Energy Sources and Power in the United Kingdom.
Energy production has advanced greatly over the years. We now have more
options than ever, most of which are outlined in this report. Each source
will be explored thoroughly and I will attempt to advise as to which option
should be taken in our future of energy production.
Fossil fuels.
Coal
Coal has declined over the years as a source of energy. The only remaining
power plants are in the North where aluminium is produced. Coal is mined
from Britain's sole remaining shaft mine and then used as fuel for the local
power plant, which supplies electrical energy to the nearby Aluminium plant.
Coal is a relatively cheap source of energy, and can be easily obtained form
countries such as Poland. It is today more efficient than it once was, but I
would not advocate it as being the most productive source of energy. This is
due to the high output of Carbon Dioxide and sulphur dioxide. The Sulphur
contributes to acid rain, which greatly affects the Scandinavian countries
such as Norway. Trees die and fish socks in lakes decrease significantly due
to the high acidity of the water. Soils loose their fertility due to the
fact that previously un-dissolvable minerals such as iron are washed away by
the acidic water. Coniferous forests are the most threatened due to already
acidic pine needles falling to the ground and contributing to a greater
acidic affect to the soil.
The high Carbon dioxide content in the emissions is the largest or the cause
of global warming. The gasses form a layer in the atmosphere that disallows
heat to escape. This means that the earth gradually warms up. Although the
earth has only increased around 3% in temperature, it is enough to cause the
polar ice caps to melt and cause subsequent floods in low-lying areas of the
world. America is the largest emitter of Carbon Dioxide but Britain needs to
keep pollution low.
Oil.
Cleaner and more efficient than coal, oil is one of the most common sources
of power. It not only powers cars and planes (as well as being used for
plastic etc.), but also is used greatly in the production of electrical
energy.
