Impacts of Natural Disasters on Energy Systems

Abstract

The impacts of natural disasters on energy systems have extensive ramifications for infrastructure development, the economy, public health, general quality of life, and even peaceful coexistence of communities, regions, and countries. For every country, energy security is a critical issue on which the provision of goods and services to an expectant population depends. Energy facilities and operating systems are the lifeblood of modern economies through powering of physical infrastructure and civil/industrial support services. The wealth, health, and stealth of nations generally correlate with energy-dependent industrialization. Global commodities trading, driven mostly by crude oil, natural gas, and carbon dioxide, is expected to reach US$9 trillion by 2010. Perturbation or outright disruption of energy facilities and systems needs both preventive and mitigative actions. Increase in the number of energy facilities and complexity of storage, transfer , and distribution systems are the trend. Also, some provisions of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have cata-lyzed the development of plans for the manufacture and installation of many energy systems, including those that are focused on renewable energy. Global crude oil and natural gas liquids production is expected to increase from 85.1 million barrels per day in 2004 to 101.5 million barrels per day by 2010 Fletcher 2005. By then, the United States will need 2 million barrels per day while China will need 3 million barrels per day Poten and Partners 2005. As reported by Jackson 2007, more than 500 petroleum-refining projects, including 66 new refineries, 180 upgrade projects, and 180 clean fuels projects, were planned as of 2006. Natural gas has also become a critical fuel for power supply and transportation in many countries. According to Quigley 2005, the 2003 global gas consumption was 2,591 billion m 3 driven mostly by combined-cycle gas turbines for power generation and direct use in building heating systems.