Category: SUSTAINABLE USE OF POWER AND ENERGY RESOURCES

HERE YOU WILL GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE ON SUSTAINABLE USE OF POWER AND ENERGY RESOURCES COVERING ISSUES LIKE
DEFINITION OF POWER AND ENERGY
MAJOR SOURCE OF POWER AND ENERGY
ORIGIN OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENERGY AND POWER SOURCES
METHOD OF ACQUIRING POWER AND ENERGY
USE AND IMPORTANCE OF VARIOUS TYPES OF POWER RESOURCES
PROBLEMS FACING THE PROCESS OF POWER AND ENERGY HARNESSING
WAYS OF ADDRESSING PROBLEMS FACING POWER AND ENERGY ADDRESSING

MEASURES TO MITIGATE THE ENERGY CRISIS IN THE COUNTRY

To mitigate the energy crisis in the country, several measures can be taken, including:




  • Developing Alternative Sources of Energy: Promoting the development and utilization of alternative energy sources such as solar power, biomass, geothermal, and hydroelectric power (HEP). This diversifies the energy mix and reduces reliance on petroleum. It involves investing in infrastructure, incentivizing renewable energy projects, and creating a conducive policy environment for their growth.
MEASURES TO MITIGATE THE ENERGY CRISIS IN THE COUNTRY
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  • Energy Management and Conservation: Implementing energy management practices and conservation measures can help reduce energy consumption and optimize energy use. This includes promoting energy-efficient technologies, conducting energy audits, raising awareness about energy-saving practices, and adopting energy-efficient building designs.
  • Nuclear Energy Development: Exploring the potential for nuclear energy as a long-term solution to meet the country’s energy needs. This involves conducting feasibility studies, addressing safety concerns, building necessary infrastructure, and establishing regulatory frameworks for the development and operation of nuclear power plants.




  • Coal Utilization: Encouraging industries to use coal as an alternative to petroleum. Coal can be a relatively cheaper energy source, and its utilization can help reduce dependence on imported petroleum. However, it is essential to ensure environmentally sustainable and clean coal technologies to minimize the environmental impact.
  • Energy Efficiency Standards and Regulations: Implementing and enforcing energy efficiency standards and regulations across different sectors. This includes setting minimum energy performance standards for appliances and equipment, promoting energy-efficient industrial processes, and enforcing energy efficiency codes for buildings.
  • Research and Development: Investing in research and development to explore innovative solutions for energy production, storage, and distribution. This includes supporting research institutions, universities, and private sector collaborations to develop new technologies, improve existing systems, and optimize energy management practices.
  • Regional Cooperation: Collaborating with neighboring countries and regional organizations to enhance energy cooperation, share resources, and explore cross-border energy trade opportunities. This can help diversify energy sources, ensure energy security, and optimize resource utilization within the region.




By implementing these measures, Kenya can mitigate the energy crisis, ensure a sustainable and affordable energy supply, reduce reliance on petroleum, and promote the transition to a more diversified and resilient energy sector.

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Advantages and disadvantages of energy produced from natural gas

Natural gas occurs in association with petroleum i.e. normally found on top of upper layers of Crude Oil.

Composed of a mixture of hydrocarbons with methane making the highest percentage




Mainly used for domestic purposes, generating thermal electricity and for industrial activities

Advantages of energy from natural gas

Disadvantages of energy from natural gas

  • Accidental fires may occur due to gas leakage/damaged pipes.
  • Pollution of environment through gas leaks.
  • Expensive for low income earners

Problems of Energy Development in Kenya




  • Inadequate capital which causes the country to seek external borrowing of money which is paid for many years overburdening the country.
  • Small market for power because of the high cost of connection which prevents its horizontal spread
  • Seasonal fluctuation of water levels in dams due to low rainfall on catchment areas and some rivers flowing through dry areas where much of water is lost through evaporation which leads to inconvenience to consumers because of power rationing.
  • Regular siltation of dams due to deposition of soil which requires regular dredging which is quite expensive.
  • Location of some power generation plants in remote areas making it expensive to transport power for long distances.




  • There is limited spread of solar power in rural areas because the equipment is expensive to install and lack of acceptance because it fluctuates with seasons.
  • There is lack of acceptance of wind power and many people use diesel to pump water instead of it.
  • There is problem of overexploitation of wood fuel as a result of population increasing at a faster rate which has led to deforestation leading to soil erosion and reduced amounts of rainfall as a result of the effect on water cycle.

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6 ADVANTAGES AND 5 DISADVANTAGES OF URANIUM OR NUCLEAR ENERGY

Uranium or Nuclear Energy is Derived from the alteration of atomic structures

Involves release of heat that produces steam used to generate electricity through fission where uranium is split into nuclear reactors/power stations




Nuclear power stations are mainly found in developed countries e.g. Britain, the USA, France, Germany, and Japan

Advantages of nuclear energy

  • Environmentally friendly.
  • Produces large amounts of energy in nuclear reactors
  • Reliable due to long lasting supply of uranium deposits

Disadvantages of nuclear energy




  • Requires heavy capital investment/expertise.
  • Radioactive materials are harmful to human (causes cancer) and the environment.
  • Nuclear leakages can cause environmental pollution.
  • Can result into disastrous accidents if not well planned/controlled

Advantages and disadvantages of petrol and diesel as source of energy

Is a fossil fuel that consists of gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons from animal and vegetation matter laid down in sedimentary rocks

Used in agriculture, cooking, lighting, and heating




When refined several bi-products are realized e.g. petrol, diesel, paraffin, bitumen, liquified gas, and lubricants

Petrol and diesel are used to fuel vehicles and machinery

Advantages of fossil fuel

  • Occurs in great abundance as new oil deposits are being disocvered daily.
  • Has wide range of domestic and industrial uses.
  • Can be used to generate other sources of energy e.g. thermal electricity.
  • Can be transported by tankers/pipelines and stores for future use




Disadvantages of petrol and diesel

  • Crude oil is bulky.
  • Dangerous because highly inflammable.
  • Burning of petroleum pollutes the environment/leads to global warming.
  • Petroleum is relatively expensive/not affordable to many.
  • Prospecting of petroleum is expensive

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF ENERGY FROM DRAUGHT ANIMALS

The most commonly used draught animals are oxen/bulls, others are horses, donkeys, camel etc




They are used to in plough/prepare farms, transport goods etc

Advantages of energy from draught animals

  • Readily available all over the world.
  • Maintenance of animals is cheap – require only food and water.
  • Animals are flexible i.e. can go through areas that are inaccessible by other transport
  • means e.g. roads/railway.
  • Some animals can be used in ASALs




Disadvantages of energy from draught animals

  • Prone to diseases and fatigue.
  • Work that can be done by animals is restricted to rural areas.
  • Work that can be done by the animals is limited – they tire quickly

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF WAVE AND TIDAL ENERGY

Wave energy results from strong sea waves set in motion by wind




Are common in high-pressure belts/mid-latitude regions

Are used to produce electricity

In places with high sea tides mills with turbines are set up to be driven by the tides to produce energy/electricity

Advantages of wave and tidal energy

Cheap as tides and waves are free of charge

Disadvantages wave and tidal energy




  • Available only in countries with sea/coasts
  • Production limited to strong waves/tides.
  • Generating plants may be destroyed by hurricanes/tsunamis.
  • Inadequate technology for their development.
  • Initial development costs are prohibitive

Advantages and disadvantages of wood fuel




Firewood, charcoal, and sawdust are used for cooking and heating.
It can be exhausted if it’s cut at a higher rate than it is being replaced. so it requires management if it has to be sustained.




Advantages of Woodfuel

  • It’s a cheap source of energy.
  • Available almost throughout the world.
  • No maintenance cost is needed.
  • Ashes from burned firewood can be used for plastering houses and as a
  • fertilizer.

The disadvantage of wood fuel

  • Dirty because when burning it gives off smoke and soot.
  • Pollutes environment through the gases it emits.
  • Requires a big storage area.
  • Its overexploitation leads to deforestation leading to problems of soil erosion,
  • global warming, and shortage of water.




Advantages and disadvantages of wood fuel

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