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Fossil Fuels : non-Renewable Sources of 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 1920s, in the total energy supply of the world, coal was at the peak, but later in early 1990s, it accounted for only 26%, while oil shared 40% of the world energy needs.
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These fossil fuels, according to one estimate, are depleting at a rate 100,000 times faster than they are 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 climate change 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.
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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.
Natural gas is another source of energy, and is emerging as an attractive substitute for oil in India. Thus, the future discoveries of energy sources are likely to be more in the area of natural gas.
During early 1990s, natural gas accounted for 17 million tonnes of oil equivalent (‘oe’) which increased to about 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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India’s per capita consumption of energy is 602 kg of oil equivalent (‘oe’) compared to world average of 1540 kg. 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 in the early years of 21st 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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