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Environment
The atmosphere of the Earth serves as a
key factor in sustaining the planetary ecosystem. The thin layer of gases
that envelops the Earth is held in place by the planet's gravity. Dry air
consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon and other inert gases, carbon
dioxide, etc.; but air also contains a variable amount of water vapor.
Climate change and global warming caused by anthropogenic, or human-made
releases of greenhouse gases, most notably carbon dioxide, can act
interactively, and have adverse effects upon the planet, it's natural
environment and humans' existence.
Increased carbon dioxide levels are
thought to exacerbate the heating effects of the Greenhouse Effect by
reducing the re-radiation of heat from the sun and, therefore, increasing
the temperature contained in the atmosphere. As the ability of the
atmosphere to capture and recycle energy emitted by the Earth's surface is
essential to a stable climate, this heightened temperature may introduce a
de-stabilizing influence and potentially affect global weather patterns and,
eventually, long-term climate change.
Power Generation causes maximum increase
in the level of CO2 and increases its level in the environment. Of most
concern in these anthropogenic factors is the increase in CO2 levels due to
emissions from fossil fuel combustion, followed by aerosols (particulate
matter in the atmosphere) and cement manufacture. Other factors, including
land use, ozone depletion, animal agriculture and deforestation, are also of
concern in the roles they play - both separately and in conjunction with
other factors - in affecting climate. The impacts of climate change could
present a potentially lethal threat to many living creatures. Climate
change-related health hazards are currently estimated to cause 150,000
deaths worldwide each year. Energy utilization estimate:
Biomass is organic material derived from a
wide variety of plants and animals, excluding fossil fuels, and is a
renewable and carbon-neutral biologic resource, which is seen highly
promising as energy sources and raw material. Replacing fossil fuels by
biomass will significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
Fuel cell vehicles have recently attracted
considerable attention as next-generation, environmentally-friendly
vehicles. To produce motive power, on-board hydrogen is reacted with oxygen
extracted from ambient air to efficiently produce electricity. The produced
electricity is then used to power the vehicle. In addition to being
efficient, fuel cell vehicles also produce no CO2, NO2 or SO2 during
operation.
The Montreal Protocol, which was adopted
in 1987, calls for the phasing out of the use and production of ozone
depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs. In response, three fluorinated
gas substitutes (HFCs, PFCs and SF6) that do not deplete the ozone layer
were developed as alternatives. However, these substitute gases, which are
used in wide range of applications, have been proven to have global warming
potentials from several hundreds to tens of thousands of times higher than
CO2. For this reason, under the Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997, these gases
have been designated as greenhouse gases for which emissions must be
dramatically reduced.
Burning of Coal for Thermal Power Plants
and resulting CO2 emissions have a significant impact on the environment.
Coal before utilization needs to be made more efficient and cleaner.
Low-cost coal gasification technology is essential to allow coal to be used
for a variety of purposes. The advent of CO2 capture and storage (CCS)
technology is also seen as a tool to combat global warming.
1 metric tonne of CO2 is equivalent to one
carbon credit and any application by a company or government agency which
reduces CO2 emission can earn carbon credits which are freely tradable on
commodity exchanges and convertible to actual currency including US $'s.
USA is not a signatory to Kyoto Protocol and Europe is signatory and
needs to bring down emission levels to 1990 by 2012.
European companies are not able to bring down CO2 emission levels and may
rush to buy Carbon Credits before the deadline resulting in high values for
these credits. Many Indian companies are looking for sale of these credits
in the Global markets. |