19 Oct | UPSC Current Affairs: World Energy Outlook 2024, Brown Dwarf, INS Samarthak, African Penguin, and More

UPSC GS 3

World Energy Outlook 2024

  • News: India is poised to experience more energy demand growth than any other country over the next decade according to World Energy Outlook 2024  by the International Energy Agency.
  • World Energy Outlook 2024:
      • The World Energy Outlook 2024 is an annual publication by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
      • Recognized as a leading global reference for energy analysis and projections.
      • It examines major trends in energy demand and supply, offering insights into their implications for energy security, emissions, and economic development.

World Energy Outlook 2024

  • Key Findings of the 2024 Report:
      • Emerging Global Energy Landscape:
      • The world is entering a new energy phase, marked by persistent geopolitical risks along with an abundance of diverse fuels and technologies.
      • A surplus of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is expected to emerge in the latter half of the 2020s.
      • Manufacturing capacity for key clean energy technologies is projected to grow substantially.
      • Transition to Low-Emission Energy Sources:
      • By 2030, over half of the world’s electricity is expected to come from low-emission sources.
      • Demand for coal, oil, and natural gas is forecast to reach its peak by the end of this decade.
      • Global electricity demand is expected to increase significantly, with the annual growth equivalent to Japan’s current electricity consumption.

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  • Highlights for India:
      • Rising Energy Demand:
      • India is set to experience the most significant growth in energy demand globally over the next decade, driven by its size and increasing consumption across various sectors.
      • Transport Sector Expansion:
      • As part of the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), India is on course to add more than 12,000 cars to its roads every day through 2035.

Rising Energy Demand

      • Construction and Urbanization:
      • Built-up area in India is projected to increase by over 1 billion square meters annually, surpassing the total built space of South Africa.
      • Industrial Growth:
      • By 2035, the production of iron and steel is expected to rise by 70%.
      • Cement output is forecast to grow by almost 55%.
      • Air Conditioner Usage:
      • The stock of air conditioners is projected to expand more than 4.5 times by 2035.
      • Electricity demand from air conditioners in 2035 is anticipated to exceed Mexico’s total electricity consumption for that year.
      • Overall Energy Demand and Generation:
      • India’s total energy demand is expected to increase by nearly 35% by 2035.
      • Electricity generation capacity is forecast to almost triple, reaching 1,400 GW by 2035.
      • Coal’s Role in the Energy Mix:
      • Coal will continue to play a significant role in India’s energy landscape, with about 60 GW of new coal-fired capacity expected by 2030.
      • Coal-based electricity generation is forecast to grow by more than 15%.
      • In 2023, coal contributed 40% of the energy used in industries like steel, cement, and manufacturing. By 2035, coal use in these sectors is projected to rise by 50%.

Brown Dwarf

  • News: Scientists have puzzled over the object known as Gliese 229B, the first known brown dwarf discovered 30 years ago. 
  • Brown Dwarf:
      • Brown dwarfs are often referred to as “failed stars” because they are more massive than gas giant planets but less massive than stars.

Brown Dwarf

  • Features:
      • Size and Structure:
      • Their size falls between that of a giant planet like Jupiter and a small star.
      • These objects accumulate material similarly to stars rather than following planetary formation processes.
      • Atmospheric Composition:
      • Brown dwarfs can have atmospheric clouds formed from hot precipitates.
      • Unlike Earth’s water clouds, the clouds in brown dwarf atmospheres consist of hot silicate particles.
      • Element Retention and Composition:
      • They retain lighter elements like hydrogen and helium more efficiently than planets.
      • Brown dwarfs have relatively low metal content compared to stars.
      • Lack of Nuclear Fusion:
      • They do not possess sufficient mass to ignite nuclear fusion at their cores, preventing them from producing starlight.
      • This inability to sustain nuclear fusion is the reason they are labeled as “failed stars.”
      • Distinction from Stars:
      • Unlike stars, brown dwarfs cannot achieve stable luminosity through the thermonuclear fusion of normal hydrogen.
      • However, both stars and brown dwarfs generate energy by fusing deuterium (a rare isotope of hydrogen) during their first few million years.

INS  Samarthak

  • News:  The Indian Navy marked a significant milestone with the launch of INS Samarthak.
  • INS Samarthak: INS Samarthak is the first of two Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) developed for the Indian Navy.
  • Design and Development:
      • It was designed and built domestically by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard at Kattupalli, supporting the ‘Make in India’ initiative and the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.
      • This vessel serves as a versatile, multi-role platform aimed at aiding the Navy in testing and developing next-generation weapons and sensors.

INS Samarthak

  • Capabilities and Roles:
      • INS Samarthak is engineered to perform a range of critical functions, including:
      • Maritime surveillance and patrolling
      • Launching and recovery of surface and aerial targets
      • Humanitarian assistance operations
      • Addressing marine pollution
  • Dimensions and Performance:
      • It is 107 meters long, with a width of 18.6 meters, and a displacement exceeding 3,750 tonnes.
      • The vessel is capable of reaching a top speed of 15 knots.
  • L&T’s Kattupalli Shipyard:
      • Located in Ennore, approximately 45 km north of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, this shipyard is among India’s most advanced shipbuilding and repair facilities.
      • The yard is equipped with a shiplift, dry berths, and wet berths, enabling it to handle multiple projects simultaneously, including both new construction and repairs.
  • Ongoing Projects and Collaborations: Apart from the two MPVs, the Kattupalli Shipyard is currently building:
      • Three Cadet Training Ships
      • Six additional defence vessels for the Indian Navy through a Public-Private Partnership model
      • The shipyard is also involved in international repair projects, such as working on the US Navy’s vessel, Charles Drew, under a Master Ship Repair Agreement.

African Penguin 

  • News:  Artificial nests can enhance the breeding success of endangered African penguins, a new study by an international team of researchers from South Africa and the United Kingdom has found. 
  • Appearance:
      • The African penguin features a distinctive black stripe and a pattern of unique black spots on its chest.
      • It has pink glands located above its eyes, which become more pronounced as the penguin’s body temperature rises.
      • Males are larger than females and possess bigger beaks.
  • Habitat:
      • Typically found within 40 kilometers of the coastline, it comes ashore to coastal habitats for breeding, molting, and resting.

African Penguin

  • Distribution:
      • The species breeds along the African mainland, ranging from Hollams Bird Island in Namibia to Bird Island in Algoa Bay, South Africa.
      • It naturally nests in burrows dug into guano deposits, which provide protection from extreme heat.
  • Diet and Lifespan:
      • African penguins feed primarily on pelagic schooling fish, with sardines and anchovies forming a significant part of their diet.
      • In the wild, their average lifespan is approximately 20 years.
  • Conservation Status:
      • IUCN Status: Endangered

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Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary

  • News:  The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has cleared five key road stretches — four passing through the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
  • Location:
      • Situated in the union territory of Ladakh, along its border with Jammu and Kashmir.
      • It lies north of Hemis National Park and east of Deosai National Park.
  • Landscape and Climate:
      • Known for its diverse terrain, including snow-clad peaks, alpine meadows, and deep ravines.
  • Climate:
      • In elevated regions, the average temperature during the warmest month can be below 0°C.
      • In other areas, temperatures remain below 10°C even in warmer months.
  • Major Peaks: Significant peaks within the sanctuary include:
      • Saltoro Kangri
      • Saser Kangri I
      • K12
  • Rivers: The Shyok and Nubra Rivers are the primary water sources within the sanctuary.
  • Vegetation: Features a variety of cold desert flora, alpine vegetation, medicinal plants, endemic species, and glacier vegetation.
  • Fauna: Ural, the argali, Tibetan gazelle, Siberian ibex, the bharal (blue sheep), and the snow leopard, Tibetan antelope (chiru) and Bactrian cameletc.
  • Flora: Broad-leaved shrubs namely the Rosia webbiana, Ephedra, Caragianae 
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