14

ENERGY CRISIS
Energy crisis - some solutions

REVIEW
You have studied earlier forms of energy, and sources of energy and tansformation
of energy. Let us recall some of them.
!

Energy is the capacity to do work.

Energy exists in different forms namely mechanical energy, heat energy,

light energy, magnetic energy, chemical energy, electromagnetic energy,
nuclear energy and solar energy.

There are many sources of energy classified as renewable and

nonrenewable sources.

Carbon and petroleum fuels are extensively used as energy sources for
our daily life.

Solar energy is a perennial energy source.

14.1 INTRODUCTION
The main energy sources being used by us are coal, petroleum, natural
gas and recently nuclear fuels. All these sources are virtually non-renewable
sources. These have accumulated in nature over a long time and can not be
replaced quickly.
It has been estimated that our coal reserves will last for about 200 to
300 years where as our oil reserves are even more limited and will last for
less than 50 years from now. The fear of running out of eaths energy resources,
has created a sort of energy crisis.
Existing energy situation, causes for energy crisis and some remedial
measures are considered in this chapter.

14.2 EXISTING ENERGY SITUATION

Energy consumption by a country gives an idea of the living standard
of the people of that country. It is obvious that the living standard is high in
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developed countries like America and is low in developing countries like India.
America and former Soviet Union together produce and consume about 50%
of the total energy consumption of the world, although their population is only
about 1/8 of the world population. But India with a population of about 1/6 the
of the world population produces and consumes only about 3% of the total energy
consumption in the world. In order to improve living standards of people, there
must be sufficient energy supply to meet the energy demand. According to
the existing situation, energy demand is more than the energy supply inspite
of the fact there has been increase in energy production during the last two
decades. This has led to energy crisis.

ANNUAL OIL PRODUCTION

(BILLIONS OF BARRELS)

The production of energy from non-renewable sources is estimated to decrease

at an alaraming rate. Fig 14.1 gives an idea of the trend of the world production of
petroleum; similar is the case with other types of fossil fuels.

Fig 14.1

Fig 14.2

Quadrillon Btu (2.93 x 1011 kWh)

Quadrillon Btu (2.93 x 1011 kWh)

Approximate regional shares of crude oil production for the year 1999, is
given in Fig 14.2. The world energy consumption is increasing year after year.
The trend is shown in Fig 14.3; the trend of energy consumption in developing
and industrialized countries, is given in Fig 14.4.

Fig 14.3

Fig 14.4
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Million Barrels per Day

Quadrillon Btu (2.93 x 1011 kWh)

Fig. 14.5 shows the trend of world energy consumption of different fuels.
We have to note that, according to projections, there is going to be a decrease
in the consumption of nuclear fuel. This is due to the harmful radiations and
the problem of disposing large amounts of nuclear wastes.

Fig 14.5

Fig 14.6

Fig 14.6 gives an idea of the trend of petroleum use for transportation
and other uses of the world. We can infer from the figure that the road vehicle
population is increasing year after year.

14.3 CAUSES FOR ENERGY CRISIS

The following facts are mainly responsible for the present energy crisis.
(i)

The continuous use of non-renewable sources of energy is leading to

depletion of these sources.

(ii)

Population explosion is the most important factor. World population has

increased by about 100% and the population of our contry has increased
by about 80% during the last three decades; this has led to a
correspondingly large increase in energy consumption.

(iii) Increasing automobile vehicle population has added to the increase in

energy consumption.
(iv) Energy demand is increasing where as energy production is not able
to meet the demand.
(v) Apart from the above factors, there is loss or wastage of energy in various
fields.
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14.4 CAUSES FOR WASTAGE OF ENERGY

Some of the causes for wastage of energy are listed below.
(a) If you are using a bicycle, you know what happens if it is not regularly
oiled; you will have to peddle harder and harder and use more of your
energy. If this happens in an automobile, extra energy has to be derived
from the fuel; in other words, more fuel is required.
(b) Machines are run by supplying energy. If the engine is defective, more
energy is required.
(c) Even small leakages from the fuel tank of an engine, results in cumulative
wastage of energy.
(d) Sometimes, people keep the automobile engines running for long periods,
even when the vehicle is at rest.
(e) Leaking watertaps, dripping taps and leaking gate valves in water pipes,
result in wastage of water and hence wastage of energy.
(f)

Some people are in the habit of keeping water-tap turned on, without
using water during some activities such as face wash, brushing teeth,
dishwashing, washing clothes, collecting water etc., using more water
than necessary.

(g) Water supplied for drinking purposes, is also used for gardening, washing
etc. (note that energy is required in the purification of water for drinking
purposes).
(h) Many people are not in the habit of switching off lights and fans when
leaving their homes. Even when at home, lights and fans are not switched
off in places where not required.
(i)

Wastage of electric power in public places.

(j)

Inappropriate use of heating facilities at home.

(k) Bad conditions of roads result in increased

energy consumption by automobile vehicles.
(l)

Activity?
List the various situations in
which electrical power is
used in appropriately
leading to wastage of
energy.

The current pattern of luxurious style of living in advanced countries,

involves a high level per capita energy consumption. Even in developing
countries like ours, aristocratic people and people getting free energy
supply, are in the habit of using more energy than needed.
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SOME REMEDIAL MEASURES

Remedial measures to overcome energy crises consist of two types. One
is to save energy by overcoming wastage in energy. The other is depending
on renewable sources instead of non-renewable sources.
(a) Proper steps have to be taken to check population grouth and limit
percapita energy consumption.
(b) There has to be proper research and development to design engines
with higher efficiency.
(c) People must be educated to save fuel by periodic checking of engines.
(d) Water has to be saved by attending to leakages.
(e) People must be educated to save electric power and water.
(f)

Good roads contribute to saving of fuel in road vehicles. There must

be a national effort to improve the quality of roads.

(g) People must be discouraged from misusing water supplied for drinking
purposes, by making alternate arrangements for water required for other
purposes. Government has to think in this direction.
(h) Incandescent electric bulbs have low efficiency compared to fluorescent
tube lights (A 40W electric bulb gives only onefifth of the illumination
compared to a 40W fluorescent tube). The introduction of compact
fluorescent tubes, has led to efficiency of illumination and energy savings
(about 70%). Despite higher initial investment costs, fluorescent tubes
are less expensive in the long run.
(i)

There must be some arrangement to control the use of electric power

in public places.

(j)

There will be considerable energy savings by providing people with

efficient and comfortable public transport system.

(k) Significant energy savings can be made, through better cooking

practices in the kitchen, by using efficient stoves and pressure cookers.
(l)

The transmission loss of electrical energy in our country is found to be

about 20 to 40%. Serious efforts must be made by electricity boards
to reduce the loss of energy.
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Note this
Use of firewood (although renewable) must be discouraged because continuous use of
firewood leads to deforestation and adversely affects the environment.
Further use of fossil fuels must be stopped for two reasons: (i) The burning of these fuels
is polluting our environment. (ii) They have to be conserved in the interest of certain industries
such as metallurgy, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals etc.
Production of nuclear energy by nuclear fission must be discontinued in view of the harmful
radiations and the problem of disposal of huge nuclear waste.

(m) An accelerated effort must be made in harnessing renewable sources

of energy, including solar energy.
(n) More and more people must be encouraged to use solar heaters, solar
cookers and solar generators; this leads to considerable energy savings.
(o) Biowaste materials such as animal dung is used as a fuel source with
device like gobar gas plant. This must be carried out on a larger scale.
(p) Production of nuclear energy through controlled reaction of fusion of
hydrogen, has to be explored by the scientists. Once this is realised,
it becomes an all important renewable source of energy.
Note
The term energy crisis has been used with reference to
non-renewable sources of energy. It becomes a myth, if
we consider the enormous amount of solar energy
available to us.

EXERCISE
1. Mention some sources of energy.
2. Make a list of non-renewable energy sources that we use.
3. Give reason for the increased use of fuels and other types of energy.
4. Name the sources of energy which are depleting.
5. Explain the meaning of energy crisis.
6. Make a list of some causes for wastage of energy.
7. Suggest some remedial measures for overcoming the energy crisis.
8. Make a list of methods of saving energy.
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