LONG TERM ENERGY SECURITY

ENERGY SECURITY - LONG TERM

Please use our A-Z INDEX to navigate this site where page links may lead to other sites

HOME | GROWTH | EVENTS | OCEANS | TRANSPORT

POWER - Although some countries act as though there is no energy crisis, in fact they have departments for such matters, that are there to advise for how much longer they can abuse their positions in world politics, to take advantage of other countries and keep on killing species and warming the planet - before their positions as kleptocrats are compromised.

LONG TERM SECURITY

Long-term measures to increase energy security center on reducing dependence on any one source of imported energy, increasing the number of suppliers, exploiting native fossil fuel or renewable energy resources, and reducing overall demand through energy conservation measures. It can also involve entering into international agreements to underpin international energy trading relationships, such as the Energy Charter Treaty in Europe. All the concern coming from security threats on oil sources long term security measures will help reduce the future cost of importing and exporting fuel into and out of countries without having to worry about harm coming to the goods being transported.

RENEWABLES

The deployment of renewable technologies usually increases the diversity of electricity sources and, through local generation, contributes to the flexibility of the system and its resistance to central shocks. For those countries where growing dependence on imported gas is a significant energy security issue, renewable technologies can provide alternative sources of electric power as well as displacing electricity demand through direct heat production. Renewable biofuels for transport represent a key source of diversification from petroleum products.

As the resources that have been so crucial to survival in the world to this day start declining in numbers, countries will begin to realize that the need for renewable fuel sources will be as vital as ever. With the production of new types of energy, including solar, geothermal, hydro-electric, biofuel, and wind power. With the amount of solar energy that hits the world in one hour there is enough energy to power the world for one year. With the addition of solar panels all around the world a little less pressure is taken off the need to produce more oil.

Geothermal can potentially lead to other sources of fuel, if companies would take the heat from the inner core of the earth to heat up water sources we could essentially use the steam creating from the heated water to power machines, this option is one of the cleanest and efficient options. Hydro-electric which has been incorporated into many of the dams around the world, produces a lot of energy, and is very easy to produce the energy as the dams control the water that is allowed through seams which power turbines located inside of the dam. Biofuels have been researched using many different sources including ethanol and algae, these options are substantially cleaner than the consumption of petroleum. "Most life cycle analysis results for perennial and ligno-cellulosic crops conclude that biofuels can supplement anthropogenic energy demands and mitigate green house gas emissions to the atmosphere".

Using oil to fuel transportation is a major source of green house gases, any one of these developments could replace the energy we derive from oil. Traditional fossil fuel exporters (e.g. Russia) struggle to diversify away from oil and develop renewable energy.

AFRICA & INDIA - In 2015 a world report concluded that 1.3 billion people were living in the dark. Rather than looking at this as a problem, we might take the alternative view that this is an opportunity to build a sustainable off-grid supply network using only renewables - so ensuring that what might be perceived as more strain in terms of climate change, might be prevented. We might achieve this with mobile units to begin with, until the affected regions have time to build permanent networks with installed wind and solar energy generators.

You might argue that they are the lucky ones. If they do not get on the development merry-go-round, they have nothing to lose. Once you join the rat-race it is hard to go back to less energy intensive living. There is an argument for not forcing change on tribes who are perfectly happy as they are.

MOBILE SOLAR & WIND POWER - Ideal for villages in Sub-Saharan Africa where electricity is scarce, and tsunami devastated regions in Asia for emergency supplies, units like this can provide stand-by electricity or instant power where none exists at the moment. This is another solution to potential world challenges from the Cleaner Ocean Foundation and Climate Change Trust.

The vehicle shown is part of an experiment in connection with river and ocean cleaning vehicles on water. But is the prototype for larger and smaller mobile power units that may be supplied as off-grid power supplies on a temporary or more permanent basis.

Energy is needed to keep our nations functioning. Humans need energy to survive in the form of food. Farmers need energy to grow food and fishermen need energy to catch fish.

Our homes use energy. Our cars use energy. Our factories gobble energy. Aircraft and ships use energy by the bucket load to deliver cargoes. And finally, we need energy to defend ourselves and know what is going on around us, and that includes looking out to the stars.

If we cannot secure enough energy to operate our countries that causes problems for governments, who start looking to other countries for energy. Sometimes illegally, as per the invasion of Iraq. Wars can start when things get tight.

Energy insecurity leads to political instability and vulnerability, a classic example of which is during the Second World War and petroleum used for aircraft, armaments and troops. Fuel dumps were prime targets to halt the enemy ambitions. Without the fuel they could not fight.

A fear of not having enough energy is therefore, a security issue. You may have witnessed panic buying when petrol is rationed. Civilians queue for hours for petrol and food when there is a threat of fuel shortages.

That is nothing compared to the panic in government offices that start planning scenarios for invading (stealing resources) from other countries they think they can pick on and get away with it. It is as simple as that.

THE LONG & SHORT OF IT

In the short term we are reliant on fossil fuels to take us into an age of long term energy security.

LINKS & REFERENCE

http://www.

Please use our A-Z INDEX to navigate this site

A LACK OF ENERGY SECURITY CAN LEAD TO WARS