Dependence with oil

Taking into account the distribution, the Dépendance with the Pétrole is the most crucial part of the current energy problems. This article aims at specifying the report of this dependence, then to consider measurements available to reduce it. If it impacts the developed Pays, even each country of the sphere independently of its industrial classification, the question could however limit only to a energy question, taking into account the multiple uses of oil and of its derivatives in the Pétrochimie.

Note: the related question with the modeling of the economic forecasts is treated in the article oil Pic .

Age of oil

Become essential to the daily life, oil has a social impact important. One saw sometimes violent riot S in certain countries following price increases. In 2006, certain French trade unions ask for the introduction of a “ check transport ” to help the employees who move much to face the price of the fuels.

In the developed countries, a rise of the oil price results in an increase in the established budget to the car, but in the poorest countries, it means less hot lighting and less food, because the Kérosène is often the only domestic energy source available.

In addition to oil is used in all the industries mechanized like energy basic, its chemical derivatives are used for manufacture of all kinds of foodstuff, that they are hygienic (Shampooing), of protection, container (plastic), fabrics, etc By doing this, oil became essential and consequently very sensitive strategically.

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an example of dependence: .

August 1st

Alternatives

The impact of oil on the environment and the reduction envisaged in stocks oblige to consider, with more or less long run, the replacement of this energy by another which is more specific to obtain.

The various tracks are:

the renewable energies
the nuclear energy

Nevertheless, these energy sources are appropriate especially for the production of electricity. They can thus directly reduce the consumption of coal and Natural gas. On the other hand, they cannot directly replace the oil, which is used mainly with the production as liquid fuels. Chemical industry is with same, since the Second world war, to reproduce the whole of the chemicals resulting from oil by the Procédé Fischer-Tropsch, but for that it is necessary to have a cheap fuel. The South Africa produces more 160 oil kbbls/j containing coal, but the emissions of Gaz to greenhouse effect are enormous: the fuels produce some as much as the conventional oil fuels during their use, and other emissions are added during the production. A solution, expensive but effective, would be to couple with these processes the sequestration of CO₂.

The Biocarburant S are the only renewable source of liquid fuels. They develop in numbers of countries, but cause concerns. They enter in competition with agriculture for the food and the natural environments for the occupation of the grounds. Their energetic efficiency is often criticized minor amounts of biocarburants can be produced starting from waste of agribusiness industry, in this case the assessment is much better. The production of biodiesel starting from algae attracts an interest growing: she claims neither fresh water, nor cultivable grounds and offers an output to the quite higher hectare and make it possible to recycle of industrial CO₂.

For the other uses of oil (industrial, residential, tertiary), local solutions, very dependant on the context, can bring a reduction in the use of oil, but not a complete replacement. Certain industries generate coproduits which are potential energy sources and are not always used in an optimal way. As example, let us quote the industry of the Papier which could become autonomous in energy by more effectively developing the bark S and the black liquor or of the stations of reprocessing of the waste water which can car-feed at least partially thanks to the production of Biogaz.

For the heating, the most current alternatives are the natural gas and electricity. The use of electricity for the production of heat per Joule effect is thermodynamically ineffective, because electricity is generally produced starting from heat with a bad output. However, of the solutions based on the Geothermics, the heat pumps or the improvement of the Isolation allow a profit of important output. Lastly, for heat at low temperature (like warm water domesticates), the use of oil can be assisted by solar energy.

Reduction of the dependence

In 2005, oil accounted for 36% of the energy resources consumed annually on planet. Oil knows many uses according to the quality for which one employs it:

potential energetics: it is of transport, the sector residential-tertiary sector and industry, in the form of heating or about electricity.
basic material: for the Petrochemistry, the Plasturgie, the Drug company, the Cosmetic, the Agribusiness industry.

The oil Pic comes to upset gives it. The national requirements related to all Energy independence are to be revised.

Alternative energies

With regard to the use of oil like energy source, various solutions exist:

Coal: Coal presents reserves much higher than oil reserves; the coal-fired boilers have evolved/moved much for two centuries, and modern technologies (IGCC) allow a combustion with very low levels of pollution. Moreover, the technique of the geological Stockage of carbon dioxide will make it possible to eliminate the emissions from CO₂ to the source by 2015. This solution is used, and most probable in the future.

Natural gas: one of the least expensive energy sources in 2006, nonrenewable.

Nuclear energy: this energy source is abundantly criticized since the accidents of Three Mile Island and Tchernobyl; on the other hand, it provides nearly 80% of electricity in France (2006). It is possible that this source finds strength in a more distant future.

Wind energy: this already old energy was the subject of many recent developments; in Europe, Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain invest quickly in this renewable source. France starts to make up for its lost time, and passed in 2006 the bar of 1 GW installed.

Wood: In various forms (pellets, sawdust or chips, logs). This resource is renewable and neutral out of CO only if its exploitation is organized, the quantity of wood used being compensated consequently produced quantity. If wood comes from a final deforestation, its use releases from CO in the atmosphere; there are thus few differences with a fossile fuel. The abusive use of wood like energy source presents disadvantages such as disordered state of the local climate, impoverishment of the grounds, pollution by Sulfur dioxide and Nox.

Biogas: Can be produced by fermentation of organic matter and in particular of organic waste (muds of purification plants, waste of household refuse, effluents of breeding…). The interest of this energy source against the greenhouse effect is very important: not only fossil resources are saved, but especially one burns the methane which if not would be emitted in the atmosphere, methane having an greenhouse effect 21 times higher than CO.

Transport

Currently, 96% of world transport use hydrocarbons like energy: that it is the maritime transport, air transport, river, road, all use means of propulsion (spark-ignition engine, turbojet, turbopropeller) burning oil (or sometimes gas). The only sector where oil is not dominating is the rail-bound transport, partly electrified - but a considerable share of this electricity is produced with hydrocarbons.

One can note that the maritime transport and river slightly will a priori only be penalized by the oil peak and the rise in the prices of the fuel, because volumes of goods are such as the price of transport is largely diluted in the total price. Only the goods of low value will be penalized.

It is possible that the surface transports and maritime turn partially to the biocarburants and the natural gas, even coal (trains and boats); air transport remains on the other hand prisoner of the kerosene for many years still, no alternative solution not having exceeded the stage of the laboratory, with share oil " Fischer-Tropsh" produced starting from coal, which provides one the third of the consumption of the South Africa, but whose production emits much CO₂. The air force states-unienne carried out in 2006 conclusive in-flight tests with a produced fuel in this way.

Several countries are currently interested in this tested technology, of which China and the USA, which respectively have the third and the first world reserves of coal.

Lastly, the recent development of batteries of better output (Li-Ion, Li-polymer, etc) makes possible the development of the Electric vehicle. The compressed-air motorization is also being studied, in particular in India: this technology, more rustic but also more robust, is adapted to the needs for urban mobility of the emergent countries. In both cases, it is necessary to have an energy source abundant - and nonpolluting - to upstream reload the battery or the tank of compressed air.

See also: Synthetic, Gasoline (hydrocarbon), Syncrude, hydrogen Economy

Residential-tertiary sector

The French residential park is one of the least powerful of Europe in energy term of performance; possible energy saving is thus multiple, with initially the insulation of the buildings. It is possible to reduce by 50 to 80% the energy expenses domesticates, for example with dwellings not requiring heating, only a mechanical ventilation with recovery of heat (double flow) being necessary (this method is based mainly on the insulation and the Greenhouse effect of the panes).

An approach of this “good architectural design” is the step environmental High-quality which develops mainly in the public building sites at present or the solar concept of Maison passivates which develops in the Germanic countries. A good design of the buildings must also make it possible to avoid the recourse to air-conditioning in summer all while maintaining a temperature correct.

Many examples develop at present, one can quote BedZED.

Agriculture

The Intensive agriculture rests on the use of inputs (chemical Engrais, Pesticides) elaborate starting from oil energy or resulting from petrochemical industry . In addition, agriculture consumes great quantities of plastics (Serre S, Mulch, Emballage S, tools…) and of fuel for the agricultural machines (and this same in said diagrams not productivists).

By the combination of the raising of prices of manures and that of the fuels, two keys of the Green revolution are seriously called in question. Indeed, oil can theoretically be replaced by Biocarburant S (fuels resulting from agriculture) or by plant oils. The energy assessment of these “green” fuels is however for the moment too weak. Moreover, the techniques of synthesis in Organic chemistry for the development for example of molecules pesticides should be re-examined in the absence of oil.

The change of the current agricultural model towards a system “without oil” will be hard. The losses of productivity which could result from this could generate crisis situations food in worst case or, at least, a questioning on food consumption and its modes. It is not very probable that agriculture can be maintained or develop in the model productivist, even without oil peak (problems ecological, economic, of public health and sociétaux with for example the deterioration of the quality of the Eau X and the grounds).

See also: Permaculture, Organic farming, Productivisme, Agriculture

Plasturgie

Today, a great part of materials of packing and manufacture of the industrial products use plastic, i.e. transformed oil. Majority of the food (wine, mustard, pastes, candies…) were sold in bulk before the Années 1950. Synthetic fibers and unit packing (bottles, pots, tubes…) appeared tardily. In the same way, the advent of all-disposable is a relatively recent phenomenon.

It is from now on possible to produce certain plastics by using plants or bacteria; but not in the range of diversity obtained by traditional petrochemistry. These products are not finalized yet either for an industrial use:

surfaces of agricultural production cannot be immediately conceded with these industrial crops (if they are it, it will undoubtedly be with the detriment of other cultures, the fallow sufficient step);
the industrial die remains to be created.

Lastly, taking into account impossibility of devoting too most of the arable lands to nonnutritive productions, the way of the recycling of materials must be privileged.

See too

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