Introduction:

Mankind began to use energy resources when they warmed themselves in the sun and learned how to light a fire. Millions of years later, prompted by “energy crises”, people started to question whether there were sufficient energy resources to supply our ever-growing needs.

The first ancient energy crisis was caused by large shortages of firewood so that people did not have adequate fuel resources to keep warm and to cook. Shortages of firewood have occurred periodically over thousands of years. A more recent energy crisis occurred about 200 years ago when there was a lack of whale oil for cooking and lighting. During the mid-1970s, a serious energy crisis resulted from the sharp, sudden increase of oil prices in Middle Eastern countries.

Australia’s economic growth depends upon the availability of energy resources for us to do our work. Fortunately, Australia is rich in many important resources so we do not face an energy crisis like some other nations. However, Australia faces an “energy challenge” because we must decide the best ways to use the energy available.

Energy resources are classed as renewable or non-renewable. Renewable resources are continually being replaced and replenished by natural occurrences, such as wind, solar, tidal and biomass. Non-renewable resources are coal, oil and gas as well as uranium. Australia’s economic prosperity has been based on the development of our cheap and plentiful supplies of non-renewable resources, particularly coal.

Western Australia has a high energy demand because of our thriving mining and mineral processing industries. Also, Western Australia is a large user of oil fuels due to our heavy transportation needs – which is not so surprising in a state so large. We need to continually identify and develop new energy sources to supply our ever-increasing needs.

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