Environmental Impact of Energy Production* Flashcards
What is fuel wood?
A form of biomass, where trees are cut down and the wood is burned on open fires
Why is fuel wood used?
Where there is a lack of development/technology available in rural parts of LICs. There is no infrastructure for large scale energy production so local people make do with local resources
What are the environmental issues associated with fuel wood?
Exposure of soil when trees are cut down, so erosion increases with lack of interception, and roots systems are lost. Gullies are formed when downpours occur, and when dry soil is blown away, desertification occurs
What other sources of biomass are used in rural parts of LICs?
Fuel wood, charcoal, dung, and crop residues
Why is charcoal used as a biomass?
It is lighter and easier to pack than wood, but only produces 40% the energy (the rest is already burned out through the production of the charcoal), in urban areas, three warm meals are common and growth in population
What are the health issues with burning biofuels?
Causes indoor air pollution, especially bad for women and children (spend 3-7 hours a day by fire), making it responsible for 1.6 million deaths a year. Can lead to respiratory problems, like lung cancer and asthma
How can the fuel wood crisis be resolved?
Laws- stopping illegal cutting of wood
Reafforestation- regrowing trees
Alternative power- using different energy resources
New technology- appropriate to local people
What is appropriate technology?
Technology that can be made with local materials by local people at an affordable price, benefiting individuals and communities, without impacting the environment
How can new technology help resolve the fuel wood crisis?
Biogas introduced by Practical Action in Sri Lanka
Solar cookers- Coolkit- introduced in Kenya
How do biogas generators work?
On-farm biogas plants collect cow dung from adapted cattle sheds, mix with water and ferment it. The gas (65% methane) can be collected, stored, and burned for energy
How successful are biogas generators?
60 schemes in place, meeting 75% household cooking needs. Incomes risen for women and girls, using extra 2 hours for income-generating activities. Waste product from biogas used for fertiliser
What are the drawbacks from the biogas schemes?
Once in place it is permanent
Depends on dung (amount of dung available)
Initial cost of construction
Input cost (feeding cattle)
How do solar cookers work?
Using the sun’s heat to cook food. Cookit made from corrugated cardboard and aluminium (costs $5), to feed up to 4-5 people. Food placed in a dark pot in the sun and is cooked within a few hours
How successful has the Cookit scheme been?
23 women have sold 3000 kits and 75,000 community members aware of it. In these communities wood consumption fallen by 40%. In Kakuma refugee camp (100,000) near Somalia, 15,000 cookers provided, helps prevent female attacks (when collecting wood)
What are the drawbacks of the Cookit scheme?
Dependant on weather and seasons
High winds can knock over cookers
Only provide hot food during the hottest part of the day
Take a long time to cook meals
