Reflection 1

09/11/2014

To really understand the energy related matters, it is essential to understand first the current
status and trend of matters related to energy. This will help in developing a realistic outlook of
energy at lowest level. Energy can be used or transformed to any other form depending upon the
application such as chemical energy, nuclear energy, solar energy etc. There are various criterias
for classifying the energy but important point to note here is that in all transformation, energy is
conserved. Broadly looking at the energy production scenario at global level in Fig 1, United
states of America has been the biggest producer whereas European countries always maintained
average production level .Figure 1 also indicates a very important point that China has become
the largest producer of energy reflecting strong growing economic growth and high level of
energy demand. India is on its way to have higher level of energy production in the future
depending on the GDP growth and political stability.

Total Primary Energy Production (Quadrillion Btu)

100
80

USA

60

Energy Produciton (Btu)

Europe

40

China
India

20
0
1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Year

Figure 1: Total Energy Production [1]

Total Primary Energy Consumption (Quadrillion Btu)

120
100

USA

80

Energy Consumption (Btu)

Europe

60

China

40

India

20
0
1990 2000 2010 2020

Year

Figure 2: Total energy Consumption [2]

Total petroleum consumption (thousand barrels per day)

30000
25000
20000
North America
15000

Petroleum Consumption

Europe
China

10000

India

5000
0
2020
1980

Year

Figure 3: Total petroleum consumption [3]

Figure 4: Petroleum Consumption &

Projections [4]

Analysis of figure 2 indicate that North America and China are the largest consumer of energy
indicating that in developing economies such as India and China, demand of energy is high and
the trend of the graph shows that this demand will increase as the economy grows further.
Petroleum is one of the major form of consuming energy and it also shows similar trends.
However, it is important to note that petroleum products are derived from fossils hence signaling
faster depletion of fossil fuels.

Fig. 5: Comparison of energy consumption of developing (India) and developed country (USA)
To study the energy consumption pattern in recent times between developing and developed
countries, a simple comparison of this pattern has been done in figure 3, 4 which indicates that
developing country like India depends more on coal for its energy needs whereas developed
country like USA, petroleum and natural gas is the major source of energy. Again in both cases,
source of energy is nonrenewable. USA is vigilant enough to harness renewable sources (8%)
then India that just uses 1%. Biomass use in the form of LPG, Biogas, wood etc. appears more
prominent in India then USA showing more dependency on natural resources especially in rural
places. It is strongly felt that since energy consumption is higher in both the countries, more and
more sources of renewable energy should be explored such as wind turbines, solar energy.
Recent energy outlook 2014 report indicate that some countries such as USA, Brazil and china
have started producing biofuels and projections indicate that there will be significant increase in
production of biofuels by 2040.In this context of utilizing renewable resources , Frances
company EDF Energies Nouvelles, a 'green energy' branch of the state-controlled EDF Group is
coming with 96MW wind farm that uses wind turbine blades made up of aircraft material to
prevent problem of radar interference [5].This will be worlds largest wind farm till date
[5].Further, Forbes reported that Los Angeles, city of US having second most number of
streetlights will be using LED in a big way. Forbes reported that during first phase, Energy use
from streetlights fell from 190 million kilowatt-hours to 110 million kilowatt-hours and saving
jumped to 63% [6]. City expects to save $8.8 million on its electric bill this year which is a good
news for hard working tax payers. On the other side of globe in Europe, Dr. Patrik Jones from
Imperial College of London, have reported to produce renewable propane gas that can be directly
used in commercial engine using a bacteria E.coli using photosynthesis converting solar energy
to chemical energy directly [7].Important point to note here is that less amount of energy is
required to transport, store and use than the amount of energy it produces.But there is a dark side
of using some renewable and nonrenewable fuels. Fossil fuel generate high level of CO 2
emissions through power plants and vehicles whereas production of some of potential fuel such
as hydrogen also produce enough CO2 emissions. Hydrogen is produced using steam reforming
or electrolysis presently hence new methods of production are required since these processes are
energy intensive also. CO2 , methane, nitrous oxide are the gases causing global warming. A
study done by Oak ridge National Laboratory USA shown in Fig 2 indicates the same fact. From
the year 1751 to 2000, CO2 emissions have been

Figure 6: Record of CO2 emissions

increasing drastically hence it is important to control these emissions. Measure have been taken
in the past to control and eventually reduce greenhouse gases but still this problem persists.

References:
1. Graph calculated using data obtained from US Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/data.cfm
2. Graph calculated using data obtained from US Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/data.cfm
3. Graph calculated using data obtained from US Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/data.cfm
4. International Energy Outlook , page 4 , September 2014
5. http://www.winddaily.com/reports/Stealth_wind_turbines_to_become_operatio
nal_in_France_in_2015_999.html

6. http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2014/09/10/bright-lights-big-profits/?ss=energy
7. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140902114414.htm

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy

Consumption Survey 2012, June 25, 2014

http://www.eia.doe.gov/consumption/commercial/reports/2012/preliminary/index.cfm?
src=Consumption-b1
Energy resource related Stories
1. Global Usage of energy
2. Different sources of energy catering to the needs
3. Dark side of using energy

Greenhouse gas emisisons at the urban scale Francesco Bellucci1, Jean E. Bogner2, and
Neil C. Sturchio2

http://www.eia.gov/energy_in_brief/article/major_energy_sources_and_users.cfm

http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?
page=environment_how_ghg_affect_climate

CO2 Emissions Vs Years

3500
3000
2500

North America
United States

2000

Million Metric Tons

Europe
United Kingdom

1500

Russia
China

1000

India

500
0
2006

2008

2010

Year

2012