The biogas produced by digesters has many uses,

for example:

domestic - for cooking purposes (biogas

produced can be channelled by PVC pipes to
stoves)

lighting and heating - lamps and burners have

been designed to run on biogas
* agricultural and industrial - fuel for stationary
engines to operate farm machinery.
The residual material from the digestion process
t

can be used as:

.lj 'i.

'::.r:1;:,i.]::!.
-,.;tiiat.:!::ir,il!

t:
E:.

L'

| '*.

""*..

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 available
to fish
potential livestock feed supplement.

'!
Fi

;
..r

.,.

:.. I .t .r: ,i

The availability of energy supplies and the

future demand for energy are unpredictable
because the technical, political, economic and
social assumptions that underlie predictions are
constantly changing. In addition to this, seasonal
and regional variations in energy consumption
and the impact of tourism are among the
variables to be considered. Future changes in
population numbers will also influence energy
use.

One of the major factors influencing the choice

of the energy sources a country can choose is
its technological level. More technologically
advanced countries such as the USA, Russia,
England, China and Germany, for example, are
among those that use nuclear energy.

The availabiiity of technology is also important in

the harnessing and development of non-polluting,
renewable energy sources such as wind and solar
energy. As a direct result of high oil prices and
continuous technological development, renewable
energy sources are starting to become as popular
and acceptable as traditional sources (oil and gas).

In some countries, where natural gas and oil are

in plentiful supply, the government may have
little or no interest in developing renewable
energy 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. hs
government has removed all duties on solar
energy systems and equiPment.

l]lm

When fuel is cheap and abundant, foreign

investors rush to invest their money, so it
is important that there should be impartiai
enforcement of environmental laws as well as
cheap labour. Trinidad and Tobago is an attracrproposition for investors wishing to build
industrial plants, because it has all the right

ml

nm
rfl[[
lllttr

IM

lftG

dl
11lll{

rl'

factors.

The government's major interest is revenue; in

2006, ten new industrial plants were establishe:
among the dozens already in Tiinidad and
Tobago. Three of them were to be smelter plan:s
despite concerns and protests from residents a:-environmental organisations. The politicians of
the country have the final decision because it is
economically beneficial for the government to
give 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 and
destroy habitats by taking land for construction.
Of the countries in the Caribbean, Tiinidad and
Tobago has the most oil and gas, hence the reasc:,
for its faster rate ofindustrialisation than its
neighbours. The demand for energy is increasing.
along with industrialisation and developing
technology. Higher standards of living make our
lives easier, but at the cost of consuming larger
amounts of energy. However, in Tiinidad and
Tobago, civilians are not the major consumers
of energy. The popuiation growth rate for 2005
was negative (-0.74To) while the growth and
development rate for industries was positive.

Industry is only one of the areas of growth in

energy consumption. Transport is also demanding
more energy as trade and tourism increases. The
demand for transport services for goods and
people is driving this demand.
Even the seasons have an effect on energy
consumption, as in the winter energy is needed
for heating and in the summer energy is needed
for cooling. The development status of a country
and its people also influence energy consumption
patterns. A person in a developed nation uses

:lre energy than a person from a less developed

-,a:ion, because of their lifestyle and higher

A decrease in demand may even warrant a decrease

in the quantity of electricity generated. This r,vould
require the use of less fossil fuel and result in
immediate savings. Because of the decrease in fuel
consumption, there would be a corresponding
decrease in the emission of air pollutants such as
carbon dioxide, sulphur oxides and particulates.
Effective demand management will result in
environmental benefits.
Under some circumstances, effective demand
management may actually decrease the profits of the
power company. This is possible if the decrease in
demand is such that the company will still have
to operate all its generators to satisfy existing
demand. Hence, the savings that might have
accrued from shutting down a generator do not

::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

is
i'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 MANAGEAAENT
Iiectricity-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 energyefficient and energy-conservation practices

materialise.

GEOGRAPH I(AL FACTORS

NFLUENCI NG E TECTRICITY
GENERATION
I

geography ofa country can have a strong

influence on the types of power generation that are
practical or economic. High, mountainous regions,
with high rainfall levels, may be suitable for the
construction of dams for hydroelectric energy.
In Guyana, where there are numerous waterfalls,
hydroelectric energy may be a future source of
Th_e

energy.
Canada and the USA already benefit from
hydroelectric power generaied by water diverted
from the Niagara river, close to the Niagara falls.

+ the funding ofresearch to develop energyefficient 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 be
a.llocated to other important social programmes.
-{dditionally, a demand-management programme
ray reveal excess capacity that may be adequate
:r satisfy any future additional demand due to
:opulation increase or derrelopment.

Figure 5.

l9 Niagara lalls

Regions with reliable daily sunlight, especially

desert 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

ENERCY REsoURcE

MANAC,EMENT

179

The technology is constantly being improved and

solar power, in all its forms, will certainly become

The areas with the largest known reserves of

more important in the future.

with over

Volcanic regions are likely to be good locations

for the exploitation of geothermal energy. The

technology is not widely exploited but, given the
right geological conditions, the costs of setting
up and running a generating station are likely to
be economic, especially as the energy source is
constantly renewing itself.
Iceland is the best-known example of the use

of

geothermal energy.

TEC H NOTOG

ICAt TI/V{ITATIONS

ON THE EXPLOITATION OF FUEt

AND POWER RESOURCE'

$
It

There could be huge deposits ofoil and gas and

other minerals beneath the deep ocean floors,
or even in the mountains of the Himalayas or
under the sands of the Sahara desert. However,
these locations are unexplorable due to climatic
conditions and our limited technology.
Even the countries of the Caribbean could have
resources that are unexplored and untapped,
due to the lack of skills, finance, manpower and
technology.

As the current supply of natural resources is

diminished, the need to explore and prospect in
new areas increases.
Exploration will eventually take place in most
areas, almost inevitably financed by foreign
investors. Due to the large profits and economic
advantages to be gained by both the developer
and the host country, new technologies will
continue to be deployed to try to uncover fresh
reserves of fuels and minerals.

fossil fuels are the Middle East and Venezuela.

1 triilion barrels (1 barrel : 42US
gallons).

In both Trinidad and Venezuela there is at

least a SO-year supply ofoil and gas. A recent
reassessment of Venezuela's reserves suggests
that they might even be twice as large as

previously thought.

HOw GOVERNMENT' CAN

INFLUENCE ENERGY UsE
Although market prices are a major influence on
energy use, governments also have the power
to influence how we source and use energy. The
tools they can use to exert their influence inclui=
* introducing non-fossil fuel obligations (NFFO
These are designed to ensure that electricity
companies generate a certain percentage of
electricity from non-fossil fuel sources. There
have to be penalties for companies that fail tc
meet NFFO targets,
* piacing or removing duties on energy sources
and generating and infrastructure equipment
* increasing taxes on fossil fuels such as gasoline
i:i'i.:::":*t:r,.;"',t
z

".'.":''

t:.!)tr.' ,::. ?:::''

:'t ':. ...

"&

Crude oil and natural gas are found primarily

in geologically young tectonic belts and
plate boundaries. The elevated temperatures
and pressures in these regions initiate the
transformation of organic material in the
sediments into oil and gas.

RETIABITITY OF ENERGY
If we know that a supply of resources'UPPLIES
exists, for
example, the oil under the Maracaibo area of
Venezuela, or the North Sea, then we call the
supply a reserve.
The reserve can be exploited if the price at which
the resources can be sold is greater than the
cost to harvest the resource under the current
economic and technological conditions. North
Sea oil and gas, for example, cost a lot to recover
as they can only be recovered by using expensive
marine drilling platforms; this is less profitable
than mining oil from the Middle East.

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.,ly
t:,- ;t 25To of the petroleum in the reservoir.
**: enhanced
*--. method method can extract 60% more oil.
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
=
---'-'r'^'b'
rnino
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

The refining process can be very polluting ro rhe

environment, especialiy when volatiie chemicals
such as aromatic benzene are released.

It is important that refineries are correctly

designed and operated, to minimise enviionmental

pollution.

Figure 5.2

An oil refinery,Trinidad, point d pierre

',,.'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
*.:ss of - 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

DTIIVTRY AND UsE OF REFINERY

PRODUCTS

Some of the most extensive and significant

environmental probiems associated with oil and
gas occur when the fuel leaves the refinery and is

consumed.
The problems include:

.:sthetic degradation.

and other distribution facilities

pollution of surface waters and groundwater

from broken pipes or ranks conraining fuels or
oil field chemicals

accidental release ofair poilutants such as

hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulphide

aesthetic degradation.

RrnNrNc
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 its
- -:

rr :-;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

io make plastics, or destined for use as raw
i*::riais in the chemical industries.

-r:j

use of land for the construcrion of pipelines and

storage tanks and to build a network of roads

f; ru n s{fl,y L rF

i;t

I fl

}j,r.','

One way to reduce energy consumption, or at

least to reduce the rate of increaseln energ),-

consumption, is to aim for energy efficiency.

This means maximising the useful work (in the
scientific sense) done by the energy we consume,
and minimising all forms of energy waste. Increased
energy efficiency involves designing equipment
to yield more work from a given amount of input
energy.

CHAPTER

ENERCY RE5OURCE

MANAcEMENT I8I

DOME'TIC AND INDU'TRIAL

ENERGY CONSERVATION
One way to reduce energy use is to plan to get
by with less. If we change our patterns of energy
use and adjust our needs, we can make significant

contributions to energy conservation. This can

involve simple actions that cut out waste, for
example, not using air conditioning when it is not
really needed, or using low-energy lighting.
Energy-efficient buildings require energy
conservation techniques. Buildings (homes,
commercial or industrial buildings) are designed
to conserve heat (in the case of buildings in cold
or temperate regions), or to keep heat out (in the
case of buildings in tropical areas). The objective
is to reduce energy consumption to a minimum
and reduce cost for cooling, heating and lighting.
Methods of maintaining comfortable indoor
temperatures in tropical regions include:
* use'of insulating materials in roofs to prevent
heat conduction and radiation to the space
below
* use of light-coloured finishes for walls and
roofing to reflect thermal energy from sunlight
* shading of roofs, walls and windows with

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 EFFIcIENCY

AND CONSERVATION IN
TRANSPORTATION
Good design and the use of more efficient efli -::::
have led to a decrease in the energy consume :
in the transport sector. By using more aerodynamic shapes that reduce air friction, togeti :'
with lightweight materials and modern engin-,
that make better use of the fuei they consume
transport 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:,- 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.

eaves, awnings and carports

decreasing glare and heat gain from sunlight by

using blinds and shutters

designing and landscaping ofoutdoor surfaces

to reduce air temperatures and minimise glare,
for example, by reducing the use of paved areas
and increasing the use ofgrassed and planted
areas

designing features on factories and houses

that trap the prevailing wind and provide free

ventilation and cooling.

COGEN E RATION
To maximise energy efficiency,

'--",

&"4

S, S -*=* *" *'ro- I F.f "',*"'

{,

?,1'i

;-

", .

. i"
i5 **
e'- f*X a I-' ; -.:.r t:'.:
.,- tl.;..'.:
'1- Z
i{ 1i ,1.*1 -1 a r=' t"- Lr"4t
? t:..,e r7.i? :*
,c

ciosai *anr"rN

There is a scientific view that there is, at presen:

an upward trend in giobal surface temperatures.
although this is disputed by some people. The
causes of increased temperatures may be:

* natural - just a natural trend, as has happened

it is possible

to produce two forms of energy from a single

generating process. This process is called
cogeneration. Fossil fuel is used to produce both
electricity and useful heat. Waste heat is captured
and used for other processes.
Cogeneration allows the use of energy that
wouid normally be wasted and may improve the
efficiency ofenerg;' generation by up to 80 per
cent. More energy is made available to satisfy the
increasing demand without purchasing additional
fuel" This additional energy is ir''ailable only as
t8?

in the past

human - activities such as burning fossil fuels

influencing the climate.

There is little dispute that there has been an

increase in ievels ofcarbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, dating from
when the Industrial Revolution began and fossil
fuels were burned in much greater quantities tha.
in previous centuries.

This increase in CO2 levels seems to be related

to an increase in the mean global temperature of

PC

:he Earth. The increase has not been great, but it is

significant and it is predicted that climatic change

nay be a consequence.

In addition to air pollution, land pollution is

caused by oil spills from broken pipelines and
waste run-off from factories. Some of the more
dangerous compounds are derivatives of benzene
that have carcinogenic (cancer causing) properties.
Fossil fuels remain the most popular fuels,
despite the pollutants that they emit. They will
remain popular until technological change makes
alternative, non-polluting energy sources as cheap,
convenient and readily available as fossil fuels'

Figure 5

23 Cil sprll pollution

HABITAT DESTRUCTION

AI
,E

'

:rgure 5.22 Smoking chimneys pump pollutants into the

.'.^-

osDiere,

in global temperatures,
non-polluting
alternative,
to
find
shali have
to absorb
more
trees
;ources of energy, plant
:arbon dioxide and conserve energy in order to
::elp decrease the emission of carbon dioxide and
rther greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

To counteract any increase

-.i'e

Habitat destruction has led to extinction and

reduction in bio-diversity throughout the
world. The exploitation of minerals and energy
sources has destroyed habitats through the
clearing of land, explosions, noise pollution and
infrastructural development for processing. Such
development includes roads and industrial plants,
as well as the consumption of land for ports, for
exports of energy and energy products.

Smgg*

''

POLTUTION

{';l
g&eg}&"{', q '--,:
f,H"r x: h,":"1" :: , "
? $q ,+;.f *- i";") s:

The extraction, transport and use of all forms of

energy have some form of pollution associated

H EALTH I55U E5

',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 oxides
NO.), sulphur oxides (SOJ and aromatic organic
:ompounds that are air pollutants and some of
,i'hich contribute to acid rain.

r'

r"i'
.

'

:*

There are a number of chronic diseases associated

with the mining of energy sources such as fossil
fuels. Toxic fumes from deep, underground areas
of the Earth are released during drilling for naturai
gas, crude oil and mining coal. These are mainly
sulphur dioxide and methane. Much of the emitted
waste, effluent and gases contains carcinogenic,

CHAPTER

ENER6Y RE5OURCE

MANA6EMENT

I83

aromatic benzene compounds. Despite this, there

is a demand for work in the energy sector because
ofthe high wages and advantageous health
plans. Howeveq people who work in these areas
are considered'high risk' because of the deadly
accidents associated with energy exploration,
development and processing.
Occupational health and safety are major
concerns of the population and the government
in Tiinidad and Tobago. In February 2006, the
government implemented, the'OSHA law. This

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,,

"'

l;:r;!/ti,;%,::

lr
I

l.
I1.

[..
[.

- ,":

has strict safety and compensation procedures

that will help ensure the safety of workers and
compensate them for accidents that occur in their
workplace.

Economic development will result in increased

industrialisation.
New industries will develop,
\""'
such as those processing and manufacturing
chemicals. The waste from these industries is
harmful. If these by-products are not disposed
of appropriately, this will lead to increased
environmental pollution, with its associated
health risks.

DrstocertoN oF (orvrrvruNtrt

i5E
Before the discovery ofoil and gas, coal anc
wood 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 growing
environmental costs, ranging from urban
pollution 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 economic

impacts in oil-dependent countries; a war or
revolution in a petroleum-producing country
could cause exports ofpetroleum to be reducec
significantly.
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.

E5

Figure 5,24 Yangfze dam

Many smaller communities throughout the

world have been removed from their home areas
because of mineral deposits that governments
wish to extract. Even r,vhen a community is left
in place, the noise and pollutior-, associated rvith
the extraction and transport of elergv sou 'is,
dislocates communities.

r84

Figure 5.25

Wood collected

f;

The greatest dispiacement of communities

affected by the exploitation ofnew energy sources
is seen today in China, where over 1 million
people have been displaced as a result ofthe
construction ofa dam on the Yangtze river.

as

fuel in Africa

Social and cultural factors influence energy

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

rcssii fuels are the main source of energy for

seating and other energy related needs because
:heir convenience and relative cheapness.
Some of the factors that influence the cost
energy production and use are:

of

of

* improve roads
* encourage consumers

* assist manufacturers in designing energyefficient vehicles, by reducing taxes on imports

of these vehicles and parts for assembly and
manufacture

+ political

economic

+ social

to conserve gasoline,

through education programmes

environmental

provide mass transit transportation systems,

such as trains.

+ technological
+ supply.
CS:
-1". -:

6OVERNMENT POTICI E'

+ The tax might encourage the development of

alternative and less polluting energy sources,
such as solar power and wind. Both of them are
abundant in the Caribbean. Such a tax would
help convince Caribbean nationals of the need to
conserve fuel and drive smaller cars.
+ The government might reduce taxes on imports
of new, smaller, fuel-efficient cars.
+ The government might reduce tzx on vehicles
that use methanol as a fuel. This would be a
positive encouragement to people to change to
alternative energy sources.
+ The use of biodi esel (20Vo methyl ester and 80%
diesel) might increase. Biodiesel can be made at
home from used cooking oils.

Vehicles emit carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides

and volatile organic chemicals called hydrocarbons.

In the presence of sunlight, or ultraviolet light,

hydrocarbons react with nitrogen oxides to
produce ozone, which is a respiratory irritant.
Carbon monoxide is a competitor for oxygen in the
blood and nitrogen oxides form nitric acid in the
presence of water.
Anything that can help to reduce the production
of these pollutants will be helping to improve
the environment. Taxes on gasoline may be one
approach to this problem. Other ways in which the
government can help reduce the dependency on
gasoline and reduce the air pollution caused by its
combustion are to:

* encourage the use ofalternative

methanol, solar or fuei cells

fuels, such as

Figure 5

25

Polluting vehicle exhaust

The effects of burning fossil fuels over the past

yearss are now being both felt and recognised.
Exploiting, processing and burning fossil fuels
produce toxic wastes that can be linked to the
global changes in weather patterns the Earth is
experiencing. Combustion of fossil fuels results
in the emission of air pollutants, including
particulates. Small particles can be inhaled into
the respiratory system, aggravating respiratory
illnesses. Longterm exposure may cause increased
incidence 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 the
number of hours lost because of persons being
absent from work as a result of such illnesses.
Apart from the effects of particulates, the
pollutants from fossil fuels have contributed in
some 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

Eruvg re*rq-MeffiNY&tu
rA&,p&Y &s$Ks$&KruY',S
The environmental impact assessment (EIA)
process involves a systematic, reproducible,
and interdisciplinary evaluation of the potential
physical, biological, cultural, and socio-economic
effects ofa proposed action and its practical

environment or human health, precautionary

measures should be taken, even if some causeand-effect relationships are not fully established
scientifically.

alternatives.
Proposed actions may include projects,
programmes, policies or plans.

As a decision-making tool, EIA provides a means

ior decision-makers to integrate environmental,
human health and socio-economic concerns better,
as they relate to the environment.

t-:
Ci -:
r'- i_

It provides the opportunity for all stakeholders

involved in a proposed action, including the public,
to participate in the identification of issues of
concern and practical alternatives, and to identify
opportunities to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts.
The process begins with a decision to proceed with
EIA 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 : EMA (Envir onment aI Management Authority

WnAn

15

T^^PACT

AN ENVIRONMENTAT

A5'Es'MENT?

The International Association for Impact

Assessment (IAI,{) defines an environmental
impact assessment (EIA) as:
of identifying, predicting, evaluating and
mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevqnt
effects of development proposals prior to major
The process

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 and

decommissioning.

For each component, list all of the sources of

environmental disturbance.

For each component, list all the outputs such

as

air pollution, noise.

2 Alternatives that have been considered

Examine alternatives that have been

considered, for example, in a commercial glass
manufacturing plant, whether the raw material
to 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, for
example, fauna, flora, humans, cultural heritage,
landscape, water, soil and air.
This section is best carried out with the help of
community members.

4 Description of the significant effects on the

environment

*
*
*

decisions 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 a
project, or, ifit is to go ahead, to require strict
liability or insurance coverage, based on the harm
it is likely to do.

polluter pays principle is the idea that

the commercial or public entity, or person that
is producing pollution is responsible for
paying for any damage done to the natural
environment.

The

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of Trinidad and Tobago)

The precautionary principle is the idea that

when an activity raises threats of harm to the

The most frequent method used is the Leopold

Matrix.
This matrix is a tool used in a systematic
examination of potential interactions.
The matrix has columns representing the
various activities of the project and rows
representing the various environmental factors
to be considered.

5 Mitigation

Information coliected in the previous stages

is used to generate solutions that will avoid
negative impacts.

CHAPTER

ENER6Y RE5OURCE

MANA6EMENT I9I

6 Non-technical summary

the source of high-energy neutrons with

* This section

equations

general equations
uranium.

is a summary that does not

include jargon or complicared diagrams.

It should be understood by the informed layperson.

+ It is important that the EIA should be in the

public domain and be used in the decision
making process.

7 Summary of technical difficulties and

lack of know-how encountered during the
assessment

This section is to advise ofany areas of

weakness in knowledge.
* It can be a useful focus for future research.
EIA is a starting point for good environment
management by developers.

QurrrroNs
Give four natural source of renewable energy
and briefly discuss how electrical energy can be
derived from each of them.

Comment on the following statement:

Technology makes our lives easier and more
comfortable, but unknown to us it makes our lives

shorter.
Explain how energy from radioactive elements
such as uranium can be harvested to make

i:: :..

electricity.Your answer should include:

a
b
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'

,'

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i-:---.i:.:;
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the structure of reactor vessels and the

materials used in containing and controlling
nuclear reactions

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the role of nuclear reactors

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,

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to show the breakdown of

Hydroelectric dams can provide a huge amount

of electricity to communities at low cost.
Hydroelectric power is a renewable source of
energy. Although the dams provide many benefits,
they can also cause harm to the environment and
to people. List and discuss four disadvantages of
hydroelectric dams.
Discuss three factors that affect the use and supply
of electric energy.
Solar energy should be easy to harvest in the
Caribbean.What are the factors that have limited
the development of solar energy as a domestic
POWer SOurCe?

Manufacturers are developing hybrid vehicles, that

can run on normal fuel but also have an electric
motor and batteries.

a
b

Find out about hybrid vehicles.

Discuss how hybrid vehicles can help in energy

conservation.

a
b
c

How can biodiesel be made at home?

What are the drawbacks of biodiesel?
ls it likely

to reduce domestic energy billsl

Discuss the feasibility of power companies in the

Caribbean using solar energy as an alternative to
fossil energy.

t0 How can people of the Caribbean conserve energy

at home in order to reduce their energy bill?Your
answer should include a description of the building
design or modification.

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by Chandradaye Motilal
The high demand for fossil fuels over the past few years has placed a strain on supplies and
a need to find new reserves. As the oil reserves are feared to be running Io*, new efficient
fuels are being engineered. This will reduce the demand for fossil fuel. The fuels being
made to possibly replace fossil fuels are biodiesel and ethanol, which are primarily made
from sugarcane/ corn and vegetable oil.
Biodiesel is primarily composed of vegetable oil or animal fat (lipids). This alternative fuel
is typically made by chemically reacting Iipids, such as vegetable oilor animal fat, with an
alcohol.Today's biofuels are used for road vehicles and railways, manufacturing, heating
and even in aircraft.

Biodiesel is made from a wide variety of vegetable oils from a variety of sources. The most
common vegetable biodiesel is soya bean and rapeseed based. These are the preferred
bases for biodiesel as they are very high in oil. Other vegetable oils used for biofuels are
coconut, corn oil, peanut oil, castor oil, palm oil, sunflower seeds and radish. They are all
very 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 cooking
fuel. The process of making biodiesel is called transesterification. ln making your own
biodiesel you'll need lye (sodium hydroxide) which is sold at every supermarket, methanol
and vegetable cooking oil. First dissolve lye in methanol. This mixture creates sodium
methoxide. Then mix in vegetable oil for approximately 2O minutes. This can be done in a
blender. After mixing, let the mixture settle for eight hours. The fuel will separate from the
glycerine, which sinks to the bottom. The mixture can be separated after the eight hours are
up. The glycerine can be thrown out or used to make soap, since the main component of
soap is glycerine. The biofuel is now ready for use.

Although biodiesel is better for the environment, it is also very costly to make, whilst fossil
fuel is cheaper. Many drivers therefore go for the cheaper fuel, which increases the amount
of carbon dioxide from fossil sources in the atmosphere. Drivers are also a{raid to switch
from their regular fuel as they fear this can damage their engines.
Biodiesel is very environmentally friendly as it does not increase the overall levels of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This will lead to a decrease in the risk of global warming
if everyone switches to it.
We have to face up to the fact that our fossil fuels will one day run out and, if alternative
fuels aren't engineered, the world will be in trouble. Alternative fuels such as biodiesel and
ethanol are very helpful as they do not raise the carbon dioxide level of our already ailing
atmosphere. Although costly, they are very important and people should be willing to take
a more environmentally friendly position. The process of producing this alternative fuel is
so simple it can even be done in the home kitchen and it is just as effective as fossil fuels. lt
is up to people to make the right choice for the environment.

THAPTER

ENERCY RESOURCE MANA6EMENT

t93