Fateh Jang

Hasan Abdal

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Solar Energy

Solar is the first energy source in the world. It was in use much earlier before humans even learn how to light a fire. Many living things are dependent on solar energy from plants, aquatic life, and animals. Solar is mostly used in generating light and heat. The solar energy coming down to the planet is affected by the orbital path of the sun and its variations within the galaxy. In addition, it is affected by activity taking place in space and in the sun. It was this energy that is believed to have been responsible for the breaking of ice during the ice age, which creates the separation of lands and sea.

Solar energy is one of the alternative energy sources that is used most widely across the globe. About 70% of the sunlight gets reflected back into space and we have only 30% of sunlight to meet up our energy demands. While solar energy is used for producing solar energy, it is also used for drying clothes, used by plants during the process of photosynthesis, and also used by human beings during winter seasons to make their body temperature warm. Solar energy can be extracted either by Solar Thermal or using Photovoltaic (PV) Cells.

There are two kinds of solar energy the active solar energy and passive solar energy. Passive solar energy basically uses duration, position, and sun’s rays intensity to its advantage in heating a particular area. It also uses it to induce airflow from an area to the next. Active solar energy uses electrical technology and mechanical technology like collection panels in capturing, converting, and storing energy for future use.

Solar energy does not create any pollution and is widely used by many countries. It is a renewable source of power since the sun will continue to produce sunlight all the years. Solar panels, which are required to harness this energy can be used for a long time and require little or no maintenance. Solar energy proves to be ineffective in colder regions that don’t receive good sunlight. It cannot be used at night and not all the light from the sun can be trapped by solar panels. Solar energy advantages are much more than its disadvantages which make it a viable source of producing alternative energy.

Wind Energy

This is one of the energy sources that have been in use for a very long time and for centuries. It was used in powering sailing ships, which made it possible for explorers to sail around their trade routes in distant lands. A single windmill can power the crop irrigation, and the family energy needs, water pumping, and electric lights. However, at the present time, there are several windmills that are used to generate the required energy mostly for industrial uses. Many of the wind turbines can capture much power all at once before feeding it to the power grid. These are commonly known as wind farms and have been in use for many years all around the world. It is only the United States that is going slow in terms of accepting this alternative energy source.

Wind power is a renewable source of energy and reduces our alliance with foreign countries for the supply of oil and gas. It does not cause any air pollution and has created several jobs in the last few decades. Advancement in technologies has brought down the cost of setting up the wind power plant. Wind energy can only be used in areas that experience high winds which means that it cannot be used as a source to extract energy anywhere on earth. They sometimes create noise disturbances and cannot be used near residential areas. These disadvantages have made the use of wind energy in particular regions only.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy can be found anywhere on the earth. Most countries tap this energy to generate electricity and power millions of homes. The areas which have high underground temperatures are the ones which are the ones which are prone to earthquakes and volcanoes. The United States produces more Geothermal electricity than any other country in the world. Most hot water geothermal reservoirs are located in the western states, Alaska, and Hawaii. Geothermal energy is totally renewable as the Earth will continue to produce heat as long as we are all are here. If these resources are tapped and are utilized effectively, they can provide solutions to the world’s power problems.

Geothermal energy produces no pollution, reduces our alliance on fossil fuels. It also results in significant cost savings as no fuel is required to harness energy from beneath the earth. These advantages make geothermal energy one of the best alternative energy sources. But, geothermal has its downsides too. It is suitable for a particular region and cannot be harnessed everywhere. The earth may release some harmful gases while releasing the heat which may prove adverse for mankind. Also, the areas where this energy is harnessed are prone to earthquakes and volcanoes. Apart from that, setting up geothermal power stations requires huge installation costs.

Hydroelectric Energy

Solar energy is produced by the sun and wind energy is produced by the moving of winds. The heat caused by the sun drives the wind. The movement of winds is then captured by wind turbines. Both wind and sun cause water to evaporate. The water vapor then turns into rain or snow and flows down to sea or oceans through rivers or streams. The energy of the moving water can then be captured and called hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power stations capture the kinetic energy of moving water and give mechanical energy to turbines. The moving turbines then convert mechanical energy into electrical energy through generators. Dams around the world have been built for this purpose only. Hydropower is the largest producer of alternative energy in the world.

There are different types of hydropower plants. The selection of hydropower plants depends on many volume and flow of water. Hydropower is the renewable, constant, predictable, and controllable source of energy. They emit no greenhouse gases and are environment friendly. On the negative side, they may cause an adverse effect on aquatic life, reduce the flow of water which may affect agriculture, require huge costs to build, and may cause havoc if they get the breakdown.

Biomass Energy

This is the process by which alternative energy is generated through the conversion of biological materials and wastes into forms that can be used as energy sources for heating, power generation, and transportation. Those carbon-based substances or materials converted over a long period of time to fossil fuels are not regarded as biomass. However, in their original state, they are regarded as biomass. This is because of the separation of the carbon they previously contained from the carbon cycle. This makes them figure differently affecting carbon dioxide levels in the air.

Biomass energy has been around since ancient times when people use to burn wood or coal to heat their homes or prepare food. Wood still remains the most common source to produce biomass energy. Apart from wood, the other products that are used to create biomass energy include crops, plants, landfills, municipal and industrial waste, trees, and agricultural waste. Biomass is a renewable source of energy as we would be able to produce it as long as crops, plants, and waste exists. It does not create any greenhouse gases and can be easily extracted through the process of combustion. Another advantage of biomass is that it helps to reduce landfills. Biomass is comparatively ineffective as compared to fossil fuels. They release methane gases which can be harmful to the environment.

Ocean Energy

The earth promises many power sources. Just like the geothermal and solar energy, which have long been used in heating homes and lighting as well when harnessed. Even in the last century these forms of energy was in use. Due to massive size of oceans, this energy can be used on much wider scale than other alternative sources of energy. The waves produced by the ocean and tides that hit the sea shore has enormous potential in them. If they are harnessed with full capacity they can go a long way in reducing world’s energy problems. There are 3 ways i.e. Tidal energy, Wave energy and Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) via which ocean energy can be harnessed.

Tidal power basically involves using kinetic energy from the incoming and outgoing tides. The difference in high tides and low tides are also important in this respect. There is a lot of energy that can be harnessed from waves for use. It is another form of hydropower. The rise and fall of ocean tides are captured by tidal energy generators which turn turbines. The movement of turbines is responsible for producing electricity. In short, tidal energy generator captures the kinetic motion of the tides and converts them into electrical energy. The main advantage of tidal energy is that it is completely renewable and are much more predictable than wave energy.

Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen is the most abundant element available on earth but it is rarely alone. Even water contains two-third of hydrogen. It is usually available with other elements and has to separate before we can make use of it. Hydrogen has tremendous potential and can be used to power up homes, vehicles, and even space rockets. It takes a lot of energy to separate hydrogen from other elements and therefore it proves to quite expensive to extract it.

The main benefit of hydrogen energy is that it is a clean source of fuel and does not leave any waste elements behind except water. There are no harmful emissions and is environmentally friendly. It is completely renewable and can be produced over and over again on demand. Hydrogen can also be used to make bombs like the ones used by America on Hiroshima and Nagasaki which makes it highly inflammable. Dependency on fossil fuels still remains as we need them to extract hydrogen from other elements. Also, it is quite expensive to produce and store.

These are some of the alternative energy sources that can be taken into consideration when planning your energy production and usage. You can harness any of these and you will satisfy your power needs.

References:

A message from Mr. Khurram Farid Bargatt, Member IIPS Advisory Board, and Moderator:

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• Mr. Javed Afzal – Provincial Chief SMEDA

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As we set rules and regulations in this area, we also need to be mindful of the broader, and complex, picture: data is at the heart of the innovation process, where the rules of the game are very different from those of the tangible economy and where a global battle is taking place on what those rules could look like. Canada’s values should be reflected in those rules and we need to take charge now. Our prosperity depends on it.

Data is the feedstock for the algorithms that power artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms where both large quantities and varieties of data are necessary. Together, data and AI are a powerful force that has disrupted existing industries and led to new types of business models, work arrangements, and industries. Not surprisingly, governance arrangements have struggled to keep up. The focus has generally been on setting the rules for our tangible assets like steel and lumber, given the trade wars over the past few years. But, we now need to shift that focus to the rules for intangibles and data.

Data is extremely valuable. Experimental estimates from Statistics Canada have placed the value of Canadian data at almost two-thirds the value of our oil assets—or about $217-billion. And while large, the value pales relative to other countries. While not strictly comparable, the market cap of the U.S.-based Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google is around US$4-trillion. This high valuation results from their monopoly positions and huge data stores.

These companies are further cementing their advantageous positions each and every minute, with continued acquisitions of data through user engagement and fierce protection of their assets by a combination of de facto rule setting in the absence of national regulations: trade deals that enshrine open data flows; strong intellectual property protection of their data and AI assets; takeovers of innovative firms through their vast reserves of cash; the acquisition of top talent; and the powerful information asymmetries that drive out competition.

There is a tangled web of interconnected national and international governance issues around big data, AI, and digital platforms that pervade all aspects of society. They include surveillance, privacy, cybersecurity, competition and trade, foreign direct investment, online speech, and even democracy.

Against this background, what could a Canadian strategy look like? First, we need to get our domestic framework right. The elements of a successful strategy are already in place, including the National Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy, National Cyber Security Strategy, a Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, and a Patent Collective. These initiatives reveal both the strengths and weaknesses of our current approach—each department brings a set of experts, but the danger is a lack of coordination across them. We, therefore, need to ensure that there is a horizontal focus on data governance with all relevant departments at the table to ensure a coherent set of policies. Second, we need coherence across levels of government and a multi-stakeholder dialogue given the important societal concerns around data. Third, the government can, and should, be a powerful incubator to test out governance arrangements both for its own operations and within the industry.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach and a combination of standards, regulations, and laws will be required. An essential element of this approach is standard-setting. Standards not only help to set the rules of the game, but they also embed societal values for the use of new technologies such as online rights. They can also be used to embed Canadian IP. Importantly, we can guide international discussions on global governance. Even as de facto rules are being set by the platforms or by other regions, the scene is chaotic and there are no internationally agreed-upon rules—and they are sorely needed. We should not underestimate the ability of Canada to be a global leader. We are a recognized leader in AI research, we have the talent, we have a reputation for good governance, and there are many countries looking for guidance.

This article was originally published in The Hill Times.

The opinions expressed in this article/multimedia are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of CIGI or its Board of Directors.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR ROBERT FAY

Robert (Bob) Fay is the director of the global economy at CIGI and is responsible for research direction and related activities. He has extensive experience in macro and micro-economic research and policy analysis.

1. The Raushnai Gate, or the “Gate of Light” is between the royal mosque and the citadels.
2. The Kashmiri Gate is so-called because it faces the direction of Kashmir.
3. The Masti Gate is not the actual name but is rather twisted and pronounced instead of “Masjid,” which means a mosque.
4. The Khizri or the Sheranwala Gate. As already noted, the river in former times flowed by the city walls, and the ferry was near this spot. The gate was, therefore, named Khizri, after the name of Khizr Elias, the patron saint, according to the Mahomedan belief, of running waters and streams, and the discoverer of the water of immortality.
5. The Yakki Gate. The original name was “Zaki,” which was derived from the name of a martyr saint, who, according to tradition, fell fighting against the Moghal infidels from the north, while gallantly defending his city.
6. The Dehli Gate is so-called because of its opening on the highway from Lahore to Delhi.
7. The Akbari Gate was named after Mahomed Jala-ud-din Akbar, who rebuilt the town and citadel.
8. The Mochi Gate is the name wrongly pronounced. It was named was actually Moti meaning a pearl. It was called so after the name of Moti Ram, an officer of Akbar, who resided here at that time.
9. The Shah ‘Almi Gate was named after Mohomed Mo’azzam Shah ‘Alam Bahadur Shah (the son and successor of Aurangzeb). He was a mild and generous Emperor, who died in Lahore on the 28th February 1712.
10. The Lahori Gate is also known as the Lohari gate has been named after the city of Lahore.
11. The Mori Gate is the smallest of the gateways and as its name implies, was in old times used as an outlet for the refuse and sweepings of the city.
12. The Bhatti Gate was named after the Bhatis, an ancient Rajput tribe who inhabited these quarters in old times.
13. The Taxali Gate was named after the Taxol or royal mint, which used to be in its neighborhood during the period of the Mahomedan Emperors.

Currently, the existing housing stock and travel accounts for 40 percent of UK carbon emissions and this are where most of the changes need to take place. However, initially, the government is concentrating on any new build housing and implementing significant regulations to ensure all new houses built are much more energy efficient.

In order to create sustainable housing, the government has introduced the Code for Sustainable Homes. This is a set of six levels which range from a 10% energy efficiency rating right up to 100% which is carbon zero. Carbon zero is when a house does not have any net carbon emissions. The house will still emit carbon into the atmosphere but due to the systems and renewable energy solutions installed in the home, the amount of carbon released is offset by the energy saved or generated.

The government has committed to building 5 Eco Towns throughout the UK which will have little or no carbon footprint. This is a bold step for the government as many builders in the construction industry are struggling to meet even the lower levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes guidelines. However, the long-term plan is that all new homes whether the public or private sector will have to meet level 6 of the Code.

With over 160,000 new homes being built every year this will have a positive impact on the level of carbon emissions in the UK.

By their very nature, sustainable homes will initially be more expensive to purchase but in the long term will save homeowners much more in terms of fuel and energy bills and of course the environment.

The difference between an existing house and a sustainable house might be some of the following aspects:

• Triple Glazing
• Enhanced insulation
• External thermal wall cladding
• Greywater harvesting
• Ground source heating
• Solar Panels
• Photovoltaic cells
• Wood burner or stove
• Timber frame

In order for the UK to really make a dent in carbon emission levels, it is critical for homeowners in older properties to make changes to reduce their carbon footprint.

When: Monday 18th of Nov 2019, 10 am to 1 pm in UMT Lahore.

We would be honored by your presence on this auspicious occasion.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Khurram Farid Bargatt
– Vice-Chairman PCATP
– Secretary-General IPP
– Managing Director, Sheher Saaz

https://nation.com.pk/08-Nov-2020/world-town-planning-day-2020

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