The biogas produced by digesters has many uses,for example:* domestic

- for cooking purposes (biogas

produced can be channelled by PVC pipes tostoves)

* lighting and heating - lamps and burners havebeen designed to run on biogas

* agricultural and industrial - fuel for stationaryengines to operate farm machinery.

The residual material from the digestion processcan be used as:* fertiiiser

- it increases the humus content of

the soil and is also a source of microorganisms* fish rearing water nutrient - it increases algae

in ponds, thereby increasing the feed availableto fish

* potential livestock feed supplement.

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The availability of energy supplies and thefuture demand for energy are unpredictablebecause the technical, political, economic andsocial assumptions that underlie predictions areconstantly changing. In addition to this, seasonaland regional variations in energy consumptionand the impact of tourism are among thevariables to be considered. Future changes inpopulation numbers will also influence energyuse.

One of the major factors influencing the choiceof the energy sources a country can choose isits technological level. More technologicallyadvanced countries such as the USA, Russia,England, China and Germany, for example, areamong those that use nuclear energy.The availabiiity of technology is also important inthe harnessing and development of non-polluting,renewable energy sources such as wind and solarenergy. As a direct result of high oil prices andcontinuous technological development, renewableenergy sources are starting to become as popularand acceptable as traditional sources (oil and gas).In some countries, where natural gas and oil arein plentiful supply, the government may havelittle or no interest in developing renewableenergy sources. This is partly due to the high

178

global prices that earn foreign revenues. Suc:-countries, for example, T?inidad and Tobago. :=- :to impose high duties on solar power-generai- - -devices because the government has little int.:..'in its citizens conserving energy. Antigua, un---':Tiinidad, has no oil and gas to depend on. hsgovernment has removed all duties on solarenergy systems and equiPment.When fuel is cheap and abundant, foreigninvestors rush to invest their money, so itis important that there should be impartiaienforcement of environmental laws as well ascheap labour. Trinidad and Tobago is an attracr- =proposition for investors wishing to buildindustrial plants, because it has all the rightfactors.The government's major interest is revenue; in2006, ten new industrial plants were establishe:among the dozens already in Tiinidad andTobago. Three of them were to be smelter plan:sdespite concerns and protests from residents a:--environmental organisations. The politicians ofthe country have the final decision because it iseconomically beneficial for the government togive permission to establish industrial plants,despite the fact that these plants are going to ac:significantly to the emission of air pollutants,increase toxic discharges into waterways anddestroy habitats by taking land for construction.Of the countries in the Caribbean, Tiinidad andTobago has the most oil and gas, hence the reasc:,for its faster rate ofindustrialisation than itsneighbours. The demand for energy is increasing.along with industrialisation and developingtechnology. Higher standards of living make ourlives easier, but at the cost of consuming largeramounts of energy. However, in Tiinidad andTobago, civilians are not the major consumersof energy. The popuiation growth rate for 2005was negative (-0.74To) while the growth anddevelopment rate for industries was positive.Industry is only one of the areas of growth inenergy consumption. Transport is also demandingmore energy as trade and tourism increases. Thedemand for transport services for goods andpeople is driving this demand.Even the seasons have an effect on energyconsumption, as in the winter energy is neededfor heating and in the summer energy is neededfor cooling. The development status of a countryand its people also influence energy consumptionpatterns. A person in a developed nation uses

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:lre energy than a person from a less developed-,a:ion, because of their lifestyle and higher::omes. As people aspire to live more comfortable

.-!'es, more mechanical and electronic devices are-.ed to help with work that seems to be tedious or:::enUOUS.r*ihough the technology to supply electricity isi'eil established, many Caribbean countries have:ountainous interiors, making it difficult and::stly to set up electricity transmission systems:!r access some of these areas. Therefore, the.:ographical factors are the more significant-niting factor in many Caribbean countries.Jne approach to addressing the problem posed:; geographical factors is ro ser up photovoltaic::odule systems that can generate electricity to:rovide the basic needs of persons iiving in these=reas. These systems convert light into electricity:hat can be stored for later use. The company"i-iil not need to bear the cost associated with=-rpanding power lines over mountainous terrain.

DEMAND MANAGEAAENTIiectricity-generaring companies try to limit:emand by their cusromers. This is to keep:or.vn the cost of generation stations and the::ansmission infrastructure. The methods used are-alled demand management. Some approaches.:miting and managing demand include:+ the provision of incentives to consumers for

using efficient appliances+ the dissemination of information about energy-

efficient and energy-conservation practices+ the funding ofresearch to develop energy-

efficient devices and energy-efficiency measures+ the provision ofincentives for reduced

consumption.lne successful implementation of a demand-:ianagement programme will result in a decrease.i the quanrity of electricity required by the:opulation. The existing generating capacity may--:ien be able to sarisfy the needs of the population.-ithis is the case, there will be no need to expand-=enerating capacity. The country will save foreign=rchange that would have been spent to purchase:apital machinery and the money saved can bea.llocated to other important social programmes.-{dditionally, a demand-management programmeray reveal excess capacity that may be adequate:r satisfy any future additional demand due to:opulation increase or derrelopment.

A decrease in demand may even warrant a decreasein the quantity of electricity generated. This r,vouldrequire the use of less fossil fuel and result inimmediate savings. Because of the decrease in fuelconsumption, there would be a correspondingdecrease in the emission of air pollutants such ascarbon dioxide, sulphur oxides and particulates.Effective demand management will result inenvironmental benefits.Under some circumstances, effective demandmanagement may actually decrease the profits of thepower company. This is possible if the decrease indemand is such that the company will still haveto operate all its generators to satisfy existingdemand. Hence, the savings that might haveaccrued from shutting down a generator do notmaterialise.

GEOGRAPH I(AL FACTORSI NFLUENCI NG E TECTRICITYGENERATIONTh_e geography ofa country can have a stronginfluence on the types of power generation that arepractical or economic. High, mountainous regions,with high rainfall levels, may be suitable for theconstruction of dams for hydroelectric energy.In Guyana, where there are numerous waterfalls,hydroelectric energy may be a future source ofenergy.Canada and the USA already benefit fromhydroelectric power generaied by water divertedfrom the Niagara river, close to the Niagara falls.

t Figure 5. l9 Niagara lallsRegions with reliable daily sunlight, especiallydesert areas, may benefit from large soia, po*",installations.Soiar power plants already exist in Spain, portugai,the USA, North Africa and many other places.

CHAPTER 5 ENERCY REsoURcE MANAC,EMENT 179

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The technology is constantly being improved andsolar power, in all its forms, will certainly becomemore important in the future.Volcanic regions are likely to be good locationsfor the exploitation of geothermal energy. Thetechnology is not widely exploited but, given theright geological conditions, the costs of settingup and running a generating station are likely tobe economic, especially as the energy source isconstantly renewing itself.Iceland is the best-known example of the use ofgeothermal energy.

TEC H NOTOG ICAt TI/V{ITATIONSON THE EXPLOITATION OF FUEtAND POWER RESOURCE'There could be huge deposits ofoil and gas andother minerals beneath the deep ocean floors,or even in the mountains of the Himalayas orunder the sands of the Sahara desert. However,these locations are unexplorable due to climaticconditions and our limited technology.Even the countries of the Caribbean could haveresources that are unexplored and untapped,due to the lack of skills, finance, manpower andtechnology.As the current supply of natural resources isdiminished, the need to explore and prospect innew areas increases.Exploration will eventually take place in mostareas, almost inevitably financed by foreigninvestors. Due to the large profits and economicadvantages to be gained by both the developerand the host country, new technologies willcontinue to be deployed to try to uncover freshreserves of fuels and minerals.

RETIABITITY OF ENERGY 'UPPLIESIf we know that a supply of resources exists, for

example, the oil under the Maracaibo area ofVenezuela, or the North Sea, then we call thesupply a reserve.The reserve can be exploited if the price at whichthe resources can be sold is greater than thecost to harvest the resource under the currenteconomic and technological conditions. NorthSea oil and gas, for example, cost a lot to recoveras they can only be recovered by using expensivemarine drilling platforms; this is less profitablethan mining oil from the Middle East.

The areas with the largest known reserves offossil fuels are the Middle East and Venezuela.with over 1 triilion barrels (1 barrel : 42USgallons).In both Trinidad and Venezuela there is atleast a SO-year supply ofoil and gas. A recentreassessment of Venezuela's reserves suggeststhat they might even be twice as large aspreviously thought.

HOw GOVERNMENT' CANINFLUENCE ENERGY UsEAlthough market prices are a major influence onenergy use, governments also have the powerto influence how we source and use energy. Thetools they can use to exert their influence inclui=* introducing non-fossil fuel obligations (NFFO

These are designed to ensure that electricitycompanies generate a certain percentage ofelectricity from non-fossil fuel sources. Therehave to be penalties for companies that fail tcmeet NFFO targets,

* piacing or removing duties on energy sourcesand generating and infrastructure equipment

* increasing taxes on fossil fuels such as gasoline

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Crude oil and natural gas are found primarilyin geologically young tectonic belts andplate boundaries. The elevated temperaturesand pressures in these regions initiate thetransformation of organic material in thesediments into oil and gas.

t Figure 5 20 An oil well

-.- :s ultimately derived from solar energy, because:

-s rhe remains of prehistoric organisms, both: .:ts and animals. The energy stored in oii::--:-e initialiy from the Sun and was incorporated-:: plants and animais through the process of: -,::osynrhesis and feeding relationships.::::oleum wells in oil fields recover oil through:,-:: primary and more enhanced methods.:--::,ary production involves simply pumping the: . :iom wells, but this method."n e"tra-t o.,lyt:,- ;t 25To of the petroleum in the reservoir.**:

enhanced method can extract 60% more oil.*--. method uses steam and water or chemicals,

-:: as carbon dioxide or nitrogen gas, that are-

=:red into the reservoir to push the oil towards'.:

= ir,ells, so it can be more easily recovered by

- rnino--'-'r'^'b'l.-: environmental problems that arise from oil:..,.r:action are many, but include:-

"oss of agricultural land to drilling platforms,:cads and srorage facilities

- .and subsidence (sinking), as oil and gas are',,.'ithdrawn

* :il seepage into surrounding areas, including the.:a, from normai operations or large spills, or::om accidents such as blow out or pipe ruptures

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or disruption and damage to -

fragile:-osystems such as wetlands or other unique..ndscapes

- :=lease of drilling mud (hear,y liquids injected.-::o the bore hole), which contains heavy metals. -ich as barium, that may be toxic

- .:sthetic degradation.

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-: je oil is a complex mixture of chemicals that in:.: :.arive state has little immediate use. It has to:': ::fined. In this procedure, it is split up into itsrr :-;ronent parts before it can be used. The process' ::ining crude oil and converting it to useful

:'-':ucts is carried out at refineries.-'= :efining process is called fractional,csdllation. Crude oil is heated and most of:,, arious components vaporise. The vapours,:.:ense at different temperatures, so they can be

-: -::ted separately.*-= jistillation products include gasoiine, diesel

-ubricating oils and a wide variety of chemicals-r:j io make plastics, or destined for use as rawi*::riais in the chemical industries.

The refining process can be very polluting ro rheenvironment, especialiy when volatiie chemicalssuch as aromatic benzene are released.It is important that refineries are correctlydesigned and operated, to minimise enviionmentalpollution.

t Figure 5.2 I An oil refinery,Trinidad, point d pierre

DTIIVTRY AND UsE OF REFINERYPRODUCTSSome of the most extensive and significantenvironmental probiems associated with oil andgas occur when the fuel leaves the refinery and isconsumed.The problems include:* use of land for the construcrion of pipelines and

storage tanks and to build a network of roadsand other distribution facilities

* pollution of surface waters and groundwaterfrom broken pipes or ranks conraining fuels oroil field chemicals

* accidental release ofair poilutants such ashydrocarbons and hydrogen sulphide

* aesthetic degradation.

f; ru n s{fl,y L rF i;t I fl }j,r.','One way to reduce energy consumption, or atleast to reduce the rate of increaseln energ),-consumption, is to aim for energy efficiency.This means maximising the useful work (in thescientific sense) done by the energy we consume,and minimising all forms of energy waste. Increasedenergy efficiency involves designing equipmentto yield more work from a given amount of inputenergy.

CHAPTER 5 ENERCY RE5OURCE MANAcEMENT I8I

DOME'TIC AND INDU'TRIALENERGY CONSERVATIONOne way to reduce energy use is to plan to getby with less. If we change our patterns of energyuse and adjust our needs, we can make significantcontributions to energy conservation. This caninvolve simple actions that cut out waste, forexample, not using air conditioning when it is notreally needed, or using low-energy lighting.Energy-efficient buildings require energyconservation techniques. Buildings (homes,commercial or industrial buildings) are designedto conserve heat (in the case of buildings in coldor temperate regions), or to keep heat out (in thecase of buildings in tropical areas). The objectiveis to reduce energy consumption to a minimumand reduce cost for cooling, heating and lighting.Methods of maintaining comfortable indoortemperatures in tropical regions include:* use'of insulating materials in roofs to prevent

heat conduction and radiation to the spacebelow

* use of light-coloured finishes for walls androofing to reflect thermal energy from sunlight

* shading of roofs, walls and windows witheaves, awnings and carports

* decreasing glare and heat gain from sunlight byusing blinds and shutters

* designing and landscaping ofoutdoor surfacesto reduce air temperatures and minimise glare,for example, by reducing the use of paved areasand increasing the use ofgrassed and plantedareas

* designing features on factories and housesthat trap the prevailing wind and provide freeventilation and cooling.

COGEN E RATIONTo maximise energy efficiency, it is possibleto produce two forms of energy from a singlegenerating process. This process is calledcogeneration. Fossil fuel is used to produce bothelectricity and useful heat. Waste heat is capturedand used for other processes.Cogeneration allows the use of energy thatwouid normally be wasted and may improve theefficiency ofenerg;' generation by up to 80 percent. More energy is made available to satisfy theincreasing demand without purchasing additionalfuel" This additional energy is ir''ailable only as

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heat and may be used, for example, to provlc: :supply of hot water for industries and hospi:. , :the demand is for more electricity, this cann;. :':met by cogeneration.

ENERGY EFFIcIENCYAND CONSERVATION INTRANSPORTATIONGood design and the use of more efficient efli -::::have led to a decrease in the energy consume :in the transport sector. By using more aero-dynamic shapes that reduce air friction, togeti :'with lightweight materials and modern engin-,that make better use of the fuei they consumetransport vehicles can not only move faster b;:also use less fuel.In Tiinidad, fast catamaran ferries are being u'=:to transport commuters between the twin isl:,-

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As a result, less energy is used, also, catamara:.move faster than ferries of traditional design.There are several reasons for these improvem-::-in transport efficiency and energy conservatioi.but it is mostly due to increasing fuel costs an:government policies that make it advantageou.use fuel-effi cient vehicles.

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ciosai *anr"rN iThere is a scientific view that there is, at presen:an upward trend in giobal surface temperatures.although this is disputed by some people. Thecauses of increased temperatures may be:* natural

-

just a natural trend, as has happenedin the past

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activities such as burning fossil fuelsinfluencing the climate.

There is little dispute that there has been anincrease in ievels ofcarbon dioxide and othergreenhouse gases in the atmosphere, dating fromwhen the Industrial Revolution began and fossilfuels were burned in much greater quantities tha.in previous centuries.This increase in CO2 levels seems to be relatedto an increase in the mean global temperature of

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:he Earth. The increase has not been great, but it issignificant and it is predicted that climatic changenay be a consequence.

' :rgure 5.22 Smoking chimneys pump pollutants into the

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To counteract any increase in global temperatures,-.i'e shali have to find alternative, non-polluting;ources of energy, plant more trees to absorb:arbon dioxide and conserve energy in order to::elp decrease the emission of carbon dioxide andrther greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

POLTUTIONThe extraction, transport and use of all forms ofenergy have some form of pollution associated',rith them. Fossil fuels have, however, contributed:o the majority of pollution associated with.nergy. They pollute the air, land and sea. Waste:ases emitted from the burning of fossil fuels-nclude: carbon dioxide (COr), nitrogen oxidesNO.), sulphur oxides (SOJ and aromatic organic

:ompounds that are air pollutants and some of,i'hich contribute to acid rain.

In addition to air pollution, land pollution iscaused by oil spills from broken pipelines andwaste run-off from factories. Some of the moredangerous compounds are derivatives of benzenethat have carcinogenic (cancer causing) properties.Fossil fuels remain the most popular fuels,despite the pollutants that they emit. They willremain popular until technological change makesalternative, non-polluting energy sources as cheap,convenient and readily available as fossil fuels'

t Figure 5 23 Cil sprll pollution

HABITAT DESTRUCTIONHabitat destruction has led to extinction andreduction in bio-diversity throughout theworld. The exploitation of minerals and energysources has destroyed habitats through theclearing of land, explosions, noise pollution andinfrastructural development for processing. Suchdevelopment includes roads and industrial plants,as well as the consumption of land for ports, forexports of energy and energy products.

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? $q ,+;.f *- i";") s: " ' :* : :H EALTH I55U E5There are a number of chronic diseases associatedwith the mining of energy sources such as fossilfuels. Toxic fumes from deep, underground areasof the Earth are released during drilling for naturaigas, crude oil and mining coal. These are mainlysulphur dioxide and methane. Much of the emittedwaste, effluent and gases contains carcinogenic,

CHAPTER 5 ENER6Y RE5OURCE MANA6EMENT I83

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aromatic benzene compounds. Despite this, thereis a demand for work in the energy sector becauseofthe high wages and advantageous healthplans. Howeveq people who work in these areasare considered'high risk' because of the deadlyaccidents associated with energy exploration,development and processing.Occupational health and safety are majorconcerns of the population and the governmentin Tiinidad and Tobago. In February 2006, thegovernment implemented, the'OSHA law. Thishas strict safety and compensation proceduresthat will help ensure the safety of workers andcompensate them for accidents that occur in theirworkplace.Economic development will result in increasedindustrialisation. New industries will develop,such as those processing and manufacturingchemicals. The waste from these industries isharmful. If these by-products are not disposedof appropriately, this will lead to increasedenvironmental pollution, with its associatedhealth risks.

DrstocertoN oF (orvrrvruNtrt E5The greatest dispiacement of communitiesaffected by the exploitation ofnew energy sourcesis seen today in China, where over 1 millionpeople have been displaced as a result oftheconstruction ofa dam on the Yangtze river.

t Figure 5,24 Yangfze damMany smaller communities throughout theworld have been removed from their home areasbecause of mineral deposits that governmentswish to extract. Even r,vhen a community is leftin place, the noise and pollutior-, associated rviththe extraction and transport of elergv sou 'is,dislocates communities.

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Before the discovery ofoil and gas, coal ancwood were the main sources of energy. Afte:

--:1920s oil and gas started to dominated the e:,.:i.,market. Production of oil and gas is expectec ::peak in 2020.The burning of fossil fuels imposes growingenvironmental costs, ranging from urbanpollution to a change in the global climate.However, to reduce the burning of fossil fuels.new technologies are being developed to harne';alternative renewable energy sources that proci*::less or no toxic waste.Oil embargoes can cause significant economicimpacts in oil-dependent countries; a war orrevolution in a petroleum-producing countrycould cause exports ofpetroleum to be reducecsignificantly.Economic sanctions against Iraq, after its inl'as:::of Kuwait in 1990, led to a decrease in the wor-:oil supply with consequent price increases.

t Figure 5.25 Wood collected as fuel in AfricaSocial and cultural factors influence energy

consumption in all civilisations. For example,in many African and South American countriesrnd other remote areas of the world, many',ommunities still depend on wood or coal as theironiy source ofenergy. Even in developed nations,

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rcssii fuels are the main source of energy forseating and other energy related needs because of:heir convenience and relative cheapness.Some of the factors that influence the cost ofenergy production and use are:+ political* economic+ social* environmental+ technological+ supply.

6OVERNMENT POTICI E'

+ The tax might encourage the development ofalternative and less polluting energy sources,such as solar power and wind. Both of them areabundant in the Caribbean. Such a tax wouldhelp convince Caribbean nationals of the need toconserve fuel and drive smaller cars.

+ The government might reduce taxes on importsof new, smaller, fuel-efficient cars.

+ The government might reduce tzx on vehiclesthat use methanol as a fuel. This would be apositive encouragement to people to change toalternative energy sources.

+ The use of biodi esel (20Vo methyl ester and 80%diesel) might increase. Biodiesel can be made athome from used cooking oils.

Vehicles emit carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxidesand volatile organic chemicals called hydrocarbons.In the presence of sunlight, or ultraviolet light,hydrocarbons react with nitrogen oxides toproduce ozone, which is a respiratory irritant.Carbon monoxide is a competitor for oxygen in theblood and nitrogen oxides form nitric acid in thepresence of water.Anything that can help to reduce the productionof these pollutants will be helping to improvethe environment. Taxes on gasoline may be oneapproach to this problem. Other ways in which thegovernment can help reduce the dependency ongasoline and reduce the air pollution caused by itscombustion are to:* encourage the use ofalternative fuels, such as

methanol, solar or fuei cells

* improve roads* encourage consumers to conserve gasoline,

through education programmes* assist manufacturers in designing energy-

efficient vehicles, by reducing taxes on importsof these vehicles and parts for assembly andmanufacture

* provide mass transit transportation systems,such as trains.

t Figure 5 25 Polluting vehicle exhaust

The effects of burning fossil fuels over the pastyearss are now being both felt and recognised.Exploiting, processing and burning fossil fuelsproduce toxic wastes that can be linked to theglobal changes in weather patterns the Earth isexperiencing. Combustion of fossil fuels resultsin the emission of air pollutants, includingparticulates. Small particles can be inhaled intothe respiratory system, aggravating respiratoryillnesses. Longterm exposure may cause increasedincidence of chronic conditions such as bronchitis.There is a cost to society oftreating such illnesses.There is also a cost to society in terms of thenumber of hours lost because of persons beingabsent from work as a result of such illnesses.Apart from the effects of particulates, thepollutants from fossil fuels have contributed insome way to:* the melting of ice caps* the increased frequency and strength of

hurricanes* the greenhouse effect* global warming* El Nifro (the warm, east-moving Pacific Ocean

current)* the shifting of seasons.

(HAPTER '

ENERC,Y RE5OURCE MANAcEMENT I85

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Eruvg re*rq-MeffiNY&turA&,p&Y &s$Ks$&KruY',SThe environmental impact assessment (EIA)process involves a systematic, reproducible,and interdisciplinary evaluation of the potentialphysical, biological, cultural, and socio-economiceffects ofa proposed action and its practicalalternatives.Proposed actions may include projects,programmes, policies or plans.As a decision-making tool, EIA provides a meansior decision-makers to integrate environmental,human health and socio-economic concerns better,as they relate to the environment.It provides the opportunity for all stakeholdersinvolved in a proposed action, including the public,to participate in the identification of issues ofconcern and practical alternatives, and to identifyopportunities to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts.The process begins with a decision to proceed withEIA and involves:+ the implementation of plans for public

participation and stakeholder involvement* documentation of purpose and need* examination of important issues and interests in

the proposed action as weil as its alternatives+ development of baseline information on the

natural and human environments* assessment of impacts and development of a

decision-making document* a plan for the mitigation of impacts.

S our c e : EMA (Envir onment aI Management Authorityof Trinidad and Tobago)

WnAn 15 AN ENVIRONMENTATT^^PACT A5'Es'MENT?The International Association for ImpactAssessment (IAI,{) defines an environmentalimpact assessment (EIA) as:

The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating andmitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevqnteffects of development proposals prior to majordecisions being taken and commitment made.

After an environmental impact assessment , the'precautionary' principle and the 'polluter pays'principle may be applied to prevent or limit aproject, or, ifit is to go ahead, to require strictliability or insurance coverage, based on the harmit is likely to do.

* The precautionary principle is the idea thatwhen an activity raises threats of harm to theenvironment or human health, precautionarymeasures should be taken, even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully establishedscientifically.

* The polluter pays principle is the idea thatthe commercial or public entity, or person thatis producing pollution is responsible forpaying for any damage done to the naturalenvironment.

S**t* *.{ *izt key *r:t't:pt;r'ee;tl:s i't'e *tx EiAy*p*{{1 Description of the project+ A full description ofthe actual project and site.* Break the project down into its key

components, i.e. construction, operations anddecommissioning.

* For each component, list all of the sources ofenvironmental disturbance.

* For each component, list all the outputs such asair pollution, noise.

2 Alternatives that have been considered* Examine alternatives that have been

considered, for example, in a commercial glassmanufacturing plant, whether the raw materialto make glass, which is sand (silicon oxide,SiOr) wiil be sourced locally or internationally.

3 Description of the environment* List of all aspects of the environment and how

they may be affected by the development, forexample, fauna, flora, humans, cultural heritage,landscape, water, soil and air.

* This section is best carried out with the help ofcommunity members.

4 Description of the significant effects on theenvironment

* The most frequent method used is the LeopoldMatrix.

* This matrix is a tool used in a systematicexamination of potential interactions.

* The matrix has columns representing thevarious activities of the project and rowsrepresenting the various environmental factorsto be considered.

5 Mitigation* Information coliected in the previous stages

is used to generate solutions that will avoidnegative impacts.

CHAPTER 5 ENER6Y RE5OURCE MANA6EMENT I9I

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6 Non-technical summary* This section is a summary that does not

include jargon or complicared diagrams.* It should be understood by the informed lay-

person.+ It is important that the EIA should be in the

public domain and be used in the decisionmaking process.

7 Summary of technical difficulties andlack of know-how encountered during theassessment

* This section is to advise ofany areas ofweakness in knowledge.

* It can be a useful focus for future research.EIA is a starting point for good environmentmanagement by developers.

QurrrroNsGive four natural source of renewable energyand briefly discuss how electrical energy can bederived from each of them.Comment on the following statement:Technology makes our lives easier and morecomfortable, but unknown to us it makes our livesshorter.Explain how energy from radioactive elementssuch as uranium can be harvested to makeelectricity.Your answer should include:a the role of nuclear reactorsb the structure of reactor vessels and the

materials used in containing and controllingnuclear reactions

the source of high-energy neutrons withequationsgeneral equations to show the breakdown ofuranium.

Hydroelectric dams can provide a huge amountof electricity to communities at low cost.Hydroelectric power is a renewable source ofenergy. Although the dams provide many benefits,they can also cause harm to the environment andto people. List and discuss four disadvantages ofhydroelectric dams.Discuss three factors that affect the use and supplyof electric energy.Solar energy should be easy to harvest in theCaribbean.What are the factors that have limitedthe development of solar energy as a domesticPOWer SOurCe?Manufacturers are developing hybrid vehicles, thatcan run on normal fuel but also have an electricmotor and batteries.a Find out about hybrid vehicles.b Discuss how hybrid vehicles can help in energy

conservation.a How can biodiesel be made at home?b What are the drawbacks of biodiesel?c ls it likely to reduce domestic energy billslDiscuss the feasibility of power companies in theCaribbean using solar energy as an alternative tofossil energy.How can people of the Caribbean conserve energyat home in order to reduce their energy bill?Youranswer should include a description of the buildingdesign or modification.

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ww{yffisffisffi1by Chandradaye MotilalThe high demand for fossil fuels over the past few years has placed a strain on supplies anda need to find new reserves. As the oil reserves are feared to be running Io*, new efficientfuels are being engineered. This will reduce the demand for fossil fuel. The fuels beingmade to possibly replace fossil fuels are biodiesel and ethanol, which are primarily madefrom sugarcane/ corn and vegetable oil.Biodiesel is primarily composed of vegetable oil or animal fat (lipids). This alternative fuelis typically made by chemically reacting Iipids, such as vegetable oilor animal fat, with analcohol.Today's biofuels are used for road vehicles and railways, manufacturing, heatingand even in aircraft.Biodiesel is made from a wide variety of vegetable oils from a variety of sources. The mostcommon vegetable biodiesel is soya bean and rapeseed based. These are the preferredbases for biodiesel as they are very high in oil. Other vegetable oils used for biofuels arecoconut, corn oil, peanut oil, castor oil, palm oil, sunflower seeds and radish. They are allvery high in fats and oils, so they can produce large amounts of the alternative fuel.Biodiesel can be made in the home kitchen and used as fuel in cars or as a cookingfuel. The process of making biodiesel is called transesterification. ln making your ownbiodiesel you'll need lye (sodium hydroxide) which is sold at every supermarket, methanoland vegetable cooking oil. First dissolve lye in methanol. This mixture creates sodiummethoxide. Then mix in vegetable oil for approximately 2O minutes. This can be done in ablender. After mixing, let the mixture settle for eight hours. The fuel will separate from theglycerine, which sinks to the bottom. The mixture can be separated after the eight hours areup. The glycerine can be thrown out or used to make soap, since the main component ofsoap is glycerine. The biofuel is now ready for use.Although biodiesel is better for the environment, it is also very costly to make, whilst fossilfuel is cheaper. Many drivers therefore go for the cheaper fuel, which increases the amountof carbon dioxide from fossil sources in the atmosphere. Drivers are also a{raid to switchfrom their regular fuel as they fear this can damage their engines.Biodiesel is very environmentally friendly as it does not increase the overall levels ofcarbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This will lead to a decrease in the risk of global warmingif everyone switches to it.We have to face up to the fact that our fossil fuels will one day run out and, if alternativefuels aren't engineered, the world will be in trouble. Alternative fuels such as biodiesel andethanol are very helpful as they do not raise the carbon dioxide level of our already ailingatmosphere. Although costly, they are very important and people should be willing to takea more environmentally friendly position. The process of producing this alternative fuel isso simple it can even be done in the home kitchen and it is just as effective as fossil fuels. ltis up to people to make the right choice for the environment.

THAPTER 5 ENERCY RESOURCE MANA6EMENT t93