves as carbon sinks, or sponges. All organic life on this planet is carbon based and when plants and animals die, much of the carbon goes back into the ground where it has little impact on contributing to global warming.
Nature's fine handling of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has served the planet very well.
Its a different story since the advent of 'man'.Instead of rapidly discontinuing the use of what we know is heating our planet, researchers are trying to find other ways of defeating Nature (Artificial Sequestration) to allow us to continue our lifestyles; or helping it deal with the excess carbon dioxide we produce.
Artificial carbon sequestration refers to a number of processes whereby carbon emissions are captured at the point of product and then buried.
One proposed method is ocean sequestration whereby carbon dioxide is injected deep into the ocean, forming lakes of CO2. In theory, the carbon dioxide will stay down deep due to the pressure and temperature of the surrounding water; gradually dissolving into that water over time.
Another method is geological sequestration where the carbon dioxide is pumped into underground chambers such as old oil reservoirs, aquifers and coal seams that are unable to be mined.
Mineral sequestration is also being considered. In this method, carbon dioxide is injected into areas rich in Magnesium or Calcium. The carbon dioxide will react with those elements and combine to form calcium carbonate (limestone) and magnesium carbonate (magnesite).
Because carbon sequestration holds the potential both to reduce emissions of CO2 from point sources and to remove CO2 from the air, sequestration research has grown over the several years from small-scale, largely conceptual studies technology intensive experiments.
Sequestration techniques are not instantaneous and the fact that they will take a long time to make a difference in CO2 levels is a consideration. Do you think that these attempts for artificial sequestration be sustainable and viable in future?
Natural carbon sequestration is a cycle that's been happening on this planet for billions of years. It's simply the process by which nature has achieved a balance of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere suitable for sustaining life. Animals expel carbon dioxide, as do plants during the night; forest fires belch carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, volcanic eruptions and magma reservoirs deep beneath the ground also play their part.
Nature provided trees, the oceans, earth and the animals themselves as carbon sinks, or sponges. All organic life on this planet is carbon based and when plants and animals die, much of the carbon goes back into the ground where it has little impact on contributing to global warming.
Nature's fine handling of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has served the planet very well.
Its a different story since the advent of 'man'.Instead of rapidly discontinuing the use of what we know is heating our planet, researchers are trying to find other ways of defeating Nature (Artificial Sequestration) to allow us to continue our lifestyles; or helping it deal with the excess carbon dioxide we produce.
Artificial carbon sequestration refers to a number of processes whereby carbon emissions are captured at the point of product and then buried.
One proposed method is ocean sequestration whereby carbon dioxide is injected deep into the ocean, forming lakes of CO2. In theory, the carbon dioxide will stay down deep due to the pressure and temperature of the surrounding water; gradually dissolving into that water over time.
Another method is geological sequestration where the carbon dioxide is pumped into underground chambers such as old oil reservoirs, aquifers and coal seams that are unable to be mined.
Mineral sequestration is also being considered. In this method, carbon dioxide is injected into areas rich in Magnesium or Calcium. The carbon dioxide will react with those elements and combine to form calcium carbonate (limestone) and magnesium carbonate (magnesite).
Because carbon sequestration holds the potential both to reduce emissions of CO2 from point sources and to remove CO2 from the air, sequestration research has grown over the several years from small-scale, largely conceptual studies technology intensive experiments.
Sequestration techniques are not instantaneous and the fact that they will take a long time to make a difference in CO2 levels is a consideration. Do you think that these attempts for artificial sequestration be sustainable and viable in future?
Cleaner Environment through Renewable energy - Can we contribute?
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat etc.
New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) are growing very rapidly worldwide. Wind power is growing at the rate of 30% annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 157,900 megawatts (MW) in 2009 and is widely used in Europe, Asia, and the United States.At the end of 2009, cumulative global photovoltaic (PV) installations surpassed 21,000 MW and PV power stations are popular in Germany and Spain. Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain.The world's largest geothermal power installation is The Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW. Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugar cane, and ethanol now provides 18% of the country's automotive fuel.
While most renewable energy projects and production is large-scale, renewable technologies are also suited to small off-grid applications, sometimes in rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development.
Carbon emissions, which is one of the gravest concerns across the globe today, are a direct result of not only heavy industry and transport but also the average household.The significantly high level of fossil fuel products burnt each and every day is polluting the air and surrounding environments and also contributes to climate change.
The use of natural energy sources to provide heating and electricity is rapidly increasing in popularity among homeowners and is needed to help take the burden off our current dependency on fossil fuels. Kenya has the world's highest household solar ownership rate with roughly 30,000 small (20–100 watt) solar power systems sold per year.
Though the capital investments , as of now, for setting up renewable energy systems like Solar Panels,Wind turbines (in coastal regions) etc can be high and it can be difficult to switch our current energy or power supply to the use of renewable energy, over a long term, the investments are easily recovered.
There are numerous advantages relating to the use of natural and renewable energy sources:
* The sun, wind, tides, and geothermal activity are all renewable.
* After the initial cost of; solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal energy systems, the only cost to the consumer relates to any required maintenance.Consumers could even sell excess electricity back to your national grid, if the local laws permit.
* Government grants/subsidies may be available for natural energy projects depending on location.
* Reduced carbon emissions also leads to reduced contribution to Global Warming.
* Individuals can sleep peacefully without worrying over fuel price rises from gas, energy or electricity companies. One could be fully carbon neutral, eliminating his dependency on the remaining reserves of fossil fuels.
While governments are pushing for more and more stringent regulations on the levels of carbon emitted by industrial units , automobiles etc, individual
households should consciously adopt renewable energy for their day to day electricity and hot water requirements.Although many other issues need to be addressed, making the switch is a large step forward in the fight for a cleaner environment.By making the switch to natural and renewable energy sources, we will be doing our part in helping to improve the quality of the environment and the air we breathe. Our tiny contributions at the household levels can cumulatively make a significant impact to the global carbon emissions leading to a happier and cleaner tomorrow.
New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) are growing very rapidly worldwide. Wind power is growing at the rate of 30% annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 157,900 megawatts (MW) in 2009 and is widely used in Europe, Asia, and the United States.At the end of 2009, cumulative global photovoltaic (PV) installations surpassed 21,000 MW and PV power stations are popular in Germany and Spain. Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain.The world's largest geothermal power installation is The Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW. Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugar cane, and ethanol now provides 18% of the country's automotive fuel.
While most renewable energy projects and production is large-scale, renewable technologies are also suited to small off-grid applications, sometimes in rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development.
Carbon emissions, which is one of the gravest concerns across the globe today, are a direct result of not only heavy industry and transport but also the average household.The significantly high level of fossil fuel products burnt each and every day is polluting the air and surrounding environments and also contributes to climate change.
The use of natural energy sources to provide heating and electricity is rapidly increasing in popularity among homeowners and is needed to help take the burden off our current dependency on fossil fuels. Kenya has the world's highest household solar ownership rate with roughly 30,000 small (20–100 watt) solar power systems sold per year.
Though the capital investments , as of now, for setting up renewable energy systems like Solar Panels,Wind turbines (in coastal regions) etc can be high and it can be difficult to switch our current energy or power supply to the use of renewable energy, over a long term, the investments are easily recovered.
There are numerous advantages relating to the use of natural and renewable energy sources:
* The sun, wind, tides, and geothermal activity are all renewable.
* After the initial cost of; solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal energy systems, the only cost to the consumer relates to any required maintenance.Consumers could even sell excess electricity back to your national grid, if the local laws permit.
* Government grants/subsidies may be available for natural energy projects depending on location.
* Reduced carbon emissions also leads to reduced contribution to Global Warming.
* Individuals can sleep peacefully without worrying over fuel price rises from gas, energy or electricity companies. One could be fully carbon neutral, eliminating his dependency on the remaining reserves of fossil fuels.
While governments are pushing for more and more stringent regulations on the levels of carbon emitted by industrial units , automobiles etc, individual
households should consciously adopt renewable energy for their day to day electricity and hot water requirements.Although many other issues need to be addressed, making the switch is a large step forward in the fight for a cleaner environment.By making the switch to natural and renewable energy sources, we will be doing our part in helping to improve the quality of the environment and the air we breathe. Our tiny contributions at the household levels can cumulatively make a significant impact to the global carbon emissions leading to a happier and cleaner tomorrow.
Energy Efficiency & Conservation - the only way for survival
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is using less energy to provide the same level of energy service. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature. Another example would be installing fluorescent lights and/or skylights instead of incandescent lights to attain the same level of illumination. Compact fluorescent lights use two-thirds less energy and may last 6 to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. Efficient energy use is achieved primarily by means of a more efficient technology or processes along with changes in individual behaviour.
Energy efficient buildings, industrial processes and transportation could reduce the world's energy needs in 2050 by one third, and help controlling global emissions of greenhouse gases, according to the 'International Energy Agency.'
Energy efficiency and renewable energy are said to be the twin pillars of sustainable energy policy.Making homes, vehicles, and businesses more energy efficient is seen as a largely untapped solution to addressing the problems of pollution, global warming, energy security, and fossil fuel depletion. Many of these ideas have been discussed for years, since the 1973 oil crisis brought energy issues to the forefront.
Energy conservation is broader than energy efficiency in that it encompasses using less energy to achieve a lesser energy service, for example through
behavioural change, as well as encompassing energy efficiency. Examples of conservation without efficiency improvements would be heating a room less in
winter, driving less, or working in a less brightly lit room. As with other definitions, the boundary between efficient energy use and energy conservation can be fuzzy, but both are important in environmental and economic terms. This is especially the case when actions are directed at the saving of fossil fuels.
Both Energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies must be developed concurrently in order to stabilize and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Efficient energy use is essential to slowing the energy demand growth so that rising clean energy supplies can make deep cuts in fossil fuel use. If energy use grows too rapidly, renewable energy development will chase a receding target. Likewise, unless clean energy supplies come online rapidly, slowing demand growth will only begin to reduce total carbon emissions; a reduction in the carbon content of energy sources is also needed. A sustainable energy economy thus requires major commitments to both efficiency and renewables.
As is well known that cost of generation of an iota of power is far greater than cost of conservation ,the time is ripe for every single person to be conscious of the role that he/she is playing towards consumption/reduction/conservation of energy. Higher commitments are solicited from governmetns and private players towards research and development of more energy efficient technologies. More and more systems have to be developed that focus around energy conservation and reduction. For the future generations to benefit out of all the advancements that have been achieved at a break-neck speed, energy is the key.
Energy efficient buildings, industrial processes and transportation could reduce the world's energy needs in 2050 by one third, and help controlling global emissions of greenhouse gases, according to the 'International Energy Agency.'
Energy efficiency and renewable energy are said to be the twin pillars of sustainable energy policy.Making homes, vehicles, and businesses more energy efficient is seen as a largely untapped solution to addressing the problems of pollution, global warming, energy security, and fossil fuel depletion. Many of these ideas have been discussed for years, since the 1973 oil crisis brought energy issues to the forefront.
Energy conservation is broader than energy efficiency in that it encompasses using less energy to achieve a lesser energy service, for example through
behavioural change, as well as encompassing energy efficiency. Examples of conservation without efficiency improvements would be heating a room less in
winter, driving less, or working in a less brightly lit room. As with other definitions, the boundary between efficient energy use and energy conservation can be fuzzy, but both are important in environmental and economic terms. This is especially the case when actions are directed at the saving of fossil fuels.
Both Energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies must be developed concurrently in order to stabilize and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Efficient energy use is essential to slowing the energy demand growth so that rising clean energy supplies can make deep cuts in fossil fuel use. If energy use grows too rapidly, renewable energy development will chase a receding target. Likewise, unless clean energy supplies come online rapidly, slowing demand growth will only begin to reduce total carbon emissions; a reduction in the carbon content of energy sources is also needed. A sustainable energy economy thus requires major commitments to both efficiency and renewables.
As is well known that cost of generation of an iota of power is far greater than cost of conservation ,the time is ripe for every single person to be conscious of the role that he/she is playing towards consumption/reduction/conservation of energy. Higher commitments are solicited from governmetns and private players towards research and development of more energy efficient technologies. More and more systems have to be developed that focus around energy conservation and reduction. For the future generations to benefit out of all the advancements that have been achieved at a break-neck speed, energy is the key.
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