Substituting Nonrenewable Energy with Renewable Energy - Research Paper Example

Research Paper Draft 2 Substituting Nonrenewable Energy with Renewable Energy Thematically, this paper focuses on integrating various sources of non-renewable energy with renewable energy sources with a key focus on sustainable biomass energy. Introduction Reliable and sufficient sources of energy are a requirement for industrialized nations. Energy is required for cooking, heating, manufacturing, and transportation. Energy sources are broadly categorized into renewable and non-renewable sources (Lens, 2005).

Statistics have indicated that over 85 percent of the energy used is from non-renewable sources. Examples of non-renewable energy include nuclear power and fossil fuel such as oil and coal (Field et al. 2008). These sources of energy are considered as non-renewable because they cannot be regenerated enough to keep pace with their utilization. On the other hand, renewable energy is generated from natural sources such as tide, rain, sun, and wind and it can be regenerated over and over as and when required.

Renewable energy sources are inexhaustible, plenty, and the cleanest sources of energy (Macqueen, 2011). Similarly, energy from biomass from plants, geothermal, and wind can be transformed to electricity for both domestic and industrial use (Field et al. 2008). Environmental problems such pollution and ozone layer depletion resulting from energy wastes have called for the need to substitute non-renewable energy with renewable energy. This is primarily intended to conserve the environment by adopting clean sources of energy, and preserving the scarce sources of non-renewable energy (Macqueen, 2011).

The need to substitute a non-renewable biomass energy source by a renewable biomass is of significance because an energy fuel, which increases carbon dioxide concentration, in the atmosphere, is replaced with energy fuel that reduces the concentration of carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere (Field et al. 2008). Renewable biomass reduces anthropogenic emissions, into the atmosphere because it involves complete energy consumption. Renewable biomass is even more effective, in reducing anthropogenic emissions, than projects, which focus on transforming from fossil fuel to biomass use (Cheng, 2010).

This is because non-sustainable biomass energy is obtained from native forests, which existed for thousands of years. Additionally, the use of non-sustainable biomass energy from ancient carbon stocks does not show any considerable reduction of carbon dioxide concentration, in the atmosphere (Field et al. 2008). Review of Literature The substituted nonrenewable biomass (fossil fuel) and the renewable biomass have similar chemical and physical characteristics; however, it is necessary to note that they are different products.

The differences may include different plant species, different parts of the tree, and different ecological environments (Field et al. 2008). Additionally, these energy sources also differ in their commercial productions with nonrenewable energy sources being anarchic and informal while renewable biomass being labeled and monitored. For instance, when renewable and nonrenewable biomasses have the same chemical and physical characteristics, and the burning process also remains unchanged, the emissions from renewable biomass can easily be monitored and measured (Friedrich & Reis, 2004).

This indicates that anthropogenic emissions resulting from renewable biomass and the combustion equipment can be easily analyzed and controlled. This further implies that, with renewable sources of energy, it is easier to control and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, in the environment, than nonrenewable energy sources, which are difficult to monitor and control (Field et al. 2008). Conclusion Nonrenewable sources of energy should be replaced with renewable sources of energy because they are scarce, and they also have adverse negative effects on the environment.

For instance, non-sustainable biomass or fossil fuel energy are obtained from plants and animal remains, which existed million years ago, and they are currently on the verge of depletion. In order to ensure sustainable production of non-renewable energy, there is a need to substitute these sources with renewable sources, which are plenty and clean. This is because renewable energy is obtained from natural sources that are readily available. Their productions can also be monitored and measured implying that their anthropogenic emissions, in the atmosphere, can be measured and control, thus ensuring a clean environment.

Reference Cheng J. (2010). Biomass to Renewable Energy Processes. New York: CRC PressINC. Field C. B, Campbell J. E, Lobell D. B. (January 01, 2008). Biomass Energy: The Scale of the Potential Resource. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 23, 2, 65-72. Friedrich R, Reis S. (2004). Emissions of Air Pollutants: Measurements, Calculations and Uncertainties. New York: Springer. Lens P. N. (2005). Biofuels for Fuel Cells: Renewable Energy from Biomass Fermentation. New York: IWA Publishing. Macqueen D. (2011). Bundles of Energy: The Case for Renewable Biomass Energy.

London: IIED.