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.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
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?
Monday, June 14, 2010
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.
Is carbon Trading "The Future" ?
Carbon Trading" is still in its nascent phase, but the kind of growth this market is experiencing is tremendous and that is what makes it so exciting to talk about.
Carbon Trading is a market based mechanism for helping mitigate the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. Carbon trading markets are developing that bring buyers and sellers of carbon credits together with standardized rules of trade.
Any entity, typically a business, that emits CO2 to the atmosphere may have an interest or may be required by law to balance their emissions through mechanism of Carbon sequestration. These businesses may include power generating facilities or many kinds of manufacturers.
Entities that manage forest or agricultural land might sell carbon credits based on the accumulation of carbon in their forest trees or agricultural soils. Similarly, business entities that reduce their carbon emission may be able to sell their reductions to other emitters.
Kyoto protocol's idea is to divide the whole world into two, one who can afford making changes to their existing infrastructure and the ones who cannot. As everybody is polluting, be it a developed country or a developing country, the financial aspect has to be kept in mind. All developed countries will have to cut down their emissions by some percentage or else they pay heavy fines. Now, one way of measuring how much they are polluting the air less, is by assigning each tone reduction of CO2, a unit. They have various ways to aggregate these units called "CER" or "Carbon Emission Reduction" units:
1) Invest in CDM/JI Projects. 2) Buy these credits from the market.
CDM or Clean Development Mechanism is a project which is executed in a developing country where they cannot, on their own, afford to bring that technology change in the existing infrastructure which can result in less carbon emissions. As an example, a company in a developed world can give money to a company in a developing world to buy the necessary technology and in turn own the carbon units generated by bringing that technology change and thus meet the targets set by their governments. This will help developing countries to get the much needed financial help and in turn help the developed countries to meet the emission cut targets or if they end up with excess of such units, sell them and earn some profit out of it. It really doesn't matter, from where on earth carbon emissions are reduced, 'cause it will be beneficial for the environment any ways.
JI or Join Implementation is a similar approach, only difference being the both the parties involved in executing such a project are from the developed world.
Carbon Trading: the second option for companies in the developed world is that if they do fall short of the emission targets, they can buy those from the market, from someone who was successful in meeting those targets and has a surplus of carbon units with them. It's not important that someone is doing more to reduce carbon emissions and someone else is just buying the rights to pollute the air. What's important is, overall, we have those many carbon units in market, or in other words we have reduced the amount of carbon emissions what we did set out to achieve.
Though Carbon credits is increasingly becoming a rage in the developing half of the world (most economies are coming up with cleaner technologies that make them earn financially through the carbon credits generated), this year there has been an unanticipated fall in the prices of carbon credits - the cause: economic recovery has been slow in the western world, thereby reducing the need to run existing polluting factories and plants, which were precisely the reason for the demand for carbon credits.
The future thus is not about trading of carbon credits, but probably in trading 'energy', which is the need of the hour and will be the single most traded commodity in the times to come.
Carbon Trading is a market based mechanism for helping mitigate the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. Carbon trading markets are developing that bring buyers and sellers of carbon credits together with standardized rules of trade.
Any entity, typically a business, that emits CO2 to the atmosphere may have an interest or may be required by law to balance their emissions through mechanism of Carbon sequestration. These businesses may include power generating facilities or many kinds of manufacturers.
Entities that manage forest or agricultural land might sell carbon credits based on the accumulation of carbon in their forest trees or agricultural soils. Similarly, business entities that reduce their carbon emission may be able to sell their reductions to other emitters.
Kyoto protocol's idea is to divide the whole world into two, one who can afford making changes to their existing infrastructure and the ones who cannot. As everybody is polluting, be it a developed country or a developing country, the financial aspect has to be kept in mind. All developed countries will have to cut down their emissions by some percentage or else they pay heavy fines. Now, one way of measuring how much they are polluting the air less, is by assigning each tone reduction of CO2, a unit. They have various ways to aggregate these units called "CER" or "Carbon Emission Reduction" units:
1) Invest in CDM/JI Projects. 2) Buy these credits from the market.
CDM or Clean Development Mechanism is a project which is executed in a developing country where they cannot, on their own, afford to bring that technology change in the existing infrastructure which can result in less carbon emissions. As an example, a company in a developed world can give money to a company in a developing world to buy the necessary technology and in turn own the carbon units generated by bringing that technology change and thus meet the targets set by their governments. This will help developing countries to get the much needed financial help and in turn help the developed countries to meet the emission cut targets or if they end up with excess of such units, sell them and earn some profit out of it. It really doesn't matter, from where on earth carbon emissions are reduced, 'cause it will be beneficial for the environment any ways.
JI or Join Implementation is a similar approach, only difference being the both the parties involved in executing such a project are from the developed world.
Carbon Trading: the second option for companies in the developed world is that if they do fall short of the emission targets, they can buy those from the market, from someone who was successful in meeting those targets and has a surplus of carbon units with them. It's not important that someone is doing more to reduce carbon emissions and someone else is just buying the rights to pollute the air. What's important is, overall, we have those many carbon units in market, or in other words we have reduced the amount of carbon emissions what we did set out to achieve.
Though Carbon credits is increasingly becoming a rage in the developing half of the world (most economies are coming up with cleaner technologies that make them earn financially through the carbon credits generated), this year there has been an unanticipated fall in the prices of carbon credits - the cause: economic recovery has been slow in the western world, thereby reducing the need to run existing polluting factories and plants, which were precisely the reason for the demand for carbon credits.
The future thus is not about trading of carbon credits, but probably in trading 'energy', which is the need of the hour and will be the single most traded commodity in the times to come.
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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