Energy Security

Energy security is a diverse term used to associate the availability of natural resources in a nation with the overall national security. The security of production and technology in a nation is proportional to the number of natural resources available.

A country can increase its energy and environmental security by using plenty of renewable energy sources to supply the energy requirements. Using energy-efficient technology and diversifying the energy sources in production sectors are also prominent methods of increasing energy security.

Energy Security and Renewable Energy Sources

Energy security is a vital unit of security for any nation. The natural resources majorly used to produce energy in the developed and developing countries of the world are all non-renewable sources like coal and petroleum. The limited supply of these resources is on the verge of running out. If the reservoirs of these resources run out, the world will run out of energy. Based on the technology-dependent nature of today’s world, it is safe to assume that running out of energy will be the end of the world.

Science and technology predicted this situation a long time ago, and introduced Renewable energy sources to fight such a situation and ensure that energy production remains uninterrupted. Renewable energy sources are unlimited natural sources, and these energy sources include but are not limited to solar energy, tidal energy, wind energy, etc.

In the past century, countries have deployed these renewable energy sources to produce a fraction of the total energy requirement. Unlike traditional sources, renewable energy sources cause less pollution. However, producing the energy required to supply the domestic and industrial needs of a developed or developing country using only renewable energy sources can be a challenge for science and technology.

Researchers are tirelessly working towards building a sustainable and efficient energy production structure that can produce energy as efficiently as the conventional sources without causing as much pollution. Countries have designed a diversified model of energy production using various renewable energy sources in different sectors to achieve that goal.

Strategies to Obtain High Energy Security

Renewable energy sources: The primary and most efficient way of increasing a nation’s energy security is by using renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources can act as an unlimited supply of energy resources. So, if a nation starts to depend entirely on these sources, it will be free from the risks of its resources running out. 

However, it is a costly proposal considering that energy production using renewable sources is not a standard method and requires a region to discard its old production units. The country will first have to establish enough units using renewable sources and then discard the units using conventional sources. Even though the cost of production will decrease in the long run, the overall installation cost is very high for the process. Many major countries are working towards building a sustainable energy production model using renewable sources by the end of 2050.

Diversification of sources: Another method of increasing the energy security for a nation is to increase the number of diversified sources. A country should not only depend on its natural resources. A country can import resources or energy from other countries, exploit several native or international fossil fuel reservoirs, and direct most of their energy demand towards renewable energy sources to diversify the sources.

Energy conservation: With the increasing demand for energy in every security meaning, energy conservation has become a crucial step for all. The wastage of energy produced using traditional sources is highly harmful to the economic and environmental health of the nation. Countries are engaging in taking conservation measures to ensure a decrease in energy wastage.

Energy Security and Climate Change

Energy security has a direct connection to the climate change of a nation. In the past two decades, many nations have witnessed their hottest days. This change has caused science and technology great concern about global warming, overall energy security and climate change.

Countries have been exploiting their native reservoirs of conventional energy sources to ensure an uninterrupted energy supply for domestic and industrial operations. Thermal power plants have been the primary production units for decades, and thermal power plants are the most significant source of global warming and water pollution globally. So, the conventional methods of energy production have highly affected the climate and gradually decreased energy security.

Importance of Energy and Environmental Security

• The structural development depends directly on energy, and an uninterrupted supply of energy meets domestic and industrial needs. 
• A country’s economic development depends on energy security, and every production unit and service unit will become useless without a proper energy supply. 

Energy and environmental security are two of the essential elements for a country’s national security as the defence equipment are primarily energy-dependent.

Conclusion

Understanding energy security and taking actions to improve it is an essential duty of every citizen. Even though it is an expensive and time-consuming process, the majority of the countries are gradually shifting to more sustainable methods of producing energy. This shift has the potential to fight global warming and climate change and ensure the longevity of human civilization by assuring an uninterrupted supply of energy.