Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?
- Thread starter Cierra
- Start date
There is a report that we have and are still using more resources in a year than what the planet can produce, in other words, we are killing it =, Nuclear power, well i think we can go different again, we have seen what that can do to us
Alternative energy can definitely replace our fossil fuel usage for sure. The thing is... companies are NOT pushing for these alternatives very strongly because they can't make money off it. I think we have the technology to make vehicles for instance to run on just solar power but because companies can't make a lot of money from it, it is not something that is pushed greatly.
Just so you know - the current yield from "alternative energies" is at such a level that if were to completely replace fossil fuels we'd have a lot of land covered with solar panels/windmills. Not effective enough currently, unfortunately.
I'm of two minds here...on the one hand, I think there is a place for alternative energies (wind & solar) w/in a broader energy policy. OTOH, given the plethora of energy sources available at present, we shouldn't base most of our energy on alternative sources.
I've been studying alternative energy for quite a bit and have a few pieces of info to discharge here.
To begin with, we must understand the rationale for alternative energy, and list them based on importance (these are ranked by professionals in the industry):
1. Climate change
2. Economics
3. Energy independence
4. Running out of fossil fuels
The world consumes approximately one cubic mile of oil per year, so we would have to replace that heavy load with the other renewable alternatives. Energy is used for two purposes: to generate electricity for residential, commercial, and industrial uses or for transportation, with petroleum representing the leading source of energy for transportation.
I will personally discuss biofuels since I think they are the least viable with our current advances in technology. First of all, growing biofuels will most certainly conflict with growing actual food, and farming is heavily subsidized already. Then there's the problem that biofuels wouldn't actually reduce carbon emissions. In fact, they actually accelerate it by something called indirect land use change. When growing biofuels, many lands for farming have to be cleared, and in most cases this arable land happens to also be carbon stores such as forests.
However, benefits include that the biofuels are easy to transition into with most engines being compatible, renewable, nontoxic, nonflammable, and produce cleaner emissions.
Even with those positive aspects, I think the detriments outweigh them in this situation.
To begin with, we must understand the rationale for alternative energy, and list them based on importance (these are ranked by professionals in the industry):
1. Climate change
2. Economics
3. Energy independence
4. Running out of fossil fuels
The world consumes approximately one cubic mile of oil per year, so we would have to replace that heavy load with the other renewable alternatives. Energy is used for two purposes: to generate electricity for residential, commercial, and industrial uses or for transportation, with petroleum representing the leading source of energy for transportation.
I will personally discuss biofuels since I think they are the least viable with our current advances in technology. First of all, growing biofuels will most certainly conflict with growing actual food, and farming is heavily subsidized already. Then there's the problem that biofuels wouldn't actually reduce carbon emissions. In fact, they actually accelerate it by something called indirect land use change. When growing biofuels, many lands for farming have to be cleared, and in most cases this arable land happens to also be carbon stores such as forests.
However, benefits include that the biofuels are easy to transition into with most engines being compatible, renewable, nontoxic, nonflammable, and produce cleaner emissions.
Even with those positive aspects, I think the detriments outweigh them in this situation.
No. Alternative energy is often expensive and weak. It might make sense for a home or residence to slowly build up a reserve to get off the grid but it's not suitable for industry or the energy business in general. Solar panels for example are expensive and don't yield much. Windmills don't yield much, are expensive to build, and have a negative impact on wildlife. It just goes on and on. In reality nuclear power still remains the best option. Eventually, years to come, we'll be able to create better uses of it and harness it in snaller and safer forms.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30919045
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30919045
