Energy in Developing Countries

There are at least 1.6 billion people that live without electricity on a daily basis (Ahuja & Tatsutani, 2009).  That is nearly one-fourth of the world's population that doesn't have the necessary power to pump drinking water, power lights for homes, or charge a cell phone.

In a world that is growing more dependable on fuel and power consumption, developing countries are falling even further behind.  With many areas completely without power, these countries cannot make any progress in major categories that include: establishing a government, contributing to research, and advancing technology.  Without the proper funds to establish a power grid, developing countries are looking for ways to provide power while keeping costs to a minimum.  Many ideas have shifted towards alternative energy sources for third world countries.

For example, solar cooks have become extremely popular.  They are easy to build, cheap, and relatively efficient.  The goal of a solar cook is to direct sunlight into a small area, causing that area to get hot enough to cook food.  The obvious downfall of the solar cook is that it requires sunlight to work, and that cannot always be obtained.

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Another example of technology being used in developing countries is bioenergy.  Scientists are trying to genetically mutate crops to make them suitable for hot, arid conditions.  These crops can then be broken down into methane,  which can be stored to generate electricity, which can be used to power other energy devices (Oxford Energy).  This method is extremely plausible because many people in developing countries already know how to farm.  Bio-energy is also cheap, as the seeds for these plants can be obtained in large quantities. This video shows how natural gas (such as methane) can generate electricity.

In conclusion, technology continues to advance to help developing countries, but it takes time. Developing countries will catch up with the rest of the world, and eventually be able to stand on their own. Some day, 1.6 billion people will not have to live without electricity.

Works Cited:

Ahuja, D., & Tatsutani, M. (2009). Sustainable energy for developing countries. Sapiens,2(2), 1st ser. Retrieved February 24, 2017, from https://sapiens.revues.org/823.

(2014, January 20). Retrieved February 24, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOKAv_HKkas

Oxford Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2017, from http://www.energy.ox.ac.uk/wordpress/energy-in-developing-countries/