Powering a nation: Have you ever spare a thought?

Everybody needs energy but where will it come from?

See these Chevron ads:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJZgGb_8pQw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nrOTFoHzQw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS5Kzmv9nOM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2XpCkbh6oA&feature=related

These ads are a bit mushy but they are actually true , not that I am promoting Chevron but the message is poignant and scary.

Most Malaysian people when asked where do u think our electricity comes from, they will answer - hydroelectric.

Do they know that currently this form of renewable power only supplies 11% of the country's power?

The balance is made up with gas/coal or diesel fired power stations.
These can supply anything between 500MW to 2,500MW and they only need a small space.

Hydro electric in Malaysia can only supply between 300MW to 1,000MW perhaps?

Even Hoover Dam can only supply around 2,000MW of electricity and look at the sheer area it takes just to generate that much power.

Another example is China's Three Gorges Dam. Which is huge and probably can supply power around 3,000MW.

Dams are not 100% environmentally friendly because they may also pose environmental problems like flooding, silting, deforestation (in order to make space for them) and so on.

So have we ever spare a thought when we flick that airconditioner switch in our homes, where does our energy comes from?

We need to educate ourselves and our family to understand this issue better and for a better tomorrow.