Sustainable Energy Generation and the Challenges - Essay Example

Energy and Development Introduction In the wake of modernity, the demand for energy has steadily increased. In most industrializedsocieties, energy demands are high. Developing countries also face imminent challenges in their quest for development in view meeting their energy demands. In reference to the MDGs, energy plays a strategic role in ensuring that countries attain the desired development status. The stipulations in the MDGs aim at improving human development by reducing poverty and encouraging self sustainability (Boyle, 2004). For the developing countries, attaining the objectives outlined in the MDGs is characterized by challenge inherent in the economic s well as social status of such societies. This paper thematically focuses on energy development in view of attaining the millennium development goals with a bias towards developing countries. Sustainable Energy Generation and the Challenges In reference to meeting energy demands in the developing countries, the focus should be on renewable sources. Over the years, environmental pollution has been a challenge to the human population. In fact, environmental pollution poses the greatest threat to human development. In view of that, in order for the developing countries to meet their goals, the focus has to be in harnessing renewable sources of energy. The sources of renewable energy include, for instance, hydroelectric power. Electricity forms a significant energy source for both domestic as well as industrial consumption. Its generation from hydroelectric turbines makes it a preferred choice since it is relatively non pollutant to the environment. In addition, the fact that it is generated by water through rotating turbines implies that it is renewable since the water used can be used again. Its generation is in tandem with the MDGs since it promotes su8stainable environment. However, in view of developing countries, the challenge they face in generating electricity may be attributed to financial in ability as well as lack of appropriate technological expertise. Solar offers a form of renewable energy which is both cheap and safe to the environment. In addition, the harnessing of solar as a form of energy for the developing counties would create the much needed jobs for economic sustenance. However, there are imminent challenges in adopting solar as the preferred form of energy for the developing countries. For instance, unpredictable weather patterns in some of the demography imply that it can not be relied on throughout the year. Some of the countries, for instance those in Africa, experience tropical weather patterns which fluctuate. Therefore, that would compromise reliance on solar as form of energy in the countries. This affects both domestic as well as industrial consumption (United Nations, 2006). Nuclear energy has been fronted as the more advanced platform fro generating energy. However, the developing countries face a challenge in generating the type of energy based on the levels of their technological sophistication. The countries do not have the technological infrastructure to support such a form of energy generation. For industrial and agricultural demands, such a form of energy would be the most appropriate since it presents an immense potential in terms of meeting large demands (United Nations Industrial Development Organization, 2004). Therefore, in view of attaining the MDGS, specifically in reference to protecting the environment and promoting universal development through partnership, the form of energy could be said to be the most appropriate for the developing countries. However, the challenge it presents from possible threats to human population due to leaks or accidents makes it a not so appropriate choice for the countries which are relatively less developed (Johansson & Burnham, 1993). The LDCs are faced with challenges in meeting their energy demands. The challenges are inherent in the mode of supply of the energy. It should be noted that in the developing countries, the infrastructural development is not as per the expectations. Most of these countries are relatively less developed compared to the industrialized countries. Therefore, in view of meeting their energy supply, they lack strategic infrastructure to support the supply of energy to where it is demanded. This acts as a hindrance towards achieving the MDGs since the rate of economic development is in most cases slowed down. Infrastructure, in this case, refers to facilities like pipelines to supply gas or even oil. In addition, dilapidated road networks slow down the transport of fuel. Electric power has revolutionized human life. However, in the developing countries, it is a common occurrence to find human settlements without the supply in electricity. The absence of electric power in such communities compels them to a disadvantaged lifestyle where the kind of economic activities which can be carried out in such places is always limited. Consequently, this compromises their pursuit foe economic reliability and poverty eradication as stated in the objectives of the MDGs (International Monetary Fund, 2010). Another factor which hinders the developing countries from meeting their energy demands is their economic inability. It is undeniable that the developing countries have limited resources in terms of funds (Maczulak, 2010). Because of their development status, they usually lack the financial capability to initiate large projects aimed at harnessing heir energy resources. For instance, for the countries to meet their energy supplies through electricity generation, they always seek for financial assistance from the developed countries. Therefore, limited financial capability can be stated to be one of the challenges that the countries face in view of meeting their energy requirement as part of their quest to achieve the set MDGs. Conclusion It is the anticipation of the global community that developing countries should strive to attain economic development (Sayigh, 2000). The level of development in a country determines the quality of human life within its demography. It is in view of this that the underdeveloped countries should strive to attain economic reliance. One why of achieving this is through guaranteeing their populace that their energy demands would be met. Energy supply should objectively aim to reach those in industrial or agricultural activities as well as domestic demand. Meeting their energy demand would imply that such countries would able to conform to the stipulations which are outlined in he MDGs. The most important objectives in the MGS in reference to energy generation would be environmental conservation and reduction of the levels of poverty (World Bank, 2011). This is what the developing countries should strive to attain. Bibliography Boyle, G. 2004. Renewable energy. Oxford: Oxford University Press in association with the Open University. International Monetary Fund. 2010. Global Monitoring Report 2010: The MDGs After the Crisis (EPub). New York: International Monetary Fund. Johansson, T., & Burnham, L. 1993. Renewable energy:sources for fuels and electricity. Washington: Island Press. Maczulak, A. 2010. Renewable Energy. New York: Infobase Pub. Sayigh, A. 2000. : World Renewable Energy Congress VI, 1-7 July 2000, Brighton, UKRenewable energy:renewables : the energy for the 21st century . Brighton: Elsevier. United Nations. 2006. The Millennium Development Goals Report. New York: United Nations. United Nations Industrial Development Organization. 2004. Industrialization, environment and the millennium development goals in Sub-Saharan Africa:the new frontier in the fight against poverty, Volume 1. Washington: United Nations Publications. World Bank. 2011. Global Monitoring Report, 2011: Improving the Odds of Achieving the MDGs. New York: World Bank Publications. Read More