The future of the energy supply: How will we meet the global demand?

Résumé du document

In this report, both the actual energy demand and future energy demand will be analyzed. World population is actually estimated at six billion people, but in 2025 it could be almost 7.3 billion to reach 9.4 billion in 2050. Maybe, as the population trend shows, energy supply would not satisfy global demand in the future.

As this paper will show, famous energy suppliers like coal, oil, natural gas and uranium would disappear in few years because they are exhaustible. However, much other energy is used, but it represents a little rate of world energy production. Contrary to fossil energies (coal, oil, natural gas) which pollute, renewable energies are not. Thus, the actual question is to know how we can satisfy future global demand.

To answer to this problem, in the first section, we are going to explain each kind of energy and analyze their evolution until today. In the second part, we will analyze the different solutions, methods and policies which can meet future global demand of energy. We are going to speak about the limitations of actual energy. However, we will see that renewable energy is the best solution to meet global demand and decrease pollution. Finally, in this part, we will explain how new environmental policies could improve world environment.

Extraits

[...] The Earth has a finite amount of energy available. What we really need is a renewable source of energy. The truly renewable sources of energy are solar, wind, and water. Truly all energy on this planet comes from our sun. Energy from the sun is absorbed by plants and converted to useful form for all other forms of life. The energy from the sun heats the ocean and land, and produces the water cycle and wind currents. Harnessing the energy from the sun is currently cost prohibitive. [...]

[...] In 1986, a nuclear reactor in Chernobyl blew off its top. After numerous safety concerns were overlooked, the reactor had an uncontrolled chain reaction that melted the steel and concrete lid. Deadly doses of radiation were released into the atmosphere in a 20-mile area. Much of the area is still uninhabitable today. The longterm effect of this accident is still unknown. The only thing we do know is that we can't use this type of energy if it is not safe or handled properly. [...]

[...] Eye On China: China Speeds Up Renewable Energy Development. URL: http://watthead.blogspot.com/2006/11/eye-on-china-china-speeds-uprenewable.html Wikipedia - Chernobyl disaster. [...]

[...] With the saved reserves the current energy demand could be covered theoretically for over 100,000 years. However, the energy generation by renewable energies is still comparatively expensive today. But with the continuing increase of energy prices it becomes more economical / 19 II. How will we meet Global Demand? 1. Limitation of actual energy The future energy supply faces huge requirements. There is a worldwide increase in energy demand. Among others because of the growing world population, higher living standards (e.g. [...]

[...] Thus, today, it should be important to manage this consumption in comparison of this production to avoid the importation of energies, and to be independent Increasing efficiency and new developments in energy consumption & energy production of primary energy Because of the limitation of the primary energy in connection with the rising energy consumption we have to use these resources as efficient as possible and develop new forms of energy generation. Reduction of energy waste On the one hand, the energy use has to be improved. It is efficient to reduce the used energy to what is necessary and avoid superfluous consumption. Sparing dealing keeps the use within limits. This way every household or enterprise can save energy. The rational use of energy should be the first and important starting point for the solution to our energy problems. [...]