THE ONE AND ONLY SOURCE OF ENERGY IN THE FUTURE

Every thinking mind immersed in the thought of new possibilities in the New Age and newer schemes have a burning question that what will be the source of energy in future? The manner in which today’s world society is becoming proficient in terms of intellect, technology and economy to that extent its needs too are augmenting phenomenally. As a result many materials have to be produced and many types of arrangements have to be made. For all this extra energy in the form of fuel is required. The use of fuel is on the rise virtually alarmingly and drastically. And as the population explodes more fuel is lapped up. How much ever energy was used up in the years of 1800 AD today in comparison 2000 times more energy/fuel is utilized by various industries. Apart from this energy used in homes the foremost is electricity. In the year 1900 AD every individual used 2 horse power of energy whereas today the usage is 12 horse power of energy on an average. Today the need of fuel is on the rise throughout the globe. Every year the requirement augments which is equivalent to the energy given by 3000 tons of coal. The need had tripled from the year 1900 to 1950 AD. From the year 1950 to 1970 the need has again tripled merely in 20 years. Up to the year 1995 AD the need arose 3 fold. There is a high possibility that now every year the need will increase 3 times more. The population of America is 1/7 that of the world but it uses up 1/3 of the electricity generated by the entire world. On an average every American uses up energy equivalent to 46 pounds of coal, 10 gallon petrol and half pint of atomic energy. It is possible that till the year 1995 AD its usage will be 2 fold. According to a world survey, there exists a storehouse of 4865300 million tons of coal. It is estimated that India has a storehouse of 108000 million tons of coal which is both good and bad in quality. It amounts to 2.21% of the total cost of production. Our population is 1/6th that of the world. In the entire world the amount of gas available is 2300000 mega tons whereas India has only 41155 mega tons. The amount of coal available in the world today will last for only 100 years or so when one notes its rate of usage. But this is not true for oil. In that only 50 years of oil is available. A developing country like India destroys its wealth by burning wood and the fertilizer extremely important for tilling land i.e. cow dung is used for cooking food in 80% of rural areas. This is indeed like cutting ones own leg. By cutting forest trees there will be less rain and land will become arid. By burning precious cow dung land loses its fertility. Chemical fertilizers do give immediate benefits but that area’s fertility does not proliferate. In our country too we shall have to unearth other modes of household fuel. Also we shall have to focus on the production of oil, gas and electricity for factories and various industries. By asking for oil etc from other nations we are surrendering our necks in their hands and thus roam in the abyss of indefinite dire possibilities. America has a lot of coal; they think that all will be well for them for the next 80-90 years. But the present oil storehouse, 10 years of natural gas and uranium in 13 years shall get depleted. It of course will be a different picture if new mines are dug up successfully. After America comes Japan for maximum usage of fuel energy. In order to keep pace with its rapid development it will require 300 million tons of oil next year and in the next 10 years its requirement will double. Its own oil storage is of the amount akin to 1 month. It hence has to depend on other nations for fuel. Nine countries of Western Europe have imbibed definite ethics for oil imports and hence have set up the European Economic Community or EEC. They chiefly import 60% oil from Arab nations and the rest from other minor countries. Their requirement is on the rise and in the next 5 years they will have to import double the amount i.e. 808 million ton oil. The state of France is that much more pathetic. Its coal reserves are depleting rapidly. Ten years previously its coal production was 55 million ton but now it has decreased to 30 million ton. It definitely shall decrease further. A British economist Stanley Jones in his book ‘The Coal Question…An Enquiry’ has said that these countries who run their industries using coal will have to stop doing so and on giving up this dependence on fast depleting fuel will have to look out for newer avenues of energy. A scientist named Tony Lofts has advised poor countries to start small electrical power houses via water mills. Big programs made on the basis of dependence of other things will reap nothing but helplessness. Middle East and Africa have 66% of the total world oil reserves. They themselves use only 4% of it. Seeing the demand of oil from other nations these countries are increasing their oil prices and as a result energy is becoming costly. Oil countries have converted this secure position of theirs into a deadly political bargain. Hence we cannot say when they will give preference to one nation and at other times some other nation. Britain’s famous scientist and Chancellor of Austin University Dr J A Papa has calculated that the rate at which petrol is being used up in comparison to this in the next 25 years all oil wells of the world will become empty. But if the price of petrol increases by even 5% it will get depleted in 15 years. It is hence hoped that new oil wells will be unearthed. Accepting this possibility Dr Papa has said that 5 times more oil can be discovered for 50 years, 10 times more oil in 60 years and 20 times more oil can be dug up in 78 years. In industries fuel used is 17% oil, coal etc. From this emanates carbon, nitrogen, sulfur dioxide etc. which poisons and pollutes our environment. In the same way from atomic explosions poisonous rays that are emitted induce various types of diseases, fear etc in earth denizens. Big furnaces are all the time heating up the earth’s atmosphere called global warming. This induces potential of causing weather imbalance and drowning of planet earth in the ocean due to excess of melted snow from pole regions. Keeping these dire situations in mind there is a demand from the world’s thinking class of demarcating the limit of advancement progress. The increase in demand for fuel cannot be fulfilled by present reserves and resources. How much ever fuel present on this globe is not going to last for many days to come. In the near future coal may get totally depleted. Fuel is the form of wood too is become scarce due to mindless cutting of trees especially in forest areas. The scarcity of oil too shall loom large in front of us in the coming years. In another 100 years one will not get to see either coal or petrol. It shall be siphoned off from earth hook line and sinker. Electricity is generated by technology which uses fuel. Thus electricity generation is not independent of fuel usage. If batteries for example solar ones are made the story could be totally different. The story of atomic energy is that of the snake and toad. It neither can be swallowed nor can it be released. How can one ignore such a gigantic source of energy? On the one hand this temptation eats us up and on the other hand the venomous remnants that are left behind after energy is generated is a source of disaster. Hence one cannot digest it. Already great leaps have been made in constructing atomic energy reactors but fear supersedes enthusiasm. Hence atomic energy hangs in mid air like Trishanku. The possibility of its utility and boycott is 50-50. Only time will tell whether it was vomited or digested. As of now it is like being choked in the throat. After getting tired thus science and scientists are thinking on these lines that if the source of all cosmic energy is the sun then why not take its help and fulfill all our energy requirements? In comparison to other sources it is purer and easily available. The thought of solar worship in the minds of scientists is not unnecessary. All movements of inert and conscious objects of the universe are its grace. We shall have to take help of the sun for solving future fuel problems and fulfillment of other needs. How much ever solar energy contacts earth of that only 1% id made use of. The rest of it goes waste. Twenty thousand times of the total energy used by earth is sent to us by the sun directly or indirectly. Solar energy is stupendous and incomparable. If the solar energy of merely 100 sq miles of the desert of Rajasthan is brought under our control the energy requirement of entire India can be fulfilled. The level of solar and atomic energy is the same. But solar rays on touching earth, after a journey of 8 minutes becomes so light that plants and other beings are able to imbibe their tender touch and avail its benefits. Bang opposite to this atomic energy produced on earth is like a terrible demon. Its utility is restricted to those areas which can absorb its intense heat. Scientists first tasted success with reference to solar energy in the form of creating solar batteries. Russia, England, Algeria, Lebanon, America, Italy, Japan, France etc have on a minor scale set up industries for generating solar energy and it is utilized as heat and electricity. The results of these studies and research are being analyzed in minute detail and with enthusiasm they are trying to find out how solar energy can be universally made use of on a gigantic scale. Philosophic seers by keeping their bodies in contact with the sun propagated the science of worship y meditating on the sun wherein their psyche oozed with vigor and radiance. As a result they imbibed life force too. Today a material scientist experiences despair in all directions and hence is taking shelter under the aegis of the sun. This indeed is a right decision taken in the right direction. As a result of this definitely human civilization will attain energy in the form of a power house by the grace of Sun God.