Energy - Sufficiency and
Sustainability
Last one year saw several
nations thought to be leading economies struggling to match their energy needs
and their economic resources. We also witnessed human waywardness as
exhibited in the Russian war on Ukraine, and millions suffering as they were
deprived of energy - for cooking, for getting water in their homes, for heating
in a harsh winter. The cataclysmic blizzard experienced in the East Coast of
North America in December 2022, made people deprived of energy, leading to
tremendous hardships to a people used to the comfort of reliable energy. The
petroleum dependent Europe had been in great trouble as the Russian war led to
curtailments in shipping of petroleum, leading to severe economic and energy
crisis in several countries. Zimbabwe is experiencing severe traffic snarls, as
it is not getting adequate electricity for its traffic lights to run. It is
dependent on Kariba Dam hydro-electric project in Kariba Gorge on River
Zambezi, which it shares with its neighbour Zambia. In short, our modern
world is tending to be severely dependent on fossil fuels, viz., oil, coal and
natural gas - almost 80%, with gradual increase in bio-fuels, nuclear energy
and other sources. But there are also silver-linings on the horizon. It
is reported that 80% of the car purchases of the polar Norway in 2022 was
electric. There is an international airport in Kochi of Kerala state of India,
which is fully run on solar power for the past 4 years!
This energy-economy
equation is the product of Anthropocene development, especially, of the last 2
centuries, substituting human and animal physical energy to turn the
economy around. This in turn, is dependent on solar energy, which reach
them through food as energy stored. Large vessels carrying goods across
the continents, were moved by wind energy, supplemented by humans rowing them.
The minimum needs of cooking and heating across the continents were also met
through the energy trapped in plants put to use in the form of firewood, and
that of lighting, through plant-based oils.
The revolution in
energy-economy scenario came about, with the discovery of the utility of
fossilised fuel, with coal gaining popularity in the 17th century, and
petroleum in the second half of 20th century. With the world becoming
increasingly mobile through the invention of automobiles and airplanes, and
with the discovery of electricity for lighting, heating and all sorts of
mechanisation, energy became synonymous with economic development, and today,
economic development is almost entirely dependent on availability of
energy. Energy sources also have grown over the centuries - from coal, it
migrated to petroleum and natural gas in the 20th century, and thermal and
nuclear reactors for large scale production of electric energy to supply the
growing demands of industrial development.
World total energy by source, 1971-2019
The impact of this development pattern on the planet and biosphere began to be evident by 1970s, especially with the discovery of ozone hole phenomenon, leading the world nations and scientific community to critically look at the development patterns and energy requirements. Reluctantly, slowly, and now steadily, the politics and economics of energy have realised the need to seek alternatives to the 'paradigm of development'. And a new mantra of development has been made popular, especially since the UN Brundtland Report of 1987 - ‘sustainability'. Hydro-electric power, once considered to be a clean energy source, has also begun to be recognized as a threat to the human communities otherwise living on the edges on account of massive displacement of human settlements involved; and to bio-diversity thanks to the mega-scale at which the projects were conceived leading to massive disappearance of flora and fauna.
This reality of energy
dependence and adverse impact of the predominant energy sources, have forced the
world economy to look at energy needs from the angle of efficiency through
precision technology, by curbing the impacts on the biosphere through setting
limits to adverse impacts (emission, pollution), and by seeking alternatives
that are renewable - thus solar, wind, tidal, geo-thermal, bio-mass etc. are
now being looked at as serious substitutes to the
easy-to-harvest-and-transport, but non-renewable fossil fuels.
On the other hand, human
development has taken into account 'affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean
energy' as a requirement for dignified human living, and 2030 sustainable
development goals comprise this aspect as SDG 7. This lays demand on each
individual, institution and political entity to make choices and contribute
towards the set targets to be achieved by 2030:
- universal access to modern and affordable energy
services
- substantial increase of renewable energy in the
global energy mix
- double the improvement in energy efficiency
- promote global cooperation and increase in
investment in clean energy research and technology
- programme support for universal access to clean
and sustainable energy services for all in the developing countries,
especially the least developed, island countries and land-locked countries
among them.
In a country like India, much can be achieved if the
focus of operation in this regard is shifted to the local - decentralised power
generation, capitalising abundantly available, non-exhaustible solar and wind
sources, and even local-minor hydro-electric projects.
A pioneering voluntary venture in this field by a
single individual is the story of Mitradham - the abode of Sun, a replicable
model for local and sustainable energy.
An Idea for Change
The centre
began with the young, energetic and creative Physics professor of Sacred Heart
College, Kochi, getting the insight into the issues the 21st century world will
face - regarding energy needs and climate change - from his post-doctoral
exposure with International Research Institute, Max Planck Institute,
Stuttgart, way back in the mid-1990s. Always a person with a creative
bend of mind - as a poet, a musician, a scientist and a disciple of Christ
belonging to the clerical order of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), Fr.
George did not waste any time to transform the dream into a morphous reality in
the bucolic verdant village of Chunangumvely in Ernakulam district. It is 26 kilometres
away from Kochi airport, the first international airport run totally on solar
energy. (It is worth recalling that the coordinator of the UN acclaim
winning airport solar project was in the delegation of entrepreneurs given
exposure and orientation to renewable energy installations in Germany as a
Mitradham project)
By 1997, the
project was fit for launch in a 10-acre campus. A new building was built
with inspiration from 'Inspiration' the architectural firm led by the
eco-architect Jayagopal. The undulated terrain was left as it was and utilised
to create a structure that would accommodate multiple levels. It could
accommodate 32 residential trainees, and required minimum maintenance with
minimizing on cement plastering and paint on the exposed areas of the building.
Thus, was born, perhaps the first ever fully equipped, residential research cum
training centre for solar energy of India on 1st May 1999.
Gramswaraj in
21st century - Local Self Reliance
From a solar
energy focused centre, it has gradually evolved into an experiment in holistic
living and development. It looks at energy needs as a starting point of
its work. The centre has completed almost a quarter of a century, without
having to depend on the government for power or water supply for this vast
campus, thus proving to be a lesson in local self-reliance (gramswaraj, as
dreamed by Mahatma Gandhi). It has trained over 3000 personnel in various
aspects of solar energy, including basic technology.
Efforts are
made to produce food on the campus - vegetables, tubers, egg, meat, fish,
fruits and spices. With 'dignity of labour' as a foundational principle, manual
labour is part of the Mitradham routine. At 70, Fr. George spends almost
6 to 8 hours tending to the land, fulfilling the creator's call in the Bible,
addressed to every human being: 'to till and keep the earth' (Gen. 2:15-17).
Holistic
Lifestyle - From Text to Context
The centre
provides skill training in technology for food preservation using solar driers
- he has experimented with drying fruits of all sorts, so that the fruits that
go wasted during the harvest season, are able to be gathered, cleaned and dried
for better use during off-season periods. This addresses, on the one hand, the
issue of fruit produces being wasted, on the other hand, gives the twin
advantages of additional income for the producer (farmer or homesteads) and
making safe to eat preserved fruit available throughout the year. The
products made using solar driers were found to be more delicious and cleaner
compared to products otherwise processed.
Mitradham
campus is conceived as a tool for holistic life-style education - there are
installations that convey the messages of healthy life-styles regarding
attitudes to be nurtured in one's life. There is one that gives you the
experience of climbing a tree-house, while providing a panoramic view of the
green farmlands around. There are open air venues for holding lectures,
discussions and interactive sessions adaptable for groups of varying
size. It also provides a few venues for silent contemplation and
meditation.
The campus lies
adjoining paddy fields gradually rising in elevation forming the lower part of
a watershed area. On its northern edge the campus includes some paddy field,
which is cultivated. An area of 50 cents in the low-lying portion of the
land has been converted into a water storage, which also serves the purpose of
a natural fish pond. For the residents it serves as a natural swimming
pool.
Education and
Action for Sustainable Energy & Development
Technically, it
functions as the research and extension centre of Sacred Heart College
(autonomous), Kochi, with focus on solar energy related technology as well as
sustainable development.
Fr. George's
practical approach towards sustainable development has a three-pronged approach
of revering the planet 1) productive action and energy education 2) preventing
pollution starting through cleanliness campaign focussing on waste reduction
and waste management and 3) an earth centred spirituality of joy in living. The
centre initiated a district wise on-foot campaign (padayatra) for 10
years from 2010 to 2020, contributing to the awakening of the region towards
practical measures to be taken in this regard by individuals, institutions and
local bodies.
In the post
covid times, Mitradham is widening its educational trajectory to the finer
realms of human existence while not discarding its original focus on
sustainable energy through dissemination of technology and awareness creation
among community leaders. The new realms it seeks are those of truth seeking and
peace. This is addressed by opening its doors to all people of good will
who are interested in promoting peace and truth to come together and explore
together the means to attain happiness and peace. School and college student
groups, educators, residents of local communities, people's representatives,
voluntary action groups - all make use of the campus for experiential learning
and insights for sustainable living.
R-E-S-T for a Transformed World
Fr. George's
formula for sustaining peace is REST - Renew, Energize, Share and Transform;
which the centre has begun to offer as a package for those who seek and promote
peace. It involves restful and energizing time on the campus, experiencing the
campus energy, exchange of ideas, healthy food and resultant
transformation. In general, all programmes are offered on the principle
of sustainability on a cost-recovery basis.
The vast campus
is a centre of biodiversity with more than 150 species of trees and over
hundreds of herbs. The avian dwellers and visitors come to more than
50. The effort, to my mind, is an effective re-creation of
an earthly paradise - of abundance, joy, sharing and peace, which in
development lingo, can be translated as a model for 'sustainable development'.
It shows that such communities are not impossible. It is beyond a 'surya
namaskar' (sun salutation), but a salutation to the creator of
sun and all other beings (daiva namaskar), through creative ideas and
action for 'the greater common good'.
I hope the effort is
sustained.
But the challenge for
today's youngsters and educational institutions is to draw inspiration, and
replicate the success story in their own homes and institutions. And this
is indeed happening!
Energy Efficiency & You
Various platforms are presented by the governments, industries and world bodies to attain the twin goals of affordable and sustainable energy and prevention of pollution. The most popular among these is the 'World Sustainable Energy Day(s)', a gathering of scientists, industrialists and policy makers since 1992, to familiarise with the developments in the field and share policy frameworks in this regard. This year it takes place from February 28 to March 3, as usual in Austria, with the theme: Energy Transition = Energy Security.
India government's ministry of petroleum and natural gases promotes 'oil and natural gas conservation week' every year in January with various awareness programmes on conservations, pollution free technologies and energy efficiency. It had the tag-line indicating the role of the general public in energy conservation: indhan sanrakshan ki jimmedari - jan gan ki bhaagidhari!
The initiatives of Kerala government, for on-grid solar connections, has revolutionised the state energy scenario with several large institutions, and individual families trying to be energy self-reliant and is a great opportunity for the citizens to contribute to energy sustainability
Towards Carbon Neutral Communities: Suggested Activities for the Youth, Academic Institutions and Youth Organisations
1. Assessment of energy needs - (i) Personal level (ii) family/home level (iii) institutional level where one works. Science teachers can train students to do this.
2. Identifying ways in which energy is wasted, both technological aspects as well as management aspects
3. Identifying opportunities for increased efficiency through affordable substitutes (eg. BLDC fans, LED lamps etc.)
4. Increasing awareness and generating a collective resolve for reducing energy demand in the domain of transport - opting for public transport, non-motorised vehicles (bicycles), electric vehicles - bicycles, motorbikes, cars etc.
5. Green energy homes - homes powered by solar/wind energy, and bio-energy from domestic waste.
6. Annual Energy Expo presenting latest developments in the
area of sustainable energy
https://www.globalgoals.org/goals/7-affordable-and-clean-energy/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development
https://www.edudwar.com/world-sustainable-energy-day/
https://www.iea.org/reports/key-world-energy-statistics-2021/supply
https://www.scienceandinventions.com/who-discovered-coal/
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