Alternative to Fossil Carbon Fuels - Essay Example

Alternative to fossil carbon fuels. The world’s dependence on fossil fuels goes back to million years when man first discovered fire making technology. Then coal was discovered for industrialization sake and large amounts of it were required to increase the combustion of wood. Ever since then carbon based fuels have been the primary energy source used by humanity. According to the Energy watch group (12) today’s reliance on CBF’s to build the society and develop it further has led to the increase of oil prices at the rate of 1.6% annually. Coal, oil and gas have been and will continue to be the most CBF’s used and these fuels are capable of meeting the global demand. By the end of 2011 the coal reserves were sufficient to last another 112 years of production. The reserves cover 54.2 years which translates to 1652.6 billion barrels making up 80% of total energy consumption by the year 2040 (United States environmental protection agency, 2012). Impact of fossil fuels Burning carbon based fuels is a dirty business because of the wide variety of environmental problems caused by burning carbon fuels. First coal, gas and oil have large contents of hydrogen and carbon adding carbon dioxide to the air which later increases the earth’s temperature (MacDowell 70). These emissions go further to cause acid rain causing air pollution, killing fish and trees and posing health hazards to humanity. Secondly wood is acquired through cutting down forests and burning of wood to produce charcoal. Cutting down of trees interferes with the ecosystem because it violates the natural habitats and tampers with the weather patterns especially the rainforests such as Amazon. According to the United States environmental protection agency (1), 40% of the coal used is mined from underground, underground mining pose a great risk on the surface causing landslides and cracks in buildings and this could end tragically to the people living around. Oil is the primary fuel used to run automobiles, ships, vehicles, planes and other and without it the transport sector would not run, while gas is widely used for heating purposes in people’s homes. The oil resource is in high demand because other than fuel it is also used to produce plastics, wax, chemicals, and lubricants among other products (Meinshausen et al. 1155). Unfortunately the world’s oil reserves are limited and few countries are endowed with this much sought after resource. Oil reserves are depleting yet the world oil consumption is increasing rapidly. The impact of such occurrence is severe because it threatens to cut off oil supplies damaging the far-reaching global economic difficulties. This scarce resource has caused political instability that has led to wars especially in the Middle East, fuel cut offs and sharp increase in prices. Like coal oil production also has its environmental hazards like the dramatic oil spill experienced by Exxon tanker in Alaska ensuing long term environmental effects and expensive cleanup (Rakesh et al. 44). Reducing the rate of greenhouse gases (GHG) emission is an important issue of the twenty first century to reduce the increase of temperature in the atmosphere. The earth’s temperature has increased by 0.8 degree Celsius since the late nineteenth century. The earth’s temperature has been projected by to increase by 1.5-5.8 degree Celsius. Abundance of GHG’s mitigates the risks of global warming through burning fossil fuels. The emission rates from carbon fuel increased by 40% between 1980 and 2000 (Rakesh et al. 43). The heavy dependency on carbon fossil fuels has several times threatened the economy, created a situation where war has broken between countries and the natural habitat greatly damaged. According to Rakesh et al, this is a lot of waste (44). The world must increasingly invest in alternative to fossil carbon fuels to provide much of the energy required for industrialization. Stabilizing the supply of energy amounts used worldwide would be a huge undertaking due to the issue of enhanced global warming caused by the unrestrained use of fossil fuels (Fowler 45). The world’s population currently increased to 7 billion going to 8 billion in 2030 meaning a significant increase in energy demands. Because of this, no one source will be able to supply the globe’s energy needed hence several concerns have been raised in efforts to secure steady supply of energy. Alternative to fossil carbon fuels The change in price, climate, and depletion of petroleum and threat of fossil fuels running out around the world has led to the search of alternative renewable fuels. There are two non-carbon resources largely used to produce energy on a large scale, inland water power and nuclear energy. By 2010 nuclear power was supplying 11% input to electricity and inland water 3% energy input (Meinshausen et al. 1159). The proportions however vary fairly according to a country’s natural endowments. The common feature in both nuclear power and inland water schemes is that the initial cost of setting both is high and that both can only be profitable after several years. Both are a clean, safe and economical way of generating energy helping the country avoid GHG and smog emissions. Nuclear power Nuclear plants are worldwide spread mostly in Asian countries and European countries. Using nuclear power energy has been a subject for many countries; while some increase its exploitation others are substantially facing it out. A nuclear plant is a steam power plant that is fueled by radioactive elements like uranium. The fuel is placed in the reaction allowing atoms to split and in the process release great energy converted to heat that turns water to steam National (Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements 45). It is then steamed power mechanics that takeover to push turbines which force the coils to interact with the wires producing electric currents. This form of energy is based on fission of Uranium-235 (U-235) and Plutonium (Pu-239) in power plants saving between 2.6-3.5billion tones of carbon dioxide emission annually (Carbon cycle 1). With nuclear, one pound of uranium can supply an equivalent energy of 3million pound of coal. This can be explained by the fuel used to power nuclear reactors compactness unlike fossil fuels. Nuclear power does not produce soot or greenhouse gases while generating electricity (NCRP 76). The plant’s nuclear waste is the nuclear fuel from the reactors and is highly radioactive so it is stored in steel lined concrete polls. Some countries like Japan use this waste to again reclaiming the unspent atoms to use in nuclear plants or create nuclear weapons. The choice to use nuclear energy as an alternative has been reviewed over and over by several experts. Mining uranium to provide the plants fuel give rise to the environment and it is a great risk to human health. In case the plant is not well contained and the isotopes are released this could cause a great social and environmental impact. Long-lived isotopes are a big challenge when it comes to managing the plant’s waste. The approach proposed is to have the isotopes broken down to isotopes with shorter lives. Scientist had proposed breaking down the isotopes through fission in a nuclear reactor but recently they found out they can achieve the same by bombarding the longer-lived isotopes with neutrons in a particular accelerator (Carbon cycle) . Specialists are however working on more clean and less costly methods of waste management. Nuclear energy is not only an alternative energy for industrialized countries; it has grown to be the preferred choice for developing countries. This is more so for countries within the Pacific Rim. Nuclear power can help generate enough electricity helping developing countries boost their economic growth. Nuclear power in South Korea for example, provides 36% of its electricity (International Commission on Radiological Protection 26). Nuclear energy enables a country to acquire sufficient electricity at a low cost placing it in a better position amongst its international competitors. According to the Reactor Safety Study by the U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) any nuclear accident reduces the victim’s life expectancy by 0.012 whereas the antinuclear power organization union of concerned scientist (UCS) estimate 1.5 days (Cohen 703). During operations there could be radioactivity release into the environment from the nuclear plant and exposure is bound to reduce one’s life expectancy. Another challenge found is the kind of technology the nuclear power requires. There is the question of whether the fast breeder reactors or nuclear fusions are potentially viable technologies. Breeder reactors according to Meinshausen et al use fuel limiting the demand for uranium hence they have not adopted the expected conditions required currently (1161). Using breeders has proved difficult because little effort has been placed to develop the plants. The technology would stand a chance where it applied commercially but no such conditions have arisen yet. The energy trends however show that the nuclear option should be kept open for development as an electricity generator. Presently, according to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (1) is the development of Generation III (Gen III) reactors such as the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) being constructed at Olkiluoto, Finland. In 2001 over 100 experts from around the world began work to identify concepts in the nuclear research and development. The main aim of this was to come up with new reactors that would meet certain criteria for reliability and sustainability (Union of Concerned Scientists 65). Nuclear fission and fusion have the potential to make a great contribution towards the production of electricity. Large inland water power schemes Large inland water power schemes are also a good alternative to fossil fuels. Generating power using water is a technique that uses the natural flow of water. Coal-fired power plants produce electricity in a similar way. In order for generation of electricity there has to be a dam built on a large river, storing lots of water behind it in its reservoir (Carte 67). Near the bottom of the dam is a water intake so gravity causes it to fall through the penstock inside the dam. There is a turbine propeller at the end of the penstock that gets turned by the moving water. The power is then produced when the shaft from the turbine goes into the generator. Power lines then carry the current to people’s homesteads. Carter states energy has never been flat or constant, its usage fluctuates depending on the time of day or season (70). For example during the day there is less need for electricity in homes as compared to the night time. Hydroelectric plants are very efficient in meeting the ever changing demands of electricity as compared to fossil fuels. One way the plants do this is through ‘pumped storage’ (Carter 71). This method involves saving water in the reservoirs ready for peak periods where water that has already flowed through the turbines is pumped up a storage pool above the power plant, when the demand for electricity is low. Here the dam’s reservoir plays the battery that keeps the power in the form of water, when much electricity is not needed to save power for peak periods when electricity is in high demand. Hydroelectric plants are built in a way they are able to start up quickly adjusting easily to the various demands of power generation. Pump storage reservoirs are built relatively small hence they operate for several hours unlike huge hydropower facilities (Meinshausen et al. 1157). More than 170 countries representatives across the world attending the world conference on sustainable development, in Johannesburg in 2002 and the 3rd World Forum on water, Kyoto in 2003 agreed all hydrogen is renewable and deserved international support. Inland water power scheme uses running water energy without reducing its quantity to produce power, making it fit the renewable energy concept (Carbon cycle 1). The inland power scheme emits very small amounts of greenhouse gases compared to power plants operated by carbon fossil fuels. This power alternative can greatly retard the rate of global warming (Fowler 66). Hydroelectricity today prevents the emission of harmful gases equal to 4.4million per day worldwide although only 33% of the hydroelectric potential has been developed (United States environmental protection agency 2). Hydroelectricity makes it possible to utilize other renewable resources due to its flexibility and storage capacity. Water power schemes regardless of size can respond quickly to fluctuations in the demand of electricity due to its reservoirs. This guarantees a constant supply of electricity and the cost of electricity stabilizes too. The river unlike oil, gas and coal is not subject to market fluctuations allowing optimum use of the hydroelectric plant. This scheme also acts as water storage, the dam’s reservoir collects rain water which could be used for irrigation or household use. They also reduce the risk of floods and reduce tables against depletion during droughts. This encourages development of the economy, expanding agriculture and improving people’s quality life. According to Fowler (51) the inland water power schemes are a feasible investment because their average lifetime is between 50-100 years. It is a worthy electricity generating scheme because it can incorporate modern technologies and still maintain low maintenance costs. Once built its bound to benefit future generations. Though the inland water power schemes are feasible and flexible the development of such a project can be very costly because the materials are costly and the dam is built to certain standards. The water table level is altered whenever large dams are built causing ‘rising damp’. Many of Egypt’s monuments around the Aswan dam for example are getting destroyed due to raised water levels (Carter 70). Building a dam on a river shared by two or more countries can be quite tricky since dams are built to block water for electricity generation and this could alter the control of the other countries. Sometimes experts cannot tell far reaching geological repercussions when building large dams. The Hoover dam built in the USA triggered a couple of earthquakes depressing the earths surface and tampering with the environment (Carter 71). Hydro-power schemes force the locals to move to new homes leaving their lands behind; it also alters the natural habitat of the place as a result of flooding. Conclusion Moving towards a non-carbon fuel future and to further reduce GHG emission various policies more non-carbon programs need to be developed. Policies such as carbon taxes and cap-and –trade programs have contributed to the reduction of GHG. Governments also need to invest in research and development to assist scientist discover long-term economy wide carbon free power generating plants. Scientific communities such as the Union of Concerned Scientist believe that the Extended Global Warming warrants actions. Development of non-carbon fuels exemplifies the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The first international initiative Kyoto protocol attempts to limit unrestricted GHG emission by trying to find the connection between fossil fuels and the economy. Recommendations on selecting alternative for fossil fuels should be judged on the efforts of a well expanded research that addresses sustainability, long-term safety and cost effectiveness. The energy needs of the future must also be recognized in order to prepare for the energy supply challenges in respective countries. Decision makers must address the urgent need to solve the GHG problem within a well defined energy strategy. Lastly, the public need to be informed about various technologies and the ecological impacts. If a country wants to slow the accumulation of carbon dioxide while still satisfy the needs for industrialization then countries must promote more use of renewable energy. Works cited Cohen, Bernard."Perspective on Occupational Mortality Risks," Health Physical 40, 703, 1981. "Carbon Cycle." UXL Encyclopedia of Science. Encyclopedia.com. 8 Mar. 2013 . Carter, Alex. Energy and the environment. Hanover, Brandies press. 67-83, 997. International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, ICRP Publication No. 26 Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1977. Energy Watch Group. Uranium Resources and Nuclear Energy. December 2006. Web. 8/3/2013. Fowler, James. Energy and the Environment. McGraw-Hill, New York, 43-67,1984. MacDowell, Niall; et al. "An overview of CO2 capture technologies". Energy and Environmental Science 3 (11): 1645–69, 2010. Meinshausen, Morris et al. “Greenhouse-gas emission targets for limiting global warming to 2 °C”. Nature, 458: 1158-1162, 2009. Rakesh, Agrawal et al. Sustainable fuel for the Transportation sector. 08 February 2010 .Web. “United States environmental Protection Agency” 08February 2010 . Web. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP)."Natural Background Radiation in the United States," NCRP Report No. 45 1975. Union of Concerned Scientists, "The Risks of Nuclear Power Reactors,". Cambridge, Massachusetts: 31-46, 1977. Read More