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Biotechnology,
Environment
and
Energy -
The
economic
prosperity
of
any
region
(or
country)
in
the
world
is
closely
linked
with
the
level'
of
its
energy
consumption.
With
the
Industrial
Revolution
in
the
Western
Hemisphere,
there
was
a
quantum
jump
in
the
consumption
of
fossil.
fuels
(non-renewable
energy
sources)
like
coal,
petroleum
and
gas.
Although
during
192Os,
in
the
total
energy
supply
of
the
world;
coal
was
at
the
peak,
but
at
present,
it
accounts
for
only
26%
while
oil
shares
40%
of
the
world
energy
needs.
These
fossil
fuels,
according
to
one
estimate,
are
depleting
at
a
rate
100,000
times
faster
than
they
the
being
formed
and
are
therefore,
classified
as
non
renewable
energy
sources.
The
depleting
energy
resources
coupled
with
increasing
demand
for
energy
are
posing
a
threat
to
the
global
ecosystem
in
terms
of
climatic
changes
and
health
hazards.
In
view
of
this,
there
is
a
conflict
between
economic
development
and
environmental
issues,
so
that
in
the
interest
of
protecting
the
environment,
various
policies
for
energy
supply,
use,
and
conservation
are
being
framed,
both
in
the
industrialized
and
developing
countries.
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In
the
year
1973,
when
the
first
oil
crisis
was
witnessed,
the
oil
price
was
doubled
and
quotas
were
introduced
by
OPEC
countries.
At
this
time
oil
constituted
nearly
half
of
the
world's
annual
share
of
primary
energy
consumption.
The
growth
rate
of
oil
consumption
during
the
period.
1950-1973
was
7.5%
per
annum,
this
rate
being
higher
(8.8%)
in
developing
countries
than
that
(6.9%)
in
the
industrialized
nations.
In
India,
the
demand
for
petroleum
products
is
growing
at
a
compound
rate
of
7%
per
annum.
With
two
consecutive
oil
shocks
in
1973
and
1979,
oil
consumption
pattern
changed
in
developed
countries,
where
more
efficient
use
of
oil
and
its
substitution
by
other
fuels
led
to
reduced
consumption.
However,
in
countries
like
India,
due
to
non-availability
of
viable
alternatives,
the
growth
rate
of
demand
for
oil
consumption
has
been
inelastic
despite
the
oil
prices
being
the
highest
in
international
market.
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Natural
gas
is
another
source
of
energy
and
is
emerging
as
an
attractive
substitute
for
oil
in
India.
Thus,
the
future
discoveries
are
likely
to
be
more
in
the
form
of
natural
gas.
At
present,
natural
gas
accounts
for
17
million
tonnes
of
oil
equivalent
('oe')
and
geological
estimates
indicate
that
the
gas
availability
will
increase
to
30
million
tonnes
of
oil
equivalent
by
the
year
2000.
The
natural
gas
is
also
preferred
over
oil,
because
it
burns
cleaner
and
offers
great
potential
for
conservation
of
energy.
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Indias
per
capita
consumption
of
energy
is
206kg
of
oil
equivalent
(oe)
compared
to
world
average
of
154Okg.
Oil
continues
to
be
the
most
important
source
of
energy
in
India,
which
continues
to
import
oil
(in
1990-91,
India
imported
Rs
10,000
crores
worth
of
oil)
and
meets
only
52%
of
its
requirements
through
indigenous
production.
Projections
on
the
energy
demand
by
the
end
of
the
present
century
are
alarming
and
are
estimated
to
be
400
million
tonnes
per
year
for
coal,
100
million
tonnes
per
year
for
petroleum
and
1,00,000
MW
per
year
for
power.
This
energy
scenario
poses
a
great
challenge,
not
only
to
our
technical
and
managerial
abilities,
but
also
to
our
environment,
which
is
under
great
pressure.
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In
view
of
the
above,
although
strategies
are
being
discussed
and
implemented
to
meet
our
basic
energy
needs
on
short
and
medium
term
basis,
we
need
to
recognize
that
our
hydrocarbon
reserves
can
not
last
indefinitely.
At
the
present
rate
of
production
and
consumption,
our
oil
reserves
may
hardly
last
for
another
20-30
years
.
In
view
of
this,
we
need
to
participate
in
developing
non-conventional
sources
of
energy,
such
as
solar
energy,
wind
geothermal
energy,
etc.
The
solar
energy
can
be
harvested
in
the
form
of
biomass
through
the
use
of
waste
material
and
by
growing
energy
crops
(petrocrops).
It
can
also
be
harvested
through
the
use
of
microorganisms,
which
can
convert
solar
energy
into
chemical
energy
in
the
form
of
molecules
like
glycerol
(from
salt,
H2O,
and
CO2)
and
hydrogen
(
from
H2O).
These
energy
sources
are
renewable
and
offer
less
polluting
alternatives,
since
petroleum
consumption
and
also
production
of
varied
organic
substances
by
fermentation
(this
leads
to
production
of
CH4
and
CO2
lead
to
environment
pollution.
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