ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

C O U R S E I N S T R U C T O R - S A N J AYA N E U PA N E

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ENERGY
ENVIRONMENT AND
SOCIETY
1. Technology and Development (3 hours)
2. Energy Basics (4 hours)
3. Renewable Energy Sources (14 hours)
4. Environmental Impact of Energy
sources (4 hours)
5. Energy Storage (3 hours)
6. Relevant International/national case
studies (2 hours)

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1. Technology and
Development (3 hours)
 1.1. Introduction to Technology
 1.2. Appropriate Technology:
 1.3. Role of Appropriate Technology in
Transformation of Society:
 1.4. Importance of Technology Transfer
 1.5. Impact of technology on Society

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 2. Energy Basics (4 hours)
 2.1 Importance of Energy in achieving Maslow’s
hierarchy of Needs, Human Development Index
and Energy Consumption:
 2.2 Current Energy Trends, Demand and Supply of
Energy in World and Nepal
 2.3 Introduction to Global warming, Clean
Development Mechanism, and Sustainability Issues
 2.4 Conventional and
Non-Conventional/Renewable Energy Sources
 2.5 Conventional Energy Sources: Fossil fuel,
Nuclear Energy

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3. Renewable Energy
Sources (14 hours)
 3.1. Solar Energy
 3.1.1. Solar radiation
 3.1.2. Solar thermal energy
 3.1.3. Solar Cell (Photovoltaic Technology)
 3.2. Hydropower
 3.2.1. Water sources and power
 3.2.2. Water turbines and hydroelectric plants
 3.2.3. Hydro Power Plant Classification
(pico, micro, small, medium, large)
 3.3. Wind Energy
 3.3.1. Availability of Wind Energy sources
 3.3.2. Wind turbines, wind parks and power
control
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 3. Renewable Energy
Sources (14 hours)
 3.4. Geothermal Energy
 3.4.1. Sources of Geothermal Energy
 3.4.2. Uses of Geothermal Energy

 3.5. Bio-mass and Bio-energy

 3.5.1. Synthetic fuels from the biomass
 3.5.2. Thermo-chemical, physio-chemical and bio-
chemical conversion
 3.5.3. Bio-fuel cells

 3.6. Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell

 3.6.1. Basics of electrochemistry
 3.6.2. Polymer membrane electrolyte (PEM) fuel
cells
 3.6.3. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)
 3.6.4. Hydrogen production and storage
 3.6.5. Coal-fired plants and integrated gasifier6fuel
4. Environmental Impact
of Energy sources (4
hours)
 4.1. Emission hazard
 4.2. Battery hazard
 4.3. Nuclear hazard

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5. Energy Storage (3 hours)
5.1. Forms of energy storage
5.2. Hybrid vehicles
5.3. Smart grid systems
5.4. Batteries
5.5. Super-capacitors

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6. Relevant
International/nationa
l case studies (2
hours)

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Marking Scheme
SN Title Marks
1 Class Participation 1
2 Topic Presentation 4
3 Group Discussion 2
4 Final Assessment 3
Total Internal 10
5 Final Exam 40
Grand Total 50

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Chapter-1
Technology and Development

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Introduction
to
Technology?

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Technology
The word technology
◦ Greek words techne which means “craft”
◦ logy means “scientific study of.”

So technology means the “scientific study of

craft.” Craft in this case, means any method
or invention that allow humans to control or
adapt to their environment.
Scientific application of knowledge
Systematic application of organized
knowledge and tangibles(tools and material)

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Technology is science plus purpose.
While science is the study of the laws of nature, technology is the
practical application of those laws toward the achievement of some
purpose or purposes.
Organization of knowledge for the achievement of practical purposes.
A more expanded definition term is a use of devices and systematic
patterns of thought and activity to control physical and biological
phenomena in order to serve man’s desires with a minimum of
resources and a maximum of efficiency

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Technology
Technology is
◦ Information on how a product is to be made
◦ Along with the complete description of tools
and techniques and machines.
◦ May be in various forms like
◦ Machinery
◦ Equipment
◦ Documents
◦ Process
◦ Skill

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Technology is the practical use of human knowledge to extend human abilities
and to satisfy human needs and wants. It involves turning natural items into
useful products.
The areas of science, technology, and engineering are related but different.
◦ Scientists try to explain how things happen.
◦ Engineers figure out how to make things.
◦ Technologists make things by operating machines and assembling parts.

Technology advances by adapting, so each new product is an improvement

over an existing one.
New inventions are almost always based on earlier accomplishments.

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Technology developed because
people had ideas they turned into
useful devices.

Resources of technology include

people, information, tools and
machines, capital, time, materials,
and energy.

Companies buy resources needed to

create new technology. They hire
people with the knowledge and skill
to make products.

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 Big Bang
Earth Formation
Primitive life e.g. Bacteria
Vertebrates
Mammals

History Savagery (From early human race to the

invention of crude bow and arrow),Discovery
of fire
Barbarism (From Invention of art of pottery
to the use of iron tools smelting iron ore)
Civilization (From the invention of phonetic
alphabet and writing)

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 Human Technology
evolution

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For What?
Solve a problem
Improve pre-existing solution
Achieve a goal, perform specific function
What functions does these perform?
◦ Cell phone
◦ Television
◦ Nuclear weapon??
◦ Technologies are not always used for peaceful purposes

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All of our technology is
completely unnecessary
to a happy life.
–Tom
Hodgkinson

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 "The information skill and techniques on how a product is to
be made without external sponsorship is known as indigenous
technology“

Local knowledge, skill, techniques  product

Indigenous It has existed for generations and are widely available/seen in

Technology the country, especially in rural areas.

Indigenous technologies that have evolved and have been in

tune with the environment of the societies that have used
them. These are compatible with the physical, social and
technological environment of the concerned societies.

Replacement of indigenous technologies has in many

occasions may have disruptive effect on the societies.

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 Handmade paper from Lokta
Pottery, clay products
Dyeing and printing  Natural resources
Bamboo ware  Furniture, basket etc.
Metal ware  Utensils, sculpture etc.
Examples of Wood work/crafts  Furniture
Indigenous Woolen/cotton textiles
Technologies Wine making
Curd/Mahi preparation etc
Grinding and milling  watermills, (Dhiiki,
Janto)
All the things traditional are not bad and all
modern technologies are not always good.

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Traditional Technologies are sustainable

Modern technologies may have adverse

impact on environmental degradation 

Dependency

Traditional Technologies are self - sufficient

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 Characteristics of "High Tech" and "Low Tech" Ts.

"High Tech"  Mostly Modern Ts. "Low Tech  Mostly traditional indigenous

Urban Rural
•Industrial •Agriculture
•Low cost
High cost
•Labor intensive
Capital intensive
•Energy consumption •energy efficient
•Standardized •Individual
•Mechanical •Animal/human power
•Inorganic •Organic
•Complex •Simple
•Large Scale •Small scale
•Modern •Traditional
•Exotic •Indigenous
•Marketed •Subsistence
•Predictable •Unpredictable

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Appropriate
Technology
E.F. Schumacher (Ernst Friedrich "Fritz" )
credited as the founder of the appropriate
technology movement
Intermediate Technology Development
Group (ITDG)now name changed as Practical
Action
“Small is beautiful” Book explaining the
concept of appropriate technology

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Appropriate
Technology
According to Jequier and Gerard (1993), "Appropriate
Technology (AT) is now recognized as the generic term for a
wide range of technologies characterized by following
features:
◦ low investment cost per workplace
◦ low capital investment per unit of output
◦ organizational simplicity
◦ high adaptability to a particular social cultural
environment
◦ sparing use of natural resources
◦ low cost of final product or high potential for
employment.

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Appropriate
Technology
According to Darrow and Rick (1978)", appropriate
technologies:
◦ are low in capital costs
◦ use local materials whenever possible
◦ create jobs, employing local skills and labor
◦ are small enough in scale to be affordable by a small
group of farmers
◦ can be understood, controlled and maintained by
villagers wherever possible, without high level of
Western style education
◦ can be produced out of a small metal working shop,
if not in a village itself

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Appropriate
Technology
According to Darrow and Rick (1978)", appropriate technologies:
◦ suppose that people can and will work together to collectively
bring improvements to their communities, recognizing that in
most of the world important decisions are made by groups rather
than by individuals
◦ involve decentralized renewable energy sources, such as wind
power, solar energy, water power, mechanic gas, animal power
and pedal power (such as in that highly efficient machine, the
bicycle)
◦ make technology understandable to the people who are using it
and thus suggest ideas that could be used in further innovations
◦ are flexible so that they can continue to be used or adapted to fit
changing circumstances
◦ do not involve patents, royalties, consultant fees, import duties,
shopping changes; practical plans can be obtained free or at low
cost and no further payment is involved."

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  What makes technology appropriate?
 AT is needed for long term benefits of the
country and ultimately for the earth.
 There is often a difficulty experienced by
underdeveloped countries due to lack of
local skill and long delays in supply of spare
parts.
Appropriate  From beginning technologies are
Technology developed by society to fulfill their own
needs
 However, the introduction of new
technologies in the society disrupted the
trend
 Due to various factors the adaptation of the
newly introduced technology to a society
was limited.

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Appropriate Technology reflects an approach to
technological development
It is characterized by
◦ creative and sound engineering
◦ recognizes the social, environmental, political,
economic, as well as, technical aspects of a
proposed technological solution to a problem
facing a society.

Generally appropriate technologies are smaller scale

technologies, that are ecologically and socially benign,
affordable, and often powered by renewable energy.

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 Appropriate technologies are technologies
that are suited to the societies being
considered.

Raise living standard without complication,

What is condescension or environmental damage
Appropriate
Technology? Meaning of appropriate technology varies
with fields and applications

Some suggested guidelines that may be

considered in deciding particular technology
as appropriate for the given/particular area
are:

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 
Characteristics
of AT 
◦ Meets actual needs of the people
◦ Affordable by the people
◦ Sustainable
◦ Manufactured locally
◦ Using renewable energy source
◦ Installed and maintained by local
labor and using expertise
◦ Environmental friendly

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 ATs should
◦ meet actual needs of people
◦ be affordable by the users
◦ be sustainable

However, Factors affecting Long-term

sustainability:
◦ Manufactures locally
◦ Utilization of REs
◦ Able to install and maintenance locally
◦ acceptable environmental impact

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 Criteria for
AT
Maximization of output

Maximization of the availability of consumption

goods

Maximization of the rate of economic growth

Reduction of unemployment

Regional development

Reduction in balance of payment deficits

Greater equity in the distribution of income

Promotion of political development

Improvement in quality of life

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Examples of
AT
Self powered equipments (bike
and hand powered pumps)
Solar powered light bulbs, street
lights
Solar cookers
Human powered transportation

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 Some steps to consider:
 Consult & involve community, (assess needs )
 Collect current data on mature technologies
Steps to  Survey local energy sources
introduce AT  Match sources to technologies and needs
 Evaluate technical, social, economic, practical,
environmental, political impacts
 Adapt technology to local conditions

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 Different criteria to consider:
Technical

Criteria for Economical

Appropriate Social
Technology Cultural
Environmental
Political

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 Not all of the answers can or need to be
affirmative but maximizing the number of
positive responses and taking suitable action
to offset negative factors will go a long way to
ensuring success.
Technical
Is the technology mature?
Does it produce acceptable quantities and
Technical quality?
Is it suitable for the local geography and
climate?
Does the technology use local materials and
energy?
Is it built on locally known technologies?
Is the technology appropriate?

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 Are the investment and maintenance costs
low?
Is hard currency investment minimized?
Is the technology competitive with other
Economical technologies?
Is technology compatible with overall
development plans?
Are benefits enjoyed locally?

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 Are local people involved in decision making?
Are existing or easily acquired skills used?
Are meaningful jobs created?
Social Is local labour used?
Is the impact gradual rather than sudden?
Does the technology encourage rural
development?

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 Awareness of specific regional culture by
technology providers
Is the technology culturally sensitive?
Cultural Does the local community engage in an
ongoing dialogue with the technology
providers
Consideration of the plurality and diversity of
cultures

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 Is local damage minimized?
Is global damage minimized?
Environmental Can renewable energy be used?
Is the technology environmentally
sustainable?

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 Does the technology rely on non-local
support?
Does the technology strengthen the
Political local area?
Are the poor the beneficiaries of the
technology

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Characteristics Importance of
Appropriate Technology
Suited to the
Meets the actual Affordable to those
societies being
need of people people
considered

Manufactured and
Environmentally
Local Resources Operated by local
friendly
labor and expertise

Using Renewable
Energy Sources

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 Technology transfer [and commercialization] is
defined as the transfer of results of basic and
applied research to the design, development,
production, and commercialization of new
and improved products, services or
processes. That which is transferred is often
not really technology but rather a particular
Technology kind of knowledge that is a precursor of
technology. The transfer process emphasizes
Transfer the value and protection of the intellectual
product of the researchers.

Gary Matkin, Technology Transfer and the

University, 1991

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 The successful transfer of technology poses
at least as great a challenge as solving the
technical problems.
The transfer of technology can be defined as
the transfer of knowledge.
Technology Technology is much more than just objects or
Transfer things but includes manufacturing,
marketing, distribution and customer service.
Transfer means more than movement of
technological artifacts
It means the technology/knowledge has to
be used by the end user with minimal input
from outside on a long-term.

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For example: If hundreds of information leaflets about
solar drying are distributed there are a number of
reasons why this does not necessarily mean that
successful technology transfer has occurred:
◦ Even though the leaflet has been distributed does not
mean that it will be read.
◦ Even if the leaflet is read, this does not mean it will
be understood.
◦ Even if it is read and understood, no technology
transfer will have taken place until unless the
knowledge is used.

Conversely, if technology is used, and the user is

dissatisfied with it for some reason, then technology
transfer has still occurred, but obviously not with the
desired outcome.
Local expectations can easily be raised
If nothing tangible emerges, local communities may
come to see the process as a transient external
development phenomenon

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 Economic Development
Importance ◦ Modest economic development in developing
of countries
Technology ◦ Requires appropriate technology to sustain the
economy
Transfer ◦ Minimize poverty

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Economic Diversification Future markets
Why invent/create a technology when Due to saturation of home market
we can borrow it? Business expansion
The donor receives additional benefits
which they would not have received
otherwise

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Technology have had both a positive and negative
impact on society. What impact have been observed
in the following areas
Community Life
Health
Communication

Work

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The shift from nomadic life to farming led to the development of
the city.
• Networks of transportation,
communication, and trade systems
• Specialized labor
• Government and religion
• Social class

Jerusalem, one of the world’s first

cities, is still in existence today.

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 (Continued)

The nineteenth century witnessed the Industrial

Revolution.
• Invention of textile manufacturing machines
• Division of labor
• Increase in production
• Crowded cities
• Unsafe and unhealthy working conditions

Some of the negative aspects of the

Industrial Revolution included poor
working conditions and long hours.

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 (Continued)

The twentieth century saw the birth of suburbs.

• Invention of the trolley car and
automobile
• Status symbol
• Alternative to harsh, crowded city
conditions

Many planned communities, such as

this one outside Cincinnati, OH,
sprang up around cities during the
first half of the twentieth century.

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Technical innovations saved physical energy and
lessened people’s workload.

The tractor The vacuum cleaner

The washing machine

The refrigerator
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 (Continued)

The concept of leisure developed from labor-saving

technology. People use the money they earn to take
advantage of leisure time.

Sporting Events
Television

Movies
Social Activities
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The greatest innovation of technology was longevity.
Estimated Life Expectancy of People in
the United States, 1900 - 2000
90
Life Expectancy (in years)

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

Year

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 (Continued)

A large part of technology has been dedicated to the

advancement of medical science.

Sir Alexander Fleming

discovered penicillin, the
first antibiotic, in 1928.

In 1796, Edward Jenner Dr. William Thomas Green

paved the way for modern Morton (c. 1846) was one of the
immunology by discovering first medical practitioners to use
a vaccine for smallpox. anesthesia on a patient before
performing surgery.
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 (Continued)

Some current innovations could have a drastic impact

on society.

In 1997, scientists at the Roslin Institute in
Edinburgh, Scotland, introduced Dolly the
sheep, the first mammal ever to have been
cloned. Dolly quickly became the symbol of
the controversy over the ethics of cloning.
Embryonic stem cell research is another area
that is at the center of controversy. While
stem cells might be able to be used to
generate new organs for transplant, the use
of them has many ethical considerations.

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Inventions and innovations in communication
have had a major influence on society.
• Egypt: papyrus and hieroglyphics
• Ancient Babylonia: cuneiform
• Ancient Greece: public speaking, persuasive rhetoric, drama, and philosophy
• Ancient Rome: Roman alphabet
• Modern Europe: printing press
• World today: World Wide Web

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Capacity of
Telecommunication Channels
Means Year Capacity (bps)

Telegraph 1860 20
Telephone (early) 1900 4000
Telephone (multiline) 1920 9xl04
Coaxial cable 1950 2x l 0 6
Microwave 1956 9xl06
Satellites 1980 l08
Optical Fibers 1990 l 0 10

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Progress
Progress is a series of improvements in human life
marked by inventions and discoveries.

• Positive attributes of technology must be

greater than negative attributes
• Negative consequences: destruction of
environment and loss of what it means to
be human
The Exxon Valdez oil spill off the
coast of Alaska in 1989 impacted
1,300 miles of shoreline and killed
an enormous amount of wildlife.

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 Neither. “Plow”
farming hurts the
soil, and in the
long run yields
Impact of less food. “No-
Technology in till” farming is the
Agriculture? most modern
technology.

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 Every Aspect of society
◦ Work and jobs
◦ Restructuring
◦ Three industrial sectors
◦ Primary (agriculture and extractive)
◦ Secondary (Manufacturing)

Technologica ◦ Tertiary (Services)

l Impacts ◦ Economic Development

◦ Modernization And Dependency Theory
◦ Environment
◦ Population Growth
◦ Wasteful Consumption
◦ Pollution
◦ Depletion of natural resources

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 Impact of technology on Education
◦ From Slates and white stones to modern
system

Impact of technology on Economic System

◦ Increase in productive power
◦ Change in the consuming pattern and
Impact of consuming rate
Technology ◦ Multinational companies

Impact of technology on Politics

Impact of technology on Religion

Impact of technology on Family Structure

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