ENERGY CRISES
(Life breath of modern civilization-sources of energy supply is limited, demand unlimited – function of private sectors new alternatives to conventional sources-latest discoveries- conclusion)
Energy is the life breath of modern civilization. Life itself is energy based. Life derives energy for its sustenance from the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the sun rays that fall on our skin. Energy is crucial for all our growth and development. Machines which keep its wheels going need a constant supply of energy. We need energy for our planes, trail and other automobiles. Energy is also necessary for domestic purposes like cooking, lighting, washing, entertainment etc.
The Conventional sources of energy which are now widely used all over the world are fossil fuel, wind, water and sun. Fossil fuel covers coal, lignite petroleum and natural gas. We generate electric power with the help of hydro-power, atom power and thermal power.
The demand for energy is increasing day by day with the multiplication of industries and the rapid expansion of residential areas. Nature has a limited store of energy. But our demand is unlimited. This is the reason for the energy crisis. If the demand for energy goes on at the present rate then a day will come when some countries of the world including Indiawill run short of energy. Fossil fuel may be exhausted within a few decades. This apprehension necessitates searching for alternative sources of energy like solar energy, nuclear energy, bio-gas etc.
There is a vast scope in the emerging power sector for private companies. The World Bank has rightly suggested the privatisation of State Electricity Boards. Odisha has established a milestone by opening its power sector to private companies. Power generation and supply has been regularised in Odisha. Other states are following Odisha.
Nuclear, solar, wind and biogas energy are suitable alternatives for fossil fuel energy. Now there are four atomic power stations in India. They are Tarapur Atomic Power Station, Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalapakkam, Narora Atomic Power station, Uttar Pradesh and Kakrapar Power Station, Uttarpradesh. The Rajasthan Atomic Power Stationattained criticality in December 1972.
Today scientific research is going on developing new and renewable sources of energy. The use of non-conventional sources of energy like wind, tidal-waves, bio-gas and solar-energy in India is limited to non-commercial and small domestic purposes. These renewable, non-conventional sources of energy hold out major promise to overcome the energy crisis. Biogas can be increasingly used as cooking fuel in villages and towns. It will be cheaper and convenient than LPG. The slurry from biogas can be used as enriched manure. Solar energy also holds great promise as a source of clear, Convenient and cheap source of energy. Today solar lights and cookers have started to gain popularity. In hospitals, government offices, hostels, etc. water is purified by solar energy. Receitly biodiesel has been developed in India and in a few years trains will run on biodiesel. Bio-diesel will be extracted from the seed of a shrub which grows all over India. It will be far cheaper than diesel also.
The day is not far away when India would be one of the leading nations of the world to tap bio-energy and solar-energy to Overcome the present energy crisis. With that, we must be cautious about sagacious use of different forms of energy like petrol, diesel and electricity. The slogans “save fuel, save the world, save electricity, save human race, save water, save life must echo in every one heart.