Ning Yu 18/6/09 08:49 Page 22
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Ning Y Ning Yu
King Edward VI Grammar School
Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3SA
Over the last few years the question of how we can satisfy our losses made in this sector of the industry in the past few months, it
energy needs while sustaining our environment has lifted itself off is unlikely that raising the current efficiency of energy production is
the dusty shelves of academics and into the minds of the general on everyone’s mind.
public with an ever-increasing sense of urgency. However, global
energy consumption is still climbing. Various statistical reviews all Another possible solution that can also be seen in Figure 1 is the idea
reiterate the same facts: there is a year-on-year increase averaging of bioenergy. This consists of energy generated from recently
2.5% per annum in our use of these vital resources. Even if the rate produced biological material. Examples include plant-based fuels
of this increase is slowing down, would we be able to generate such as ethanol (fermented sugar beets or canes) or biogas from
enough energy to sustain our current (if not high) standard of living decomposing manure, as used in rural parts of southern Asia and the
for the future without upsetting the delicate and rich balance of Indian subcontinent. The one major advantage of harnessing the
biodiversity around the world? The increase in global awareness of energy released from biological waste is its availability. Take biogas
this impending crisis means an increase in the socioeconomic or Gober gas, for instance: due to its simple implementation and use
pressure for governmental think tanks and energy providers to and low cost, it is hailed as the ultimate fuel in developing countries.
conjure up the ‘perfect’ solution to please the crowd. Such a Cow manure is directed into household plants (see Figure 2) that are
solution would be possible only with the aid of everyone involved. also filled with wastewater; this produces up to 60% methane gas
that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere if not
Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG) such as water harnessed. This gas is then tapped off directly into the household to
vapour are the most notable culprits behind global warming; very be used directly; it is odourless and combusts effectively under
few sceptics would disagree. The rising sea levels, extreme weather standard conditions. Left-over material from the plants can be used
and changes in the seasonal patterns in the ecosystem that occur as as a natural fertiliser; nothing is wasted. This is very effective at
a result of global warming are doing serious and possibly reversible supplying the energy demands of fast growing and industrialising
damage to our environment, according to studies conducted by the countries, including but not limited to Brazil, Russia, India and China
US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In the (BRIC), who in 2008 accounted for up to half of the total energy
search for more resources we need to look towards fuels and consumed by the world.
processes that would provide us with energy without the excess
carbon dioxide and other GHG emissions. The Bellona Foundation is A disadvantage in the usage of biofuels is connected to the use of
a non-profit organisation both working as a watchdog for cases of plant-based fuels. They claim to be ‘carbon-neutral’ – citing
industrial pollution and analysing the data that could be used to photosynthesis as the medium by which the carbon dioxide produced
combat climate change. In a recent report they produced a very from utilising the plants are taken in during growth. This neglects a
interesting graph (see Figure 1). It shows the predicted GHG few very important points. The process is not completely carbon-
emissions from 2005 to 2050. From it, the most noticeable reduction neutral, as the processing of these plants into useful fuels involves a
at approximately 20% in 45 years is the increase in efficiency. This is lot of energy input. The plants that are to be processed for usage are
very much the case: by increasing the efficiency of energy extraction usually grown on either deforested land or farmland. Growing them
methods we would save on fuel, move closer towards achieving the on deforested land defeats the point of the exercise as forests
maximum theoretical yield and also reduce the amount of potentially (tropical or otherwise) are major carbon sinks – older and larger trees
harmful products that are a result of the extraction process. are able to take up much more carbon dioxide than the corn or cane
plants that are used for fuel. They are also such unique and special
The downside to this is the lack of incentives for a business or habitats with a startlingly amazing array of wildlife that we are doing
co-operation to resort to high-efficiency methods unless it is serious damage to the biodiversity of the planet with deforestation of
absolutely necessary. The costs of developing and implementing new this scale. If grown on farmland on a large scale, the country risks
processing methods would be very high, and in terms of return and rising food prices. Mexico is an example. Corn, which is a staple in the
capital employed it would be unprofitable for the business. This Mexican diet, grown there is exported as biofuel as it is much more
problem can be overcome with the increase in government funding profitable than selling it as food inside the country. This has led to a
into research for more ways for producing and using resources more rise in the price of corn flour in Mexico, much to the dissatisfaction
efficiently. However, in the current economic climate, amid huge of the people not directly on the receiving end of the profits.
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