Session 8/Week 9

Brief Overview/Summary:

Energy and World Change. The topic for this week is pretty self-explanatory. Session 8 examines the path of energy usage and development and its implications on the world. One especially important feature in the world that affects energy is economic growth. High economic growth is desired by many countries, but it can no longer be attained in a way similar to the past, where considerations made to the environment and future were at a minimal. The world now has to achieve economic growth in a way that does not compromise the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. Basically, humankind is in a race against time to achieve sufficient renewable energy resources to be sustainable, before it is too late.

 

Interesting Observation and Ideas:

There are various drivers for energy and world change. The need for higher energy consumption due to rising population and the need for sustainability and renewable energy resources are more significant ones. China is one of the many countries affected substantially by these drivers. As a result China is currently leading the investment in renewable energy. China was responsible for almost one-fifth of total global investment, spending $52 billion on renewable energy in 2012 (Forbes, 2012). Another country that has taken a big step in renewable energy is Brazil. In 1970s Brazil started to increase the production of sugar cane and created the gasohol program. Vehicles and machines were equipped to function using alcohol based fuel. Presently, electric light no longer exist in Europe, the filament lamp is too inefficient a device which causes the waste of large amount of electricity. All these steps that people from all over the way are taking is a bid to attain renewable energy and be sustainable in the near future.

Another driver is the cost of resources. The more limited the resources, the more expensive it would get, as demand outweighs supply. Hence, as natural resources get more expensive people start to seek for cheaper sources of energy. However, the current prices of natural resources do not take into account the opportunity cost. The opportunity cost refers to factors like the time taken for the natural resources to form. If the opportunity cost is taken into account for fossil fuels/mineral resources taken from the ground, the prices of these resources would be very different from what it is right now. The market price does not reflect the true price, it is kept artificially low. (Just an interesting point from class)

One of the considerations in energy and world change is energy security. Energy security simply means having enough energy supply. Modern lifestyles require us to have excess energy to function. Modern devices use up a large amount of energy. In Singapore, without power the whole island will be in darkness, most of the country probably would not be able to carry out their daily routines. Thus, as the need for energy security grows, the need for sustainable energy resources increases. Efficiency in energy utilization has to be maximized as well to increase energy security. Increase efficiency of energy utilization, means lesser energy needed with the same output. This is one are, in addition to renewable energy sources that humankind has to look into.

Many countries depend on energy as a source of income, like Nigeria and Middle Eastern countries which are heavily dependent on petroleum for their incomes. These countries have to diversify their economy so as not to get caught in the ‘oil trap’, as oil/petroleum is a limited resource.

For humankind to yield the maximum potential technologies to attain sustainable and renewable energy, humans need to stick by a few principles. First, humans must accept the idea of renewable energy and be committed to its cause. Secondly, humans need to put away their differences and collaborate with one another in countless of ways to be able to fully utilise the technology and resources it possesses. Thirdly, humans have to continually seek for better forms of innovation/technology and not stay stagnant. Surely there are many other principles out there, but these are the few major ones that humankind face challenges sticking to.

 

Key Takeaway Points:

Biotechnology is an area closely looked at in recent times. Plants are the primary energy source on earth. Photosynthesis of the plant is the main process which gives us energy. Hence energy on the earth comes from the sun.

Humans have made a mistake of using biomass as a source for energy for a long time. Wind and Photovoltaics can generate a much greater amount of energy. This tells us that although humankind constantly makes progress, humans should always continue to seek for further improvements.

The sun provides more energy to the Earth in one hour than humankind uses currently uses in a year. If humankind can capture this energy from the sun it would definitely sustainable. The answer to the problem faced is staring us right in the face. (Sometimes the answers to our questions might be closer than we think.)

 

Personal Rating:

8/9. A good stimulating session after the recess week. Interesting presentations too.