Energy Stratagies

Dear readers, please excuse me for reproducing the mail I wrote and not writing a seperate article on the same. The subject dealt with, namely Energy stratagies is very important to the world. Writing a seperate article is a mammoth task and hence the reproduction,

Dear Sudhakar,

Eventhough you have covered all the points in some form or other including what I have to say now, these points need to be emphasized:

1.The abundant nature of the fuel, that keep coming, and that will be available even if we don't use it. Sun rays keep falling on earth even if we don't use it. In the olden days people directly used it like say for drying appalam(papads) for preserving it to have a longer shelf life.The river waters were available in plenty and were running into sea even if we were not using it. But, probably, we are extracting so much from water that it has become a limited quantity now. water falls are used to produce electricity. Air is also available in plenty as of now. Thus, a car while running, may directly use the sun by making it heat (or do something on) a solid, liquid or gas that could induce movement in the car, and to that extent cut off fuel usage from other sources, thus using sun energy on the days it is available, directly using its availability and when it is not available, resorting to other sources to the required extent, and only to the required extent, by employing micro processors or such things. The areas that need to be be more utilized are natural basic energy and other forms like gravity, vacuum and such things. We may use one such system or more or all in combination.The main point is these energy forms will be running a course even if we don't use them. We will be intervening only to make use of the system for a need of us, i.e. an energy production, and reverting the course back for it to continue its run.
The energy from splitting of an atom or molecule may also be abundant, but, it induces some destruction of the system. Nature and to some extent agriculture are fine examples of using the system. Using the so many forms of energy waves like light, sound is also a good exemple.

2. The end use shall fully exploit the use of system(energy) garnessed, and also not over exploit the system to cause intrusion into the system. Thus mass transportation is better than individuals using the vehicles, but, having more of mass transportation than needed may be counter productive, wasting on infrastructure, fuel etc and it may also cause some structural damage to the system of nature. We have to balance things.

3. Ideas are important. A telephone for example saves on transportation if it is only for conveying a thought, opinion or idea which can be conveyed through phone. Nowadays, managers inspect factories through video coverages. Then again video conferencing saves on time and transportation. Even doctors consult through video conferences.

4. We have also to be alive, alert and energetic to exploit the system to the extent we are allowed, and not over exploit to cause damages to the system. For example when we supervise a project we look into all aspects necessary, so that a second visit is avoided when not necessary.

5. Live simple with limited needs. Even when you want to interact more, use the required (not minimum) amount of the system and not more.

6. Collective sharing of everything and not individual possession is the needed thing. This is not communism or socialism, though the end aim may be the same. It is more towards Gandhian thoughts.This comes through more voluntarily out of wisdom and to some extent wisdom of inevitability. Bill Gates donating his wealth is one such thing. Eventhough love, compassion etc are other attributes for such philanthrophic acts, I am not getting into them as the discussion is scientific. The opposite of this is every hospital trying to have MRI and other such equipments, eventhough sharing these equipments will reduce the costs of everything. I am against mass production and reducing costs by volumes, if the products produced are not going to be absorbrd fully and put to good use.

7. Avoid destruction at all costs. War and terrorism shall not be there. Population control seems to be a must.

I enjoyed writing this reply/mail/article. It has brought out most of my philosophy. It is one of my best even if it is not in good and simple understandable language. The first item, 'system' and 'course' evolved as I was writing the item, and as such, is a discovery for me even. The second and third items were there within me for more than 20 years, even before PC or cell phone were invented, and I am very happy for the world that the world has fructified my thoughts. The fourth, fifth and sixth are there in our religions and emphasized by our philosophical leaders. The seventh is pure common sense, and we ignore it to our peril.
Thus it is the system and course we shall look into and not seperate energy from it.

Love, Murthy


----- Original Message -----
From: Murthy Sudhakar
To: Krishnamurthy R
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 10:18 PM
Subject: Fwd: Energy Strategies 10-0818


Your thoughts are welcome:


sudhakar
investing in rural India...for a change infraSys
ideas for action vishva-karma


Begin forwarded message:


Subject: Energy Strategies 10-0818


Dear Sujata & Chandra:


I have read both your mails and am pleased to participate in this discussion. Permit me to air some thoughts.



A. BROADLY:
From my perspective we cannot look for solutions by isolating the components of any energy delivery system. They need to viewed in their totality. This includes:
1. the source of energy (fuel)
2. the availability-local or distant
3. the cost and the technology needed for acquisition/extraction
4. energy (and efficiency) required from extraction to delivery to end use
5. control (cost & access to) of the fuel, the technology and the delivery system.
6. economic and political structure needed for the complete chain to be stable, egalitarian or helping those who need it.


B. COROLLARIES:
1. More local the fuel's availably better the access and control for the local population.
2. More capital intensive the technology of extraction, transportation and delivery, larger the costs & fewer the number who will benefit.
3. More capital intensive the technology of extraction, transportation and delivery, the control will rest with the investor of capital and not the end user.
4. More decentralized and more local the technology, lower the cost and more democratic the access to energy.


C. DEVELOPMENT:
1. All development is a mix of three ingredients; Resources, Energy and Waste. At its simplest level, life takes resources (food), generates energy (life activities) and waste (excretum and at death- the body itself)
2. So any energy system we propose must also take into account (analyzed through all the consequences) all these three.
3. Focus and fascination with technologies, combined with the lack of scientific and political vision to go beyond delivery, makes us ignore the Waste component.
4. Plastics littering the Indian landscape, dumping of sewage in our rivers, pesticides in our groundwater, or CO2 in the atmosphere (global warming)- and the list is long-are all examples of ignoring the Waste component of the system.
5. We must also ask the question who will benefits from the technologies and the systems. For example the Electricity Boards in India had a social commitment to bring power to a village- even if cost ineffective. After privatization has set in it is available to one who can afford it and can pay for it. The subsidy for cooking gas in India primarily does not benefit the poor. Privatized water in South Africa and other countries is denied to the poor who cannot afford it.


Practically:
1. I agree with Chandra that Solar/green is the right direction take.
2. Bio mass, wind and photo are all forms of solar energy.
3. It is obvious why the poor have always relied on bio mass. Resources are local, it is renewable, the technology is simple though inefficient (but less so than an automobile) and the wastes are local - some useful (potash)and some harmful (CO2)


For example take Photovoltaic systems and ask the above questions-but let me focus in particular the waste component first..
1. The manufacture of the collector involves many toxic chemicals-lithium and cadmium to name a couple. In fact the most toxic is the thin film collector- the most "advanced".
2. The cfls have mercury- which when discarded -unregulated or unmanaged- will leach and pollute.


Please do not misunderstand me. I am not suggesting that our villages remain dark nor am I against progress. But any innovation and introduction of methods, systems and technologies must take this comprehensive view.


We are now unfortunately staring at the dire consequences of having ignored this in the past (and even currently).


nanbudan

sudhakar
investing in rural India...for a change infraSys
ideas for action vishva-karma