Alternative Energy Sources

In terms of energy output compared with the energy input for biodiesel production, the study found that:

• Soybean plants require 27 percent more fossil energy than the fuel produced, and
• Sunflower plants require 118 percent more fossil energy than the fuel produced. 

The statistics above show us that the situation is indeed complex, where there are energy savings in one area which are balanced by losses in the other end. Hydroelectric energy is reaching its practical limits while solar, wind and geothermal energy is only suitable for certain purposes only. There are still billions of barrels of oil to be dug up from the earth’s crust but even though, theoretically speaking, the 700 billion barrels of oil we dig up will only be sufficient for the world’s increasing population for only about 14 more years.

The main source of energy for electrical power plants is usually natural gas, coal and nuclear energy which are supplied from nuclear reactors. Nuclear energy is very high and very effective but the only problem is the radioactive waste that is produced alongside. At a controlled reactor, the radioactive waste should be disposed off correctly but people do not bother anymore, which affects the environment. Once in a while, an accident happens, like the Chernobyl incident, where radioactivity doesn’t leave anything alive.

World Energy Statistics

In the diagram on the right, the graph shows the demand for the different types of fuel available to us. This shows a rapid increase on demand in the 1990’s, considering the new technology being introduced and the increasing population that causes a greater demand for energy in the world. This shows that currently, the oil demand is around 4000 Mtoe (million tons of oil equivalents) which will increase almost steadily to 5000 Mtoe by 2030.

The diagram on the right shows the amount of gigabarrels (Gb) there are in the worlds. With still billions of barrels yet to be pumped out and more oil reserves to be still found, the world may feel that there is still nothing to worry about. But with current energy demands and consumption of the rapidly increasing population, it may be time for people to consider other alternative sources of energy.

The world oil reserves are more specifically located but renewable energy sources are more likely to be situated where and how the geography, the location and the climate suits them. For example, wind energy reserves would be in a high altitude or at a windy location and geothermal energy reserves would be along the plate faults where the most thermal energy is trapped.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Energy

The reason for the usage and the hunt for alternative energy sources is because of its advantages. Alternative Energy is known to cause quite less pollution and it is cheaper than fossil fuels. Alternative energy is environmental friendly, renewable and is a good substitute to fossil fuels. These are the only reasons why alternative energy is so popular now, besides the fact that oil reserves are going to run out soon.

There are more disadvantages for alternative energy than benefits because of the low energy input to energy output ratio. It takes more energy to actually harvest the energy than to use it. Other disadvantages also include that sometimes a type of energy like wind can only be in windy areas and the geography affects the climate very much. This is the reason alternative energy is only popular for its ability to replace fossil fuels but not so for its low ratio, its difficulty in harnessing and the geography that affects it.

Technological Advancements and Role of Science

A new discovery by the University of Leicester reveals that an alternative for oil can be found in ancient sea deposits. Shale gas stored in mudstones proves to give out a large amount of energy which is found in the shallow waterways near England. These mudstones are made up of 14% carbon, and have compositions of hydrocarbons that can release 3 to 4 times as much energy as conventional sandstone reservoirs. However, exploiting ‘shale gas’ is a considerable challenge because the distribution and character of mudstones are not well known as conventional sandstone gas reservoirs.

Role of Industry and the Individual in Pollution

The reasons that we are searching for alternative energy sources is the fact that the fossil fuel reserves of the world are not going to last forever. Experts say that the oil reserves may last only another 15-20 years at the maximum. The sources of uranium may also run out quite fast which leaves us to provide for ourselves by other means. The other fact is the intense pollution that the fossil fuels and nuclear reactors produce. Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and nitrous oxide. And there is also so much nuclear waste and pollution.

Social Factors (Role of Individuals)

The role of the individual in the environmental concerns related to fossil fuels and nuclear waste are quite many. With decreased energy consumption from the individual, the energy demand would also fall, causing industries manufacturing power to go slower. The only reason why there is so much energy produced on a daily basis is to meet the demand of the world. With a demand for 4000 Mtoes demand each year, the individual has a lot to think about, what with the actions needed to do. By switching off the lights, using minimum electrical appliances and walking short distances, people and the society can minimize energy usage, wastage which also results to a lesser need to harvest energy. This will ensure that the waste produced by fossil fuels and nuclear waste will be minimized.

Industrial and Environmental Factor (Role of industry)

Oil companies is following a Claus Process or also known as Tail-gas treatment which involves the oxidization of harmful gases like H2S to sulfur and water. There is still hydrogen sulfite produced but in very little quantities which is released in to the surrounding. The SO2 produced is then oxidized further to produce SO4 which is then released into the ocean due to the abundance of sulfates in the ocean:

10 H2S + 5 O2 → 2 H2S + SO2 + 7/2 S2 + 8 H2O

The NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) manages all the nuclear related activities that happen in the U.S and has stated that the nuclear waste is accumulating quite fast. Industries are all required to store spent fuel in pools of water or in inert gas as they produce very high levels of radiation which if exposed to for a long time, can be very fatal. The generation of electricity from a typical 1000 MW(e) nuclear power station, which would supply the needs of a city the size of Amsterdam, produces approximately 300 m3 of low and intermediate level waste per year and some 30 tonnes of high level solid packed waste per year.

Some industries do not maintain their safety rules quite regularly. It is the role of the industry to dispose of High-level waste, which is spent fuel and low-level waste which includes all radioactivity contaminated articles. This can only be done by the method NRC has stated which states the hazards and safety procedures to be followed. 

Economical Factors

Geothermal Plants are able to produce enough electricity to charge $0.05 to $0.08 per kilowatt hour (kWh). If people switch from fossil fuels to solar (photovoltaic cells) energy, then they would have to pay a hefty sum for the entire thing. After minimizing energy costs, the entire price to pay for 15 kWh is $57,900. That is a lot to pay for, considering the electricity bill people get at the end of the month after a usage of 25 kWh of energy per day. This just show that some types of alternative energy is cost effective will some aren’t.

Conclusion

The problem of alternative energy does not come from the expenses or the difficulty in extracting it, but from us. We demand for energy in such high quantities that it calls for desperate measures. If oil, like experts predict, does run out in the maximum of 20 years, then the alternative energy sources would have to keep us going for the time to come. The world has always used carbon as a fuel and it is difficult to imagine a post-carbon era. Alternative energy only supplies 6% of the world’s energy. With such high dependency on fossil fuels, alternative energy would have to make a major breakthrough to actually provide for us. But that we can worry 15 years later.

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