Archive for the ‘energy’ Category
They were right
- Author: Kailash
- Filed under: energy
Apr 27,2008
Now that I am thinking of it, the experts were right. Fifteen or ten years back, I would simply shrug at the different early warnings coming from the experts about the environment. They would talk about the ozone layer, pollution, over population, disruptions in energy supply and what not. They anticipated different scenarios and problems ahead. At that time, these were only talk. The earth’s temperature would rise by a fraction of a degree celcius. Who cares? The icebergs are melting. So what?
But right now, all these talks are becoming a reality. Its here, we can feel it and its a pain. Climate change is here for real, its started. Climate change is causing major disruptions in our food supply. Our major suppliers of food are facing droughts.
Worst still, demand for food is increasing. Giants like China and India are experiencing unprecedented growth. People are getting money, they become more sophisticated and consume more. They want more food; they want more energy.
I doubt that our planet can sustain such growth. Maybe its time to contain our consumption patterns. We should rethink about the way we want to develop.
Mauritius is in a development frenzy right now, money is pouring in. Buildings mushrooming everywhere is an indicator. Maybe thats where sustainable development comes into play.
It is reassuring to see things taking shape however. Last week I heard our national utility company, CEB, is pondering about how to allow consumers produce their electricity and how they might be allowed to sell the same to the power grid. There are different renewables projects underway also. Lets wait and see the impact these might have on our energy mix.
Energy Efficiency: The rebound effect
- Author: Kailash
- Filed under: energy
Oct 18,2007
One disturbing aspect to be taken into consideration when measuring effects of energy efficiency campaigns is the rebound effect.
That is as energy efficiency of some process is improved, the same process gets cheaper and that provides incentives to its increase of use. The total consumption of energy changes less than proportionally to changes in physical energy efficiency. The rebound effect is quantified as the extent of the deviation from the proportionality. [1]
This would mean for example, people would consider having two efficient cars in their households instead of one. Another phenomenon for example is the increase in garden lightings with the introduction of efficient bulbs.
It has been suggested that ironically, the amount of waste is insensitive to improvements in efficiency.
Read more:
[1] Kenneth A S, Kurt Van Dender (2007), “Fuel Efficiency and Motor Vehicle Travel: The Declining Rebound Effect”, The Energy Journal 28 (1)
Energy Poverty
- Author: Kailash
- Filed under: energy
Oct 4,2007
This week I read about one interesting aspect of Energy Economics: Energy Poverty. Fatih Birol, Chief Economist and Head of Economic Analysis Division of the International Energy Agency, underlined this often disregarded threat [1]. The world is busy with 2 other aspects, namely energy supply disruptions and environmental impacts of energy use/production, that they completely forget about a large portion of world population that are deprived of modern forms of energy.
1.6 billion people, mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, have no access to electricity. 2.5 million people rely on biomass mainly in the form of wood for their daily cooking. Each year 1.3 millions of people, mainly women and children die from inhaling fumes from in-house wood stoves.
It is estimated that unless substantial efforts are made to alleviate energy poverty the trend will continue and UN millennium development goals are not to be met.
[1] Birol Fatih (2007), Energy Economics: A place for energy poverty in the Agenda, Energy Journal, Volume 18, Number 3
The energy equation
- Author: Kailash
- Filed under: energy
Sep 19,2007
Today the baril of oil reached $81. It seems that oil prices are deemed to increase ever more, amid increasing demand for energy from developing countries.
The world is witnessing continued improvement of standard of living of its increasing population. Developing countries rightfully aspire access to technology.
Gone are the days where people went to rivers to wash their clothing; gone are the days people would gather wood to cook their food; gone are the days people would light up their homes with candles. People rely on technology to improve their standard of living.
Emerging giants like India and China do require energy to run their industries, which indirectly increases domestic energy demand. Its the old game of supply and demand. Fossil energy is scarce and demand is ever increasing, price is set to soar. My personal view is that world leaders shall be defined by those who can solve the energy equation.
What are the alternatives? Renewables! Nature has bestowed upon us sustainable sources of energy. There is enormous potential for tropical islands like Mauritius. Solar, wind and tidal energy are the most obvious options given the island’s context. These forms of sustainable energy have been mostly untapped given their relative high cost of initial investments. However given the soaring prices of fossils, renewables are becoming viable. The island has successfully tapped bagasse to its full potential. Plans are set for ethanol to enter the nation’s energy mix.
Relying on renewables is not enough. There is a need to increase energy efficiency. Energy efficient technologies are to be favored in an attempt to curb the increase in energy consumption.
How successful Mauritius will be to solve the energy equation remains to be seen. My work aims to contribute in the same.
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