Energy Crisis UPSC | World Energy crisis

Energy does not mean only oil or petrol but all conventional and non-conventional energy. 
Conventional Source of energy:

• Thermal Power Plant
• Hydro Power Plant
• Bio-mass
• Bio-gas
• Charcoal
• Wind energy

Non-Conventional Source of energy:

• Solar energy
• Tidal energy
• Wave Energy
• Ocean Thermal Energy
• Geo-Thermal Energy
• Nuclear Energy

An energy crisis does not mean the scarcity of energy, the meaning of an energy crisis is the problems of production and distribution for any reason.

Energy Crisis = Demand of energy >> Supply of energy 

What causes an energy crisis?

• Demand-side:
• Over-consumption due to energy inefficiencies, India's consumption of energy, is three times more than in developed countries for the same quantity of production.
• Overpopulation, the rise of middle and high-class people increases the energy demand
• Due to climate change, more energy is needed for cooling and warming of home.
• Supply-side
• Political crisis in OPEC countries
• US sanctions on Iran, Russia, and Venezuela (recent )
• The cartel of OPEC countries
• Overexploitation of resources leads to a loss of resources.

There is three energy crises since the industrial revolution.

energy crisis

• The energy crisis of 1973: The main cause of the 1973 energy crisis was OPEC. In 1960, OPEC was formed to control the pricing. In 1973, the petrol price was raised from 1.5 $ per barrel to 7 $ per barrel, 5 times. In 1980, the price further rose to 25 $ per barrel.
• The energy crisis of 1990: Second energy crisis, 1n 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait, due to this oil crisis happened.
• The energy crisis of 2005-08, the third energy crisis, in 2005 petrol price 78 $ per barrel, and in 2008, it was 148 $ per barrel. It is caused by two reasons:
• Supply cut by OPEC countries
• Demand increases in developing countries such as the rise of China & India.

How can we solve the energy crisis?

• Uses of an energy-efficient tool such as 5-star electronic items
• Regular servicing of machinery
• People's awareness of energy importance
• The exploitation nature of OPEC must be stopped.
• Finding an alternative to petrol
• Must invest in renewable energy infrastructure, for example, FAME India program
• Stability should be insured in oil-rich countries.

The previous year's question was asked in the UPSC main geography optional paper.

• Role of Venezuela in the production and export of oil. (2013, 12 marks)
• “World is passing through a global resource dilemma.” Comment. (2014, 15 marks)

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