In a speech at the 90th Science

internationally

Congress,

acknowledged scientist and

former Indian president Mr APJ

Abdul Kalam mentioned a very

important aspect of this mankind's

future energy crisis. Ile pointed

out that the era of wood and bio-

mass has almost come to an end.

The age of oil and natural gas would soon be over within the next few decades. Massive burning of world's

coal reserves may lead to a worldwide ecological disaster because coal buming

emits thc highest amount of carbon in the atmosphere. So according to Kalam,

the only solution that mankind can look to is the massive use of solar energy in

future because it has some advantages over other forms of renewable energies.

Now, why has Kalam put so much importance to the issue Of energy? The energy

sources have always been a major factor of change throughout history. The

world's petroleum consumption has increased from 3 billion barrels annually in

1930 to 37 billion barrels annually today. In the next quarter century, the world's

population is expected to be about 8 billion which is 30 percent higher than

today. Developing countries will grow their economies about two times faster

than industrialised countries. Global economic growth is expected to continue at

3 percent per year. Consequently, the global demand for energy will grow at

about 1.7 percent per year on an average. It indicates a 50-percent rise ofenergy

consumption by 2030. Ifthe world's daily petroleum consumption is 100 million

barrels now, it will rise to 150 million barrels by that time, The present reserve

of hydro-carbon energy resources is limited and it will not be sufficient to meet

the future energy challenges of the world. Hence, leading industrial

countries have taken initiatives to use alternative energy sources mainly known

as green or renewable energy sources. The bottom line of Kalam's speech

indicates the concern of mankind in the 21st century.