Biotechnology, Environment and Energy
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.
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.
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.
India's 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.
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.