Energy Crisis- Lady Reyes

In the past 2 years, oil prices have continued to soar, hence causing record-breaking fuel and heating costs throughout the world. So, what is behind the rise in oil prices? According to OPEC President Purnomo Yusgiantoro, scarcity is not the issue. “OPEC already oversupplies, but oil prices are too high.... This is not a supply and demand balance problem. This is not because of fundamental factors.” Is he right? Let’s explore further. Over the last few years, it seems that we are becoming tremendously defensive over their natural resources-specifically crude oil which we need in our everyday life. Those people who have been waiting for crude prices to fall might have to keep on waiting because there was news that Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) may cut production is an understandable warning that they are trying to defend higher oil prices. That will be certain if oil supplies continue to increase. Despite investing more than $60 billion in capital spending, the major oil companies are finding it difficult to boost their production. The largest drop came from Shell, which experienced a 4.5% decline in oil and gas output. The limited supply of fossil fuels coupled with their contributions to global warming, air pollution and acid rain makes it clear that alternative forms of energy will be needed to fuel industrial production and transportation.

The modern world survives on a steady diet of energy that is obtained from a wide variety of places and is used in an even wider variety of ways. The undeniable dependence of our modern culture on energy has both positive and negative effects on the world we live in. While our lives get more convenient, the environment is suffering. While technology is used to improve the quality of life, our non-renewable energy resources are depleting. The double edged sword that is our energy reliance is a constant compromise between what the world wants, and what the world has. While solutions to these problems are difficult to enact, the world must be wise in the way that it consumes and uses the energy resources it has. Most of us have heard about something called the “oil crisis.” Many people understand the basic idea, but what most people don’t realize is that the oil crisis is an unstoppable global phenomenon that will permanently change the way we live.

There is a solution to the threatening energy crisis--a solution that will include many energy technologies and practices. The plan for success will not only include alternative and renewable energy, but the economic harvesting of remaining and unconventional oil sources as well. There are many causes why this happened and I would like to point out some of the highlights.

First, pipeline malfunction and other accidents may cause minor disturbances to energy supplies. It may happen after infrastructure dame due to terrible weather. The major and even minor attacks by the terrorists on foremost infrastructure are probable headache for the energy consumers because it can cause global shortages. Take in consideration the political events. When the governments alter because of regime change, monarchy falls down, military career, and coup may disturb oil and gas manufacturing and thus creating shortages. Second, monopoly manipulation of markets is the reason why market failure happens. Crisis may grow because of industrial actions like union organized strikes and government restriction. The cause may be over-consumption, ageing infrastructure, choke point interruption or bottlenecks at oil refineries and port facilities that control fuel supply.

In addition to these causes, there are also effects that we must consider. The macroeconomic implications of a supply shock-induced energy crisis are great, because energy is the source used to make use of all other resources. Energy shortage develops when energy market fails. Electricity consumers may experience blackouts which are on the loose during periods of inadequate supply or unanticipated power outages, not considering the root. Developed nations are reliant on oil, and efforts to control the supply of oil may have an unfavorable result to the economies of oil producers. Because of increases to fuel costs which are passed on to customers, tourism trends vary and ownership of gas-guzzlers differ. People may choose not to travel or to go to other places because it will cost them a lot. The increasing price of man’s necessities like food, rental and fare are visible. For me it is like a chain reaction which means that if the fuel starts to increase, the next day or even later, our needs will also increase.

Meanwhile, we all know that this problem has a very big impact on our life. But are there really valid reasons why we should be aware of it? Or do we even bother to care for this issue? YES. It also needs to be unraveled as possible as can be because we are also the ones who will suffer the consequences of it. Energy is needed to lessen and eventually get rid of poverty, hunger and suffering. I am sure that if ever we ask a person what she/he would definitely like, I expect that she/he would agree that what she/he really wants these things: Freedom from hunger, freedom to believe and practice personal lifestyles; not infringing on others, freedom from infringement on personal liberties and lifestyles by others, freedom to love friends & family and freedom to pursue happiness. These things surely require direct forms of energy; which is used to build shelter and produce and distribute food, goods and services.

These are all revolving to personal liberty and freedom. While most may not believe that “freedom and energy” are linked, I believe they are but it is based on a Global scale. We need energy for everything, from power to paraphernalia and transportation, power to produce goods and transport services, power to rejuvenate our information networks; they are all related to energy! As conservation raise, energy lessens. These are my proposed solutions regarding this issue. First is the Biomass which is plant matter such as trees, grasses, agricultural crops or other organic material. It can be used as a solid fuel, or can be transformed into liquid or gaseous forms for the production of electric power, heat, chemicals, or fuels. Next is geothermal energy. How does it work? Some systems pump hot-water into permeable sedimentary hotspots found underground and then use the steam to generate electricity. Then the used steam is condensed and sent back down to the permeable sedimentary stream. Another system utilizes volcanic magma which is still partly molten at around 650 degrees, Celsius, to boil water which would generate electricity. Also there is a system which uses hot dry rock, which is just hardened magma, but still is extremely hot. To recover this heat from these rocks, a system is used which circulates water through the rock and transfers the heat up to a steam generator. The first system listed here is not as useful as other methods because of the acidic nature of the fluids found under the ground. These acidities require a lot of maintenance and upkeep on the equipment, and this cost reduces the economic effectiveness of the system. Therefore, geothermal energy systems are more inefficient than other alternative energy sources because of the costs required in upkeep and the shortage of potential sites. Third is the nuclear energy. I found several reasons why we should advocate this method:
the energy produced per amount of material consumed is the highest available
costs are competitive with coal, the major source used in the world
uranium, the source material, is abundant
plutonium, a by-product of commercial nuclear plant operation, can also be used as a fuel
the amount of waste produced is the least of any major energy production process
Nuclear energy provides benefits other than electricity generation.

Fourth is the solar energy. One of the greatest advantages of solar energy of course is that there is no carbon dioxide, methane or other emissions that warm the atmosphere. Again, manufacturing and installation of solar appliances are necessarily accompanied by some of those emissions. It is not a finite resource as fossil fuels are. While the sun is up there it constantly produces all the energy we can use. In some poorer countries where people have used kerosene and candles for domestic heating and lighting, respiratory diseases and impaired eyesight have resulted. Many people have been burned through accidents involving kerosene heating. Solar energy, especially with excess energy stored for night-time use, overcomes these problems. Fifth and sixth are the hydro and wind energies. Many countries in the world use hydro energy for conversion to electricity. Canada maintains the highest use, while the United States comes in second. One of the main reasons that hydro energy is used is that it is a renewable energy, meaning it will not be depleted over time and it will consistently be replenished. It is also a clean energy source, as it does not emit any toxins. Wind energy’s advantages on the other hand is first, is it is ample. Secondly, wind energy is renewable. It is widely distributed, cheap, and also reducing toxic gas emissions. It is also advantageous over traditional methods of creating energy and also along with economy, it is also said to diminish the greenhouse effect. It generates no pollution. The wind will exist till the time the sun exists, which is roughly another four billion years. Theoretically, if all the wind power available to humankind is harnessed, there can be ten times of energy we use, readily available.

Meanwhile, these are the "alternative fuels" that are fuels that aren't made from petroleum. There are many kinds of fuels that vehicles can run on that aren't made from petroleum. The United States Department of Energy officially recognizes this list of alternative fuels:

Alcohols - ethanol and methanol.
Compressed natural gas (CNG) - natural gas under high pressure.
Electricity - stored in batteries.
Hydrogen - a very special type of gas.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) - natural gas that is very, very cold.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (also called propane) - hydrocarbon gases under low pressure.
Liquids made from coal - gasoline and diesel fuel that doesn't come from petroleum.
Biodiesel - a lot like diesel fuel, but made from plant oil or animal fat.

We use energy constantly at home, at work and for leisure. Energy maintains our standard of living and economy. Nowadays we take it for granted that energy is available whenever we want it. But once we only had candles... they were used to light our homes before the industrial revolution. Wood or coal fires provided heat for cooking food and for keeping us warm. Walking was then the only form of transport for most people. Since then, a vast array of energy devices and systems has been developed. These transform energy from sources provided by nature (coal, oil, gas, wind, sun and nuclear fuels) into other forms that we can use. As the population grows so do our energy demands. I hope that we can somehow try having a strict implementation in using the alternative forms of energy so that we can avoid depending on other countries. A sustainable energy supply, both in the short- and the long-term, is needed for promoting both economic development and people's quality of life, as well as protecting the environment. We also need a greater diversification of energy resources - if we are largely dependent on one fuel source, we risk price rises and supply disruptions. Energy is a precious resource which must be conserved. Improved energy efficiency, therefore, in our homes, factories and transport needs to be strongly encouraged.