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HO - Topic 1

This document summarizes energy use and environmental effects from increased energy consumption. It notes that global energy usage has massively increased since the end of World War II, with most energy coming from carbon-based fossil fuels. Increased energy usage contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide, which have increased from 280 ppm in 1700 to over 360 ppm currently. The political and environmental challenges of curbing emissions to mitigate climate change are also discussed.

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أحمد صلاح الدين
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43 views

HO - Topic 1

This document summarizes energy use and environmental effects from increased energy consumption. It notes that global energy usage has massively increased since the end of World War II, with most energy coming from carbon-based fossil fuels. Increased energy usage contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide, which have increased from 280 ppm in 1700 to over 360 ppm currently. The political and environmental challenges of curbing emissions to mitigate climate change are also discussed.

Uploaded by

أحمد صلاح الدين
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EN0622: Renewable

Energy Technology

Topic 1 Energy Use and Environmental Effects in Numbers.

CONTENTS
I. Energy Use overview
II. Environmental effects

I. Energy Use in numbers


We demand energy at the flick of a switch, whether it be in the home simply turning on a
light in a car. Our way of life depends upon instant access to energy, but we all know that this
growing demand is having a detrimental effect on the environment. The continual use of traditional
fuels is no longer sustainable from an environmental and economic point of view.
In order to put world energy use into perspective Figure 1 below shows growth in global
energy use from 1900 to the mid 1990s. As can be seen there has been a massive increase since the
end of World War II, and seems to be increasing further.

Figure 1.

The total global consumption of energy amounts to 400 EJ per annum (1EJ = 1x10 18 J),
which is equivalent to 2000 litres of oil per capita.
How is this energy use distributed throughout the world – Figures 2 and 3 show the primary
energy consumption per capita by area in tonnes of oil equivalent in specific areas of the world.

1
North America S. & Cent. America Europe
FSU Middle East Africa

Asia Pacific

2254.7 2557.3

261.2
380.3 371.2
908.1
1800.8

North America S. & Cent. America Europe


FSU Middle East Africa

Asia Pacific

26% 31%

3%
4% 4%
11%
21%

Figure 2. The primary energy consumption per capita by area in tonnes of oil equivalent in specific
areas of the world.

2
Figure 3. The variation of the primary energy consumption per capita by area in tonnes of oil
equivalent in specific areas of the world.

Table 1 shows the predicted dynamics of energy use till 2025.

Points to note:
* Rest of the World basically includes all the less developed countries, which constitute 2/3 of the
worlds population, but consume half the energy of the developed world.
* Consumption is steady in the developed world, but on the increase in developing countries.

3
Trends in future energy use:

• Developed countries (the “North”):


– reduction in energy use due to improved energy efficiency;
– manufacturing industry moved to less developed countries;
• Less developed countries (LDCs, the “South”):
– population increase;
– use of cheaper less efficient technologies;
– increase in industrial activity.

What fuels are used to supply the global energy demand ? Figure 4 shows the breakdown of energy
consumption by fuel type. It is clearly dominated by carbon based fuels. "Traditional biomass" is
predominantly the burning of wood in the developing world. It is very difficult to quantify this
figure, and is likely to be much greater than the 10.6% shown.

Figure 4. Percentage contributions of various energy sources to world primary energy consumption
in the year 2002. Total consumption was 451 Exajoules (EJ), equivalent to 10,800 Mtoe. The
average rate of consumption was 14.3 TW. Renewables (large hydro, traditional biomass and
“other”) contributed 18.4% (sources: BP, 2003; United Nations, 2000).

4
Energy use in the UK

• Since 1970 energy consumed has changed:


– Transport: 90% increase;
– Domestic: 25% increase;
– Service: 15.5% increase;
– Industrial: 43% decrease.

Factors affecting growth in energy use


• Growing output;
• increased use of services;
• economic growth;
• increased travel;
• increase in the number of households;
• increase in population.

The demand for energy in the UK has been rising steadily. This increase is linked to the growing
output of goods and services associated with economic growth, increasing travel, rising number of
households and the gradual increase in population. Energy consumption has risen more slowly than
economic growth due to improvements in energy efficiency. However there is still much room for
improvement particularly in the domestic and the transport sector.

Production of Primary Fuels

Figure 5 shows the continuous rise in production of oil and natural gas but decline in the production
of primary electricity (more fuel is used for transportation).

Figure 5.

5
Figure 6 presents the dynamics of the final energy consumption from 1970 and 1999.

industry
transport
sector
domestic
sector

services

Figure 6.

II. Environmental Effects

Environmental effects of increased energy consumption include:


• Emissions:
– Greenhouse gases : Carbon Dioxide (CO2) & Methane (CH4);
– Air Pollution : Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) & Nitrogen oxides (NOX).
• Visual impact;
• Noise pollution;
• Effect on flora and wildlife.

All energy supplies have substantial effects on the environment. Gases from fossil fuels pollute the
atmosphere leading to climate change and acid rain, gases from road vehicles have been linked to
respiratory concerns, burning of wood in developing countries lead to deforestation, and even large
wind farms are considered to be a blot on the landscape! Figure 7 shows the power generation
emissions from different types of plants.

6
Figure 7.

Greenhouse Gases : carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4).


Naturally occurring greenhouse gases maintain the earth’s surface at a temperature of 33oC
higher than it would be in their absence. Water vapour is the most important greenhouse gas, but
there are also significant natural sources of CO2, CH4, ozone and nitrous oxide. However,
industrial activity over the last 100 years has seen an increase in the concentration of greenhouse
gases due to human activity resulting in global warming.
The main concern is the emission of carbon dioxide, which has been identified as the
principal greenhouse gas. Statistics suggest an increase from 280ppmv in 1700 to 360ppmv now
– more than half the increase occurring since 1900. Figure 8 shows the change in the concentration
of CO2 emissions from 1860 to 2002.

Figure 8.

Carbon Dioxide Facts


–in 1700 CO2 levels were 280 ppm by volume;
–in 1999 CO2 levels were 360 ppm by volume

7
–50% of the increase has occurred since 1900

Figure 9 characterises CO2 emissions by locations. The highest emissions are produced in the North
America.

CO2 by location:

Figure 9.

Figure 10 shows CO2 emissions distribution by different sectors.

Figure 10.

8
Political Response:
• KYOTO
– reduce global CO2 emissions by 12.5% of 1990 levels by 2010
– (dropped the 2050 target)
• UK government
– reduce UK CO2 emissions by 20% of 1990 levels by 2010
• US Government
– What about the US? Historically bad …

Countering the effects of increased energy use on the environment requires a global
response and cooperation between the developed and developing world. Developing nations
produce considerably less CO2 per capita than in the developed world, but their consumption of
fossils fuels is rising rapidly and is set to overtake the combined emissions of the developed world
within a few decades. International agreement is required, without affecting the economic growth of
developing countries.
The KYOTO agreement has set a target of reducing global CO2 emissions by 12.5% from
their 1990 levels by 2010. This is clearly a step in the major direction, but even this step is seen as
too much for the likes of the United States where 25% of the worlds emissions are produced.
Emission trading has been proposed whereby the richer countries trade emissions with their poorer
partners!
The UK government has gone further than KYOTO pledging to reduce CO2 emissions by
20% of 1990 levels by 2010. This is very ambitious but a major step in the right direction.

Sources

1. BP, (2001), Statistical Review of World Energy, June 2001 2001


2. DEFRA, Digest of environmental statistics,
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/index.htm. Accessed:
3. Boyle, G., Everett, B., and Ramage, J., eds. Energy Systems and Sustainability. Power for a
Sustainable Future. 2003, Oxford University Press: Oxford.
4. Boyle, G., Everett, B., and Ramage, J., eds. Renewable Energy. Power for a Sustainable
Future. 2004, Oxford University Press: Oxford.
5. DTI, (2004), UK Energy in Brief, July 2004 2004: (available at
http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/inform/energy_in_brief/energyinbrief2004.pdf.)
6. World Business Council for Sustainable Development, (2004), Facts and trends to 2050:
Energy and Climate Change, August 2004 2004, World Business Council for Sustainable
Development,

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