The Future Impact of Population Growth on Energy - Essay Example

? Energy strategy meeting the world’s growing population demand: current and future challenges and potential sustainable solutions Introduction This is a research based project that seeks to provide current and future challenges the world faces due to growing demands for energy. It is necessary that the energy demand and the population growth are assessed so as to make proper sustainability strategies. This is why the energy strategies meeting the worlds growing population demand are crucial undertakings that must be considered by the every nation. The current challenges will escalate to future challenges if no properly managed, unless future challenges may overwhelm the world’s energy capacity. Recently president of oil exporting firm Saudia Aramco, Khalid-al-Falih, stated that less than one-third of the globe's seven billion population consume more than two-thirds of its main energy supplies (Pouchot, 2013). This is an indication that consumption rate of energy is high, and when it is higher than necessary then a number of challenges are witnessed immediately and in near future. Current challenges A survey conducted recently revealed that more than eighty five percent of the increase in universal energy demand from 2010 to 2040 projection occurs among the industrializing nations that are not members of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), driven by steady economic expansion and increasing populations. Many economic and geopolitical situations add considerable doubt to any long-term evaluation of world energy markets (U.S. Department of Energy, 2013). Currently, there is broad variation in the financial performance of diverse countries and regions around the globe. This is a challenge since usage of energy cannot be monitored and controlled if no unifying factor is devised to incorporate developing and developed world’s energy agendas. Another current challenge that is being experience is over reliance on fossil energy that is leading to over exploitation and adverse climate change. Renewable energy innovations like solar, hydro, biomass, wind, geothermal energy are already being utilized in various countries. However, a common requirement is that all these energy choices including energy conservation and effectiveness improvement must be industrial so as to be obtainable for practical use. It is impractical to suppose that these choices alone can meet the increase in universal energy demand and simultaneously reduce the reliance on fossil fuels (U.S. Department of Energy, 2013). The population rise and income increase are predicaments that energy stakeholders must give serious consideration to manage current situation and future prospects. Renewable sources of energies face diverse set of challenges, the most pressing of which – and the main factor limiting expansion – is the affordability of financial backings. Continued rapid price reductions are necessitated to maintain the subsidy burden at a satisfactory level as renewable scale up. However, this might not help to encourage production level thus not able to manage population growth. When renewable energy sources are facing challenges of production then fossil energy sources also experience over exploitation. Future Challenges The future challenges that would be associated with energy in 40years to come are just current challenges but on a higher scale if not checked properly at the present. After a detonation in global population and commerce, the world is currently experiencing an urgent energy challenge that is escalating to future. The future challenges of energy strategies depend on how do stakeholders balance the necessities for secure, affordable energy with the pressing matter of climate change. The population growth and economic increase has revealed that it is not simply burning oil, coal and gas that will provide an answer to the globe need for energy. With nations from Japan to the UK depending ever more on imported fossil fuels, and an increase in demand for energy from developing economies, it is necessary to respond with a novel wave of energy production that will guarantee security without compromising the world (Sakmar, 2013). This is a challenge since nations are competing for super power mark thus compromising on energy agendas. Climate indicators reveal that the earth is currently the hottest it since the conception and temperatures are rising at a rate unmatched in the past one thousand three hundred years. Sea levels are increasing, ice panes are losing between thirty and sixty cubic miles of mass annually and the number of intense weather circumstances is rising; due to excessive universal CO2 emissions. These effects are directly linked to current usage of energy and in 40 years to come the situation would be intolerable if no sustainability energy strategies are devised. Nations around the planet are recognising the necessity to prioritise low carbon production in the energy combine. In 2008, the European Commission documented its 20 20 by 2020 package. This set out extensive targets to slash the EU's greenhouse gas discharges by 20% by the year 2020, as well as augmenting the percentage of last energy utilization from renewable energy to 20% (Great Britain, 2008). The challenge that energy utilization faces and will continue to experience is diversities between developing and developed economies. Potential Sustainable solutions The population growth may not be controlled adequately to match necessary energy consumptions rate. This means that energy sustainability strategies must be devised by stakeholders. The following can be implemented as sustainability strategies: Meeting the challenge: Energy challenges affect the whole globe so it is necessary for all governments to set a stable and enduring structure for the private investors to invest in energy sectors to boost and for clients to choose wisely. Governments must give secure access for discovery and expansion of energy resources; define common benefits for resource proprietors and development partners; and institute and maintain a suitable legal and regulatory environment. Energy efficiency: conserving energy through greater effectiveness addresses several challenges. It assists with affordability since less energy is needed when efficiency in usage is maximized. It will be helpful with security because it lessens reliance on particular energy and creates diversity (Sakmar, 2013). Finally, it assists with sustainability since it reduces emissions that affect the climate hence reduces energy production. Innovation can play a major responsibility in improving technology devise, process and use of resources, bringing down expenditure and augmenting efficiency. In transport, for instance, it is a fact that efficient combustion engines and power train innovations assist to conserve energy when combined with the utilization of bio fuels. This can be implemented in order to offer the most effective trail to a secure, lower-carbon future (Great Britain, 2008). To fully implement these energy stakeholders must ensure that energy efficiency is one of the top agendas in their forums. Apart from stakeholders, the fight for energy sustainability amidst explosive population growth is a responsibility of all governments. A diverse mix: this is a sustainability strategy that would assist to regulate usage of overexploited type of energy sources. It is evident that the increasing global energy challenges can only be checked and sustained through a diverse mix of technologies and fuels. A broad mix can improve state and global energy precautions while supporting the evolution to a lower-carbon economy. When production firm and energy producers implement this kind of sustainability strategy then the challenge would be sustainable despite population growth. This is one rationale why BP’s energy assortments comprise shale gas, oil sands, deepwater oil and gas production, wind and bio fuels. Oil and natural gas: Oil and natural gas are probable to play an important part in meeting demand for numerous decades to come. Studies done show that oil and natural gas energy sources would represent approximately 53% of total energy utilization in 2030. It is projected that even under the International Energy Agency’s largely determined climate policy situation, gas and oil would still constitute 50% of the energy merge in 2030, with collective demand projected to surpass current levels in complete terms (Sakmar, 2013). Oil is anticipated to remain the dominant source of transport energy source; however, natural gas is likely to increase sustainability role. The strategy to adopt lower-carbon fuel would be hand to boost sustainability efforts. Renewable energy investment: Renewable, such as wind and bio fuels energy, will play a major function in controlling the challenges of energy security and weather transformation over the long term. Renewable form the fastest-growing energy material, however, they are beginning from a short base. With only some exceptions, renewable are not yet aggressive with transportation fuels and conventional power (Sakmar, 2013). Sufficient strategy support is obligatory to help commercialize effectual lower-carbon choices and technologies, but renewable will eventually need to become gratis from subsidy and financially self-sustaining. Conclusion The population growth has presented a number of challenges to energy sector. To effectively address the energy strategy that meets the world’s growing population demand, current and future challenges must be addressed. The future challenges are associated with current challenges with sustainability strategies being the judgement point. If sustainability strategies are adequately put in place then the future impact of population growth on energy would be minimal. Many researches have revealed that the population growth rate does not match energy generation capacity. In the near future, the world would realize a worst climate and energy shortage is sustainability measures are not put in place. References Great Britain. (2008). The EU's target for renewable energy: 20 % by 2020. London: Stationery Office. Pouchot, F., (2013). Global energy meet highlights challenge of growing demand. Retrieved on 5th November, 2013 from http://phys.org/news/2013-10-global-energy-highlights- demand.html Sakmar, S. L. (2013). Energy for the 21st century: Opportunities and challenges for liquefied natural gas (LNG). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. U.S. Department of Energy, 2013. International Energy Outlook 2013: World energy demand and economic outlook. Retrieved on 5th November, 2013 from http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/ieo/world.cfm Read More