In this blog post, we will look at whether humanity can survive with sustainable energy amid the crises of resource depletion and environmental destruction.
Energy is an essential element of our lives. We use energy from oil to drive cars and gas to cook. Electricity is the most commonly used energy in our daily lives. However, these energy sources will eventually run out. Oil, coal, and gas are limited resources on Earth, and electricity is also produced using oil, gas, or nuclear power, so it is inevitable that they will eventually run out. This is an undeniable fact. So, will the depletion of energy resources lead to the extinction of humanity? No.
The resources we currently use are very limited. There are various substances on Earth, and all substances have energy. However, the resources that can be converted into energy that humans can use are limited, and this is closely related to human technology. For example, in 1821, Michael Faraday invented the electric motor, making it possible to produce electricity industrially. It has been less than 100 years since the use of nuclear energy as an energy source. Oil, which has been an important energy resource since the Industrial Revolution, was discovered 2,000 years ago, but at the time it was only used as plaster and was not used as an energy resource. However, as time goes by, humanity will be able to survive a little longer if it is possible to extract resources that could not be extracted or to convert new resources into energy.
In the 2010s, shale gas brought about a major change in the energy industry. Shale gas refers to natural gas and oil contained in sedimentary rock strata. After the technology for extracting shale gas was discovered in 1998, it has only recently begun to have a significant impact on the energy industry. The amount of shale gas reserves discovered so far is expected to be enough to last for more than 200 years. Although the processing process is more complicated and less economically efficient than conventional petroleum, it has nevertheless become a resource to replace petroleum.
Another example is biomass. Biomass is a method of obtaining energy by burning wood or other organic matter, and is broadly divided into first-generation and second-generation biomass. First-generation biofuels are food-based biofuels such as corn, while second-generation biofuels are based on agricultural and urban waste. Biomass can be converted into heat or gas for use in internal combustion engines, or converted into biodiesel for use as a fuel for vehicles.
However, these resources are limited and will eventually run out. Shale gas and oil are also resources that cause environmental pollution, and shale gas in particular is extracted using the hydraulic fracturing method, which can increase seismic activity or cause groundwater contamination. Biomass is also a sustainable resource, but first-generation biofuels are based on food, which has the disadvantage of exacerbating food shortages. Second-generation biofuels have not yet been commercialized, and there are also problems that exacerbate environmental problems during the combustion process. In the end, even if technology is developed to find new resources, resource limitations and environmental pollution problems still remain. So, is humanity doomed to perish?
Fortunately, humanity has the sun, an almost infinite source of energy. We can produce sustainable energy using the sun. All of the resources mentioned above, except for biomass, are not sustainable. For reference, biomass is classified as a renewable energy source by the EU and the UN because it uses plants. Ultimately, the resources we use will eventually run out and cause serious problems for the environment. However, we can reduce these problems by using solar energy.
The first thing that comes to mind is solar power. Solar power is a method of converting solar energy directly into electrical energy using solar cells. When sunlight hits the solar cells, electrons are emitted due to the photoelectric effect, which generates an electric current and thus produces electricity. This technology is used in various fields, from ordinary homes to satellites. In addition, solar energy can be used to heat water or generate steam to turn turbines and generate electricity.
In addition to solar energy, there are other energy sources that use natural phenomena, such as wind, geothermal, and tidal energy. Wind energy uses wind, geothermal energy uses underground heat, and tidal energy uses the difference in water level or waves.
However, these renewable energies are not yet as efficient as conventional fossil fuels. Solar energy requires a very high initial installation cost and a large area. There is also the disadvantage that solar power cannot be generated at night. Wind power is not a reliable source of power because the wind is not constant. Geothermal power requires a volcanic area, and tidal energy is less economically efficient because the technology is underdeveloped.
However, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Energy Outlook 2017, these problems are being addressed quickly. Renewable energy is steadily increasing thanks to falling prices and policies in various countries. By 2024, renewable energy is expected to account for 30% of global power generation, and its share of heat consumption will also gradually increase.
Therefore, sustainable energy sources are growing rapidly, and technological advancements are needed before existing resources are depleted. In the meantime, we need to conserve energy to slow down the depletion of resources. Energy conservation is the most realistic way to use fewer resources. At home, we need to unplug, turn off the lights, and replace them with more efficient fixtures.
Ultimately, humanity will be able to overcome this crisis and move forward if it uses sustainable resources as its main energy source and makes efforts to reduce energy consumption.
