ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AS VEHICLE FOR SUSTAINABILITY

AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Prashant Mehta

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science, National Law University, Jodhpur
Email: prashantmehta1@rediffmail.com

Learning Objectives
Understanding different energy sources (both Non Renewable and
Renewable) with respect to their advantages and disadvantages.
Understanding how switching form Non Renewable to Renewable
Sources (Alternative Energy) help in environment protection and long
term sustainable development.

Acknowledgement: 2001/Brooks/Cole Publishing/ITP

Definition: Sustainable Development

The original definition of sustainable development was that given by the
World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987:
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainable Development' usually refers to some form of modern
technological society, with business taking responsibility for its impact
on society and the environment.
It is a process that can be maintained in its current state of productivity
over long period of time.
Sustainable development is about growth.
Sustainability is about costs and benefits of Todays actions against costs
and benefits of Tomorrows actions.

Energy & Environment

But sustainable development is about more than the energy and
environment. It is based on four components:

Identification and prudent use of Resources

Protecting the Environment
Economic Growth and Social Progress
The target is a better quality of life for everyone now and for generations
to come.

Energy Problem
Energy problems are back at the top of the world's agenda due to
combination of factors.

Rising oil and Gas Prices

Prospect of Diminishing Fossil Fuel Resources
Rising Atmospheric Pollution (oil and gas emissions & burning of domestic fuels)
Climate Change with evident effects on Global Warming
Increasing concern about security of supply, thereby underlining the vulnerability of all
industrial countries.

The Two Principle Problems with Energy Management:

Failure for policy makers to understand the concept of exponential growth.

Failure for legislation to be formulated and passed to give us a long term energy
strategy

World Energy Consumption

Where do we get our energy?

Non Renewable Energy Sources

Oil

Natural Gas

Coal

Nuclear Fission

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Oil as

an Energy Resource

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Gas as

an Energy Resource

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Nuclear

Energy as an Energy Resource

Impact

Many of our sources of energy generation influence the health of the environment.
The burning of any of these resources produces some form of atmospheric pollution.

The combustion of coal releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide
and sulfur dioxide and small amounts of highly toxic uranium, lead, cadmium,
mercury, rubidium, thallium, and zinc. These chemicals contribute to enhancement
of the green house effect, photochemical smog, acid deposition.

The burning of petroleum fuels emits about 30% of the carbon dioxide added to the
atmosphere annually. Carbon dioxide is one of the dominant green house gas and its
increase in the atmosphere may bring about a warming of the Earth's climate.

The use of oil for energy also releases hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides.

Occasionally, transported oil is spilled into the environment where it takes its toll on
wildlife / aquaticlife .

Burning any fossil fuel releases carbon dioxide into

the atmosphere and thus promotes global warming.
Comparison of CO2 emitted by fossil fuels and nuclear power.

Impact

Renewable Energy
Energy can also be derived from several other sources that are infinite
in their supply. These renewable sources of energy include: the sun,
moving water, biomass, wind, and geothermal energy.

Solar Energy Sun Energy / Photovoltaic

Hydroelectric Power - Potential energy of water
Wind Power Energy of Air
Energy from Biomass Plant materials
Geothermal Energy - Earths internal heat
Tidal Energy - Tidal rise and fall / Wave Action
Hydrogen Fuel of Future

Solar Energy

Hydroelectric Power

Wind
Wind Power
Power

Biomass

Fashion Terminology
Smart Power
Pure Energy
Energy Harvesting
Green Power
Sustainability
Conservation
Clean Environment
Power Max
REDESIGN REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE

Picture Perfect

Sustainable Energy Use

From an environmental stand point, our current patterns of energy use
are plagued with three major problems:
Energy derived from the combustion of fossil fuels creates large scale
environmental degradation in the form of global warming, acid
deposition and various forms of atmospheric pollution.
Supplies of fossil fuels are finite.
Many of human processes that require energy use this resource in a
highly inefficient manner.
Projections of energy use into the middle of the next century suggest
that demand for this resource will increase by approximately 400%.
This increase in consumption will be driven by population and
economic growth. However, environmental degradation and constraints
on supplies of fossil fuels will force the human population to modify the
way it uses and consumes energy.

Suggestions to make the transition to a

more sustainable energy future

Future Trends

Reduced use of fossil fuels because of the need for environmental protection and
increases in resource costs.

Increased use of technologies that make the burning of fossil fuels safer for the
environment.

The development of more efficient human systems of energy use. Studies suggest
that industrialized economies can significantly reduce their use of energy
through conservation and technological innovation.

Increase reliance on renewable energy resources like biomass, solar, wind,

geothermal, and hydroelectricity.

Development of new technologies for the production of energy. Some scientists

predict that fusion may become a major source of energy for human needs within
50 years. Fusion produces far less dangerous radiation than fission and very little
waste. Its fuel, deuterium, is also virtually inexhaustible.

Summary

Conservation is king
Alternative energy can provide a
good deal of our energy needs and
costs are decreasing.
Wind power, solar and biomass
systems appear to be increasingly
feasible.
Global warming may encourage
development
A consistent and sustained national
energy policy is required to
promote development of alternative
energy sources.

SAFE EARTH SAVE EARTH

THANKS