Every day we use electricity, from keeping the lights on in our homes and schools to powering our computers and charging our mobile phones.
But where does it come from? Have we always used it and will it always be there for us to rely on?
These are questions we would like you, our Young Energy readers, to answer in the latest entry in our A-Z of Energy competition.
We are compiling an A to Z of energy and we want you to help us.
The winning entry will not only be published here next month, but will also win an iPad for their class or school.
We have already covered atomic energy, biofuel, coal and diesel.
This month’s winner was Rebecca Tosh from Mintlaw Academy for her description of diesel. That meant she won and iPad for her school courtesy of Young Energy supporter Shell.
| D for Diesel, by Rebecca Tosh |
|---|
| Diesel is a form of fuel that can come in two types.The most common type is a product derived from petroleum oil. To this day it is the form most frequently used in transport and for other industrial uses.
The second type does not derive from petroleum/fossil fuel sources and may come in various alternatives such as biodiesel, biomass to liquid and gas to liquid forms. As the trend now is to be greener, more hauliers are tending to use the biofuel option. Petroleum-based diesel in the past suffered from high sulphur emissions and although great strides have been taken to reduce this, it still produces more harmful emissions than biofuel variants. In the UK and other countries, diesel is found in various colours. This is for tax purposes, the highest levy being on DERV or “Diesel Engine Road Vehicle” usage. The other colours are for agricultural and heating/power generating purposes and less tax is applied to them. There have been discussions on helping the poorer African countries to develop by teaching them to grow crops which can be used to produce biodiesel. Most pollution comes from developing countries, so to develop a cleaner fuel source, which will create employment, revenue and taxes, etcetera, as the countries develop, will help everyone and reduce poverty. As hydrocarbon supplies expire, biodiesels will be our main fuel for transportation and industry on a global scale. |
Shell’s Inside Energy app for the iPad helps young people to explore the role energy innovation plays in our everyday lives and is packed with information through videos, animations and photo galleries.
Now, can you help us with the next entry in our alphabet?
This month our letter is E – electricity. Tell us in your own words about what it is, where is comes from, its history, how it is made and its future.
All you need to do is write this up for us in no more than 250 words and e-mail it to elaine.maslin@ajl.co.uk by May 23.
We are looking for original and creative entries – so no cheating on Wikipedia! The winning entry will win an iPad for their school or class. Good luck to you all.