The development of alternative energy sources is a possible response to future energy demands. Assess the possible costs and benefits of this approach

The development of alternative energy sources is a possible response to future energy demands. Asses the possible costs and benefits of this approach

Alternative energy sources are renewable sources of energy which include wind power, tidal energy and nuclear power. Energy demands are extremely likely to increase in the future due to rapid global population growth, the world population now nearly seven billion may rise to 16 billion by 2100 and predicted by the UN. NIC are industrialising at large demanding high energy needs, meanwhile its population’s quality of life and standard of living increase as better paid and well educated and skilled jobs become available. Bangalore, India; is a hub for IT specialist jobs where people are able to get high paid jobs, this allows them to consume high energy consumption products such as cars, washing machines. They have the money to travel long haul destinations, tourist numbers from China have staggered over the last couple of years. Governments need to respond to this demand by finding alternative sources to fossil fuels and to have more of an energy mix.

In the UK there to meet future energy demands by increasing our wind energy and developing tidal barrages to harness tidal energy in River Estuaries. The estuary of the River Severn in south-west Britain is notable for its great tidal range of almost 15 metres. There is undoubtedly tremendous potential to develop a tidal power station in the Severn Estuary. The proposal to develop tidal energy along the River Severn has been met with controversy. The Severn Barrage would have a design life of 120 years, much greater than that of a conventional power station, nevertheless it has very high capital cost, estimated at £14 billion over 15 years of construction. A reliable supply of electricity which produces zero emissions of carbon dioxide and other green house gases. The installed capacity of the barrage would be 8640 GW over four times the size of a large coal or oil fired power station. However, the barrage will only generate for only eight hours a day and thus its output of 17000GWh per year will be equivalent to less than two conventional power stations. The Severn Barrage is thought to create employment, mainly in construction phase, when up to 40,000 people might be required but also operational phase both directly and in the developments arising from barrage’s attraction to tourist. This may allow to skilled workforce from the universities nearby such as Cardiff to stay so the surrounding areas don’t have brain drain. As people come in, the city will improve economically and socially and become a destination city as a tourist hotspot, creating a positive multiplier effect, however, the construction jobs are not permanent, as soon as the construction of the stations are over, many will lose their jobs, similarly, as the barrages are put in to place, shipping is affected this has a knock on effect on employment and deprivation of the area. The Severn Estuary has four major ports as well as many smaller ports, together these ports handle 18 million tonnes of cargo per year and provide 15,000 jobs, if shipping is affected and ports need to close down there will be lost of employment and deprivation in these areas. Some sources say flooding in the Severn Estuary can be controlled and prevented, meanwhile others say that in fact the sediments slit up the river making it much smaller hence increasing the flow of river in a small compressed space. It could lead to physical changes at the estuary because of the reduced tidal range, as it affects the landscape morphology and the sedimentary processes. Salt marshes are estimated to be reduced by 40% and mudflats by 5%; transitional grassland will increase by 6%.  The reduced tidal range and tidal currents upstream of the barrage would create safer conditions for sailing. This could lead to the developments of marinas, employment and housing to service the sailing sector. On the other hand, Bristol has plans for a new dock to handle the next generation of cargo ship of up to 130,000 tonnes and 16m draught. The reduced tidal range may pose problems for large vessels entering the port of Bristol itself; pumping might be required to raise vessels to the height of the water in the enclosed docks; a slow and expensive process. The barrage could be very hazardous to marine life in the sea hence environmentally unfriendly and unsustainable as it could affect breeding patterns of birds; there are five bird species of international importance and the barrage could affect them immensely. Marine life, such as fishes; salmon can be killed in the sluices and turbines, and discouraged from migrating by the presence of the barrage. The UK environmental Agency has predicted high mortality rates for salmon, sea trout and shad.