Los biocombustibles se están convirtiendo en una opción viable de autosuficiencia energética. Su contribución a la economía global cada día se hace más presente. Muchos gobiernos están patrocinando y fomentando proyectos con energías renovables que puedan sustituir a las energías convencionales que en su mayoría provienen de combustibles fósiles (carbón, petróleo, gas natural entre otros). Estos combustibles reducen la contribución de gases de efecto invernadero (CO2, CH4 entre otros) a la atmósfera ya que contribuyen de forma mínima a añadir más carbono al ciclo de carbono y ayudan a mitigar el cambio climático.
Países como Brasil y EE.UU. están invirtiendo fuertemente en la producción de bio-etanol. La tecnología que se utiliza para el proceso de producción es relativamente convencional. Los principales procesos de producción son los siguientes:
1.Preparación de la biomasa y extracción de azúcares (materia prima; caña de azúcar, maíz, sorgo dulce entre muchas otras) para la fermentación
2.Utilización del bagazo (desecho celulósico de producción) para producir energía en calderas o generadores eléctricos
3.Fermentación de los azucares extraídos para producir una solución con etanol, otros hidrocarburos y agua
4.Destilación y pervaporación del producto de la fermentación para producir una concentración de 99.9% etanol considerada como anhidra
5.Procesamiento de vinaza residual en lagunas facultativas o reactores anaerobios para el tratamiento de aguas residuales y para producir biogás
Brasil ha aprovechado sus amplios territorios y su clima tropical para la cosecha de caña de azúcar, que es la base de la producción de su bio-etanol. Este país ha logrado convertirse en la primera economía de energía sustentable basada en bio-combustibles. Con 378 plantas que producen alcohol etílico a 99.9% de fortitud. Brasil ha logrado crear un sector bio-energético de $13,000 millones de dólares anuales.
Los modelos económicos a seguir por un país con las condiciones climáticas y con la cantidad de tierra arable disponible como México nos hacen pensar que la caña de azúcar o el sorgo dulce serían las materias primas ideales para iniciar un proyecto de esta envergadura. Por el contrario, el utilizar una materia prima como el maíz amarillo o blanco no sería conveniente, como es el caso de los EE. UU., debido a que se podría afectar la carestía de los alimentos y porque el balance energético usando está materia prima es muy pobre (1.3 Energía Producida/Energía en el Procesamiento para el maíz a comparación de 10-8 Energía Producida/Energía en el Procesamiento para la caña).
Los mejores márgenes económicos vendrían del aprovechamiento de las condiciones climáticas privilegiadas de México y de nuestra amplia experiencia produciendo caña de azúcar. El sorgo dulce podría ser una opción viable para mitigar el riesgo de las fluctuaciones en el precio de la caña.
jueves, 13 de octubre de 2011
domingo, 9 de octubre de 2011
Essay on the possible impact of Nuclear Energy to mitigate climate change...
Introduction
Since the beginning of the twenty first century, the world view on environmental issues has dramatically changed[i]. The environmental impact caused by human energy needs and the gradual depletion of strategic fossil fuel reservoirs[ii], with their respective rising costs, are creating a huge concern amongst the peoples and governments around the world. The near future trend for policy and lawmakers will be to prioritize the importance of the environment with an emphasis on Long-Term Sustainability[iii].
Major Environmental Concerns
There are several valid concerns about the impact that energy conversion and use have on the health of living things and on the planet itself.
Every technology related to energy generation and its usage, from fossil fuels to wind turbines, has an environmental effect that has to be put into perspective so that it is possible to understand it, and thus choose the most cost-effective options that will enable humanity to supply the growing energy demand and cause the least damage possible.
Fossil fuels have widely created the greatest concern associated with energy conversion and use, there are several valid reasons why this is so:
· Side reactions that are formed during combustion in many cases produce nitrogen oxides (NOx), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), and other undesirable byproducts
· Greenhouse net emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and the pollutant Carbon Monoxide (CO)
· Particulates of fly ash that can cause serious damage to living things especially to their respiratory systems[iv]
· Mining[1] and distillation[2] of fuels also have an important impact on the environment
· Spillages in the oceans that may seriously harm natural ecosystems
Today to some extent and certainly in the past, fossil fuels have been relatively cheap and abundant[3]. Their great energy density will always make them practical, but the fact of the matter is that they are not renewable. It is well understood and scientifically accepted that humanity will have to diversify further their energy generation technologies to meet the growing future energy demand[v].
The resolutions from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)[vi] will be one of the most important triumphs of the world wide environmental movement. It shall create tangible and strong incentives for the continuous development of new renewable energies and a greater consideration to consolidated technologies that provide reduced anthropogenic greenhouse net emissions. Nuclear Energy Power Stations, Hydroelectric Dams, and advanced Coal Power Stations that use CO2 sequestration technologies may be the most plausible options. Be that as it may, the UN’s IPCC report clearly acknowledges the role of Nuclear Energy in the task of reducing Carbon Dioxide net emissions. Nevertheless, the IPCC names safety, weapons proliferation and waste as possible constraints to significant increases of electricity generation by nuclear means.
As many experts have concluded[4], addressing the major environmental concerns of industrial pollution and the possible rising of the temperature of the globe will have to be conducted as a continued effort of understanding the impact of human activity. Possible public policies should be set in motion to avoid further damage to the environment with a secondary concern to our economic output. The first dramatic shifting idea of what it is now known as Sustainable Development was proposed as means to find a common ground amongst countries at different stages of their economic development so that the increasing deterioration of the human environment and natural resources could be understood and addressed multilaterally[vii].
Within the framework of Sustainable Development, there are people who subscribe to the idea that solutions to the current environmental problems can be addressed without significantly sacrificing the current standards of living[viii]. It is also crucial to implement environmental policies on developing countries without halting their industrialization efforts. In order to reduce the economic burden of emission and pollution control, schemes of cooperation amongst wealthy and developing nations can play an important role to alleviate skepticism that some developed nations have had in the past for the global effectiveness of imposing their industry to environmental regulations. It is quite interesting how this skepticism has played out a devastating role in the past. For example, even key players of the environmental movement, such as former Vice-President of the United States of America and current Nobel Peace Prize co-winner Mr. Al Gore, have supported the lack of ratification of the Kyoto protocol if developing nations would not adopt it as well.[ix]
Nuclear Energy handled with all the safety precautions, with an emphasis of providing the smallest impact from radon radioactivity during mining, and with safe containment of nuclear wastes is one of the most desirable ways to go forward. The way to regulate Nuclear Energy around the world keeping in mind weapons proliferation, safety and the environment will be to completely consolidate the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency[x] continued standardization of best practices. Nuclear Energy has been feared in the past due to lack of understanding. Two specific case studies have produced negative opinions from policy makers and the general public:
· The tragedy of Chernobyl, Ukraine
· The radiation-contained Three Mile Island reactor meltdown in the United States
A strong and factual promotion campaign shall be required to further consolidate the role of Nuclear Power in our industrial society.
Using renewable energy alternatives and Nuclear Energy seem plausible. But the key aspect to secure our future might be to come up with a way of linking Nuclear Energy with a mainstream hydrogen economy where hydrogen is obtain by means of hydrolysis and not methane reforming[xi].
REFERENCES
[1] Spontaneous combustion of coal in open mining, occupational concerns for miners
[2] Use of Lead base additives to increase the octane numbers due high crude oil distillation costs
[3] Proven coal supply is estimated in the centuries
[4] Hundreds of scientists all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC as authors, contributors and reviewers. www.ipcc.ch
[i] UNESCO World Conference on Science Budapest, Hungary - 26 June - 1 July 1999. ICSU Science for the Twenty-First Century A New Commitment – Environmental Sciences Section
[ii] UN’s IPCC Working Group III Report "Mitigation of Climate Change" Section 4.3.1 Fossil fuels
[iii] Bridging Research and Policy: Context, Evidence and Links Emma Crewe John Young September 2002
[iv] Health Canada Health Effects of Air Pollution http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/air/out-ext/effe/health_effects-effets_sante_e.html
[v] Natural Resources Canada 2002 Federal Energy Co/chairs Report May 6, 2002
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/archives/newsreleases/2002/2002cochairs_e.htm
[vi] UN’s IPCC Working Group III Report "Mitigation of Climate Change" Section 4.3.2 Nuclear Energy
[vii] UN’s World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) 1983 (also refer to as Brundtland commission)
[viii] UN’s RIO DECLARATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 1993
[ix] “Clinton Hails Global Warming Pact", All Politics, CNN, 1997-12-11
[x] International Atomic Energy Agency Mandate http://www.iaea.org/
[xi] Dr. Romney B. Duffey Atomic Energy of Canada Limited –“Sustainable Futures using Nuclear Energy” 2005
Since the beginning of the twenty first century, the world view on environmental issues has dramatically changed[i]. The environmental impact caused by human energy needs and the gradual depletion of strategic fossil fuel reservoirs[ii], with their respective rising costs, are creating a huge concern amongst the peoples and governments around the world. The near future trend for policy and lawmakers will be to prioritize the importance of the environment with an emphasis on Long-Term Sustainability[iii].
Major Environmental Concerns
There are several valid concerns about the impact that energy conversion and use have on the health of living things and on the planet itself.
Every technology related to energy generation and its usage, from fossil fuels to wind turbines, has an environmental effect that has to be put into perspective so that it is possible to understand it, and thus choose the most cost-effective options that will enable humanity to supply the growing energy demand and cause the least damage possible.
Fossil fuels have widely created the greatest concern associated with energy conversion and use, there are several valid reasons why this is so:
· Side reactions that are formed during combustion in many cases produce nitrogen oxides (NOx), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), and other undesirable byproducts
· Greenhouse net emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and the pollutant Carbon Monoxide (CO)
· Particulates of fly ash that can cause serious damage to living things especially to their respiratory systems[iv]
· Mining[1] and distillation[2] of fuels also have an important impact on the environment
· Spillages in the oceans that may seriously harm natural ecosystems
Today to some extent and certainly in the past, fossil fuels have been relatively cheap and abundant[3]. Their great energy density will always make them practical, but the fact of the matter is that they are not renewable. It is well understood and scientifically accepted that humanity will have to diversify further their energy generation technologies to meet the growing future energy demand[v].
The resolutions from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)[vi] will be one of the most important triumphs of the world wide environmental movement. It shall create tangible and strong incentives for the continuous development of new renewable energies and a greater consideration to consolidated technologies that provide reduced anthropogenic greenhouse net emissions. Nuclear Energy Power Stations, Hydroelectric Dams, and advanced Coal Power Stations that use CO2 sequestration technologies may be the most plausible options. Be that as it may, the UN’s IPCC report clearly acknowledges the role of Nuclear Energy in the task of reducing Carbon Dioxide net emissions. Nevertheless, the IPCC names safety, weapons proliferation and waste as possible constraints to significant increases of electricity generation by nuclear means.
As many experts have concluded[4], addressing the major environmental concerns of industrial pollution and the possible rising of the temperature of the globe will have to be conducted as a continued effort of understanding the impact of human activity. Possible public policies should be set in motion to avoid further damage to the environment with a secondary concern to our economic output. The first dramatic shifting idea of what it is now known as Sustainable Development was proposed as means to find a common ground amongst countries at different stages of their economic development so that the increasing deterioration of the human environment and natural resources could be understood and addressed multilaterally[vii].
Within the framework of Sustainable Development, there are people who subscribe to the idea that solutions to the current environmental problems can be addressed without significantly sacrificing the current standards of living[viii]. It is also crucial to implement environmental policies on developing countries without halting their industrialization efforts. In order to reduce the economic burden of emission and pollution control, schemes of cooperation amongst wealthy and developing nations can play an important role to alleviate skepticism that some developed nations have had in the past for the global effectiveness of imposing their industry to environmental regulations. It is quite interesting how this skepticism has played out a devastating role in the past. For example, even key players of the environmental movement, such as former Vice-President of the United States of America and current Nobel Peace Prize co-winner Mr. Al Gore, have supported the lack of ratification of the Kyoto protocol if developing nations would not adopt it as well.[ix]
Nuclear Energy handled with all the safety precautions, with an emphasis of providing the smallest impact from radon radioactivity during mining, and with safe containment of nuclear wastes is one of the most desirable ways to go forward. The way to regulate Nuclear Energy around the world keeping in mind weapons proliferation, safety and the environment will be to completely consolidate the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency[x] continued standardization of best practices. Nuclear Energy has been feared in the past due to lack of understanding. Two specific case studies have produced negative opinions from policy makers and the general public:
· The tragedy of Chernobyl, Ukraine
· The radiation-contained Three Mile Island reactor meltdown in the United States
A strong and factual promotion campaign shall be required to further consolidate the role of Nuclear Power in our industrial society.
Using renewable energy alternatives and Nuclear Energy seem plausible. But the key aspect to secure our future might be to come up with a way of linking Nuclear Energy with a mainstream hydrogen economy where hydrogen is obtain by means of hydrolysis and not methane reforming[xi].
REFERENCES
[1] Spontaneous combustion of coal in open mining, occupational concerns for miners
[2] Use of Lead base additives to increase the octane numbers due high crude oil distillation costs
[3] Proven coal supply is estimated in the centuries
[4] Hundreds of scientists all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC as authors, contributors and reviewers. www.ipcc.ch
[i] UNESCO World Conference on Science Budapest, Hungary - 26 June - 1 July 1999. ICSU Science for the Twenty-First Century A New Commitment – Environmental Sciences Section
[ii] UN’s IPCC Working Group III Report "Mitigation of Climate Change" Section 4.3.1 Fossil fuels
[iii] Bridging Research and Policy: Context, Evidence and Links Emma Crewe John Young September 2002
[iv] Health Canada Health Effects of Air Pollution http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/air/out-ext/effe/health_effects-effets_sante_e.html
[v] Natural Resources Canada 2002 Federal Energy Co/chairs Report May 6, 2002
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/archives/newsreleases/2002/2002cochairs_e.htm
[vi] UN’s IPCC Working Group III Report "Mitigation of Climate Change" Section 4.3.2 Nuclear Energy
[vii] UN’s World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) 1983 (also refer to as Brundtland commission)
[viii] UN’s RIO DECLARATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 1993
[ix] “Clinton Hails Global Warming Pact", All Politics, CNN, 1997-12-11
[x] International Atomic Energy Agency Mandate http://www.iaea.org/
[xi] Dr. Romney B. Duffey Atomic Energy of Canada Limited –“Sustainable Futures using Nuclear Energy” 2005
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