Fossil fuel use has been the backbone of western development for over a century. Any country that wished to compete either militarily or financially with global powers had to adopt the petroleum derived energy model. This technological progression has led to almost every country in the world basing their economy on fossil fuel energy production. The pollution and climate change effects of this use has had marked impacts on the health of our globe.
When fossil fuels are the only basis for supplying energy for a country, the need to obtain more oil to fuel more growth creates an addiction cycle of a never ending need for a limited resource. Because most countries must purchase and import the oil they need for development, they are dependent on the willingness of other countries to supply this resource. The financial woes of agricultural countries are held at the whim of oil rich nations. As these resource-poor countries develop, they get more dependent of fossil fuels, which they must import. This relationship causes political distrust, energy instability, and security concerns for large portions of the globe.
A way to get around this limited and destructive model is to have developing countries utilize resources they do have, such as biomass electrical generation or agricultural waste products to make ethanol. Brazil is a good example of a developing nation that has utilized its agricultural resources to create the world’s most efficient ethanol production system. Brazil chose to invest in its own agricultural resources during the oil crisis of the 1970s. Their national vision has helped them achieve energy security with approximately half of all their energy use coming from domestically produced ethanol. This model has the possibility to be transferred to other nations, as nearly every region of the world has a crop that can be grown which has ability distilled into ethanol.
Still, there are some countries might not have agricultural resources either, for example the desert countries in Saharan Africa or the Middle East. These countries might be able to use solar technology or wind resources to meet the needs of its cities. Often times individual solar instillations are more effective than large generating facilities because desert towns tend to be small and spread out. Having self-sufficient renewable energy generation is necessary for these communities that cannot afford the huge infrastructure investments necessary for long-distance transmission lines.
During my further research, I plan on showcasing technologies and projects that hold the promise for leapfrogging the fossil fuel based development model. As the population of the world rises, and affluence along with it, more energy will be needed; it has to come from somewhere. This research is not only interesting, but necessary for the future prosperity of the planet. The supply of fossil fuels is limited and is running out, and as it does its price will rise. The amount of greenhouse gases, which are released with the burning of fossil fuels, is on the rise and will only get worse as we use the remaining supply. The future of the human prosperity and the health of the planet is at stake.
I think analyzing the fuel technologies of another country is a very practical and current topic to discuss. Also, the example of Brazil and its use of ethanol as an alternate fuel definitely expands our early discussions concerning what engineering looks like in different countries. We are so accustomed to the fossil fuel model, and a time is coming when that fuel will not be able to sustain any longer. In the article we read by Hess, Science and Technology in a Multicultural World, he describes how power enters into the making of science and technology. He says there is the question of "which ideas and artifacts become widely accepted in the society and which ones pass into obscurity…power productions shape what science and technology gets produced and distributed." Since the fossil fuel model has been associated with Western power and advanced by Western nations, it has been our dominant means of fuel. So looking at how and what is engineered in other countries, i.e. ethanol for fuel is Brazil, is a solid example of other ways to engineer with a different method, but for the same end result. And as fossil fuel resources decline, it will be interesting to see how Brazil's source of alternate energy will affect their standing in power among other nations.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic. I am wondering, however, how you might better integrate the perspective of the class authors - that is, that national cultures and histories matter - in shaping both past energy production choices and the potential for shifting from a fossil fuel model. You might find it useful to focus primarily on Brazil. Questions might include: Why did ethanol become attractive to Brazil (reasons beyond environmentalism)? How has this expansion of agriculture impacted the rain forests? How does Brazil's simultaneous development of its deep-see oil resources (in collaboration with engineers from countries such as Norway) complicate your analysis? What role did engineers and other technical experts play in both of these decisions? What role does Brazil wish to play in Latin America and the broader world? Where does the rather recent development of the current governing style fit? Or the incredible poverty that still exists?
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