Alternative Energy Sources
Alternative energy source is the umbrella term used to identify an energy source which don’t use fossil fuels and therefore often don’t have the same environmental concerns associated with them; primarily the high carbon dioxide emissions, which is seen as a major contributor to global warming. Examples of widely available alternative energy sources are solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and hydroelectric energy. Each have their own advantages and drawbacks which I will briefly outline, but it is generally accepted that these energy sources are the best option for a greener future.
Solar energy is radiant light and heat given off from the sun, which is harnessed and converted into usable energy. This happens across many mediums and technologies, from photovoltaics and artificial photosynthesis all the way to solar heating and architecture. Increased harnessing of the vast amount of solar energy this planet receives will lead to increased energy dependence for countries with no fossil fuel or oil deposits. This energy source is inexhaustible, sustainable and using it will drastically reduce pollution. The cost of solar energy has drastically fallen in recent years and a report published by the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London and the Carbon Tracker Initiative found that by 2050, 29% of the world’s energy generation could be supplied by solar means.
Wind energy is harnessed by mechanically turning turbines using the power of wind flowing over them. The advantages are similar to solar energy in that it is an abundant and renewable source of energy and which source is more suitable relies mainly on the geography and climate of the location. Often, many wind turbines will be situated and connected together to form a wind farm, which are usually connected to the local grid, generating variable electricity based on wind speed and direction.
Geothermal energy is generated by convection currents of magma and radioactive decay within the Earth’s crust. Geothermal power is renewable, sustainable and has little environmental impact though can be expensive in areas not near tectonic plate boundaries. As the technology used to harness this energy source advances, it is becoming more and more possible to drill down to access geothermal resources away from plate boundaries.
Biomass energy is generated though the combustion of plants and other organic matter, either using the heat produced directly or converting the energy into bio-fuels which can be substituted for petroleum.
Whilst alternative energy sources far fewer carbon emissions than fossil fuels while in use, reaching a point where there are enough wind farms, solar plants and hydroelectric dams to replace fossil fuels will have significant strain on the environment. For example, if the US wanted to rely solely on wind power to meet its energy needs, approximately 80 million hectares of land would need to be converted to wind-farms.
According to BP and Shell, two of the world’s largest multi-national oil and gas companies at least a third of the world’s energy supply needs to be from renewable sources. Fossil fuels are a finite source of energy, forming over millions of years and are being used up and an incredible rate. Crude oil reserves are also being depleted at a rate which would dry up all known oil supplies by 2052. This graph illustrates the rapid decline in fossil fuels and although new supplies are discovered from time to time they would only marginally push back the deadline.
Graph of the decline in fossil fuel reserves from ecotricity.com - (Accessed last on 6th February)
On a more positive note, there is speculation that any rise in consumption of coal and oil could level out by 2020 due to increased use of renewable energy, and by 2035, 35% of road vehicles sold could be electric as awareness of the shortage of fossil fuels rises.
The big question which is so far unanswerable is, will the world increase the use of renewable energy and rely less on non-renewables quickly enough to prevent an energy crisis and very serious damage to the planet which we share.
Bibliography:
Alternative energy options information - http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/alternativeenergysources.php - (Accessed last on 6th February)
Energy security information by the Royal Society of Chemistry - http://www.rsc.org/campaigning-outreach/global-challenges/energy/ - (Accessed last on 6th February)
Solar energy development - http://www.webcitation.org/63fIHKr1S - (Accessed last on 6th February)
Wind power information - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/13/wind-power-is-cheapest-energy-unpublished-eu-analysis-finds - (Accessed last on 6th February)
Fossil fuel decline information and graph - https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/energy-independence/the-end-of-fossil-fuels - (Accessed last on 6th February)
Renewable energy predictions - http://www.altenergy.org/ - (Accessed last on 7th February)
Fossil fuel decline information - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/02/electric-cars-cheap-solar-power-halt-fossil-fuel-growth-2020 - (Accessed last on 7th February)
Wind turbine picture - http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5734a8eb52bcd023008c286b-2400/gettyimages-103495378.jpg - (Accessed last on 7th February)
