Power for a Greener Future - Assignment Example

Power for a Greener Future Student ID: Date: Number of words: 1172 Introduction World is talking about the hazards of global warming, climate change and carbon dioxide emission, as we find discussion on these topic in most of international forums. However, the efforts needed to eliminate the cause of these dangers are still lacking, as most of the world leaders do not find consensus on dealing with the subject. In this direction, many developed nations have made serious efforts to generate alternative renewable energy resources for meeting their demand of energy requirement. These efforts remain half-hearted as no fruitful results could be achieved so far in pursuing them. This paper briefly discusses the possible causes of climate change, carbon dioxide emissions and dangers pertaining to burning of fossil fuels. The report on viable alternate sources of renewable energy follows this. While the dangers of pollution and global warming along with the climate changes are increasing exponentially with every passing day, many specialists are trying to find viable solution to this problem. Accordingly, Physicist Robert Socolow and ecologist Stephen Pacala of Princeton University have suggested several measures to curb this menace. (.(Biello, 2007) This paper details a few suggested important solutions, as below. Reduce fossil fuel burning There is an urgent need to eliminate the burning of oil, coal and even the natural gas. Although oil lubricates the world economy currently and coal produces almost fifty percent of eclectic power across the world, the challenge is to find alternate renewable energy resources that can fit the bill. Replacing them through Bio fuels may prove beneficial. As per Special Report on Emission Scenarios, published from the year 2000, fossil fuel is responsible for meeting the maximum energy needs, across the globe. The report further reveals that carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuels has nearly doubled during the three decades from 1970 to 2009. Hence, there is a need to reduce the burning of fossil fuels to help limiting the carbon emissions.(Hook, 2013) Upgrading infrastructure While emissions from buildings contribute to around 43 percent of the total green house effect in USA and 33 percent worldwide, there is an urgent need to change to green environment. This includes making homes with thicker insulated walls using material that can result in consuming less power due to lesser-needed temperature regulation. Similarly, well-maintained roads can result in fuel saving for all vehicles. (Cool Trends, 2008). In addition, cement production process can utilize alternate fuel burning methods for firing up the kilns. Cycling to office This is possible only in case work is closer to the residence of the worker. Hence, it is essential to move closer to work, which can reduce carbon-dioxide emissions caused by burning of transportation fuel. Similarly, limiting the usage of jet fuels can drastically reduce the usage of oil, as ten gallons of oil are required to produce one gallon of jet fuel. Efforts on war footing are needed to find alterative sources for replacement of kerosene. Lifestyle changes This is particularly true of rich western nations, where residents have developed habit of wasting everything, be it electricity, gas or food. Some non-conventional steps like switching off electricity, proper regulation of the A/C or heater temperatures, consuming less water and petrol or diesel can result in tremendous saving of these resources. In addition, changing eating habits towards consuming only vegetarian food can result in getting biodegradable products that can produce bio-fuels.(Biello, 2007) Oil may not last long The natural oil fields found in world have a lifetime for retrieval of oil from them. Accordingly, the oil production will eventually reach a peak with respect to different oil fields. Marion King Hubbert, a geophysicist provided a hypothetical explanation for this fact in the year 1956. This theory is now known as Hubbert’s Peak Theory, which predicts the oil production must follow a bell-shaped curve that has a decline and peak point. This curve is given below. According to this curve, the global oil production will decline after 2006, as it can peak off around the year 1970. (Source: http://www.hubbertpeak.com/hubbert/1956/1956.pdf ) As is evident from the above curve, oil production will be almost zero in the year 2200. However, many experts have criticized the theory while arguing that most of the world oil reserves are still in the need of exploration and technological advancement in oil production will make it possible to search for new oil fields, both off and on shore, with greater accuracy. (C. Hubbert’s, nd) However, Hubbert has provided mathematical calculations for predicting life of oil fields and the related production cycles in different oil fields of America, in his 1956 publication, ”NUCLEAR ENERGY AND FOSSIL FUELS”. His hypothetical predictions find support in this document from the history of oil production pattern observed during many decades from 1930s to 1960. The curves and graphs presented in this publication provide the years of peak production for individual oil fields, while showing their declining pattern after such peak. Hubbert, 1956) Development of renewable energy technologies In USA alone, such technologies, if developed properly and implemented commercially, have the potential of replacing 50 percent of the country’s current energy resources. Although shale oil production has gone up due to utilization of advanced production technologies, there is a danger of world’s oil reserves drying up in the near future. Accordingly, efforts are required to concentrate on the renewable energy resources, which can replace oil and fossil fuels, with an eye on reducing the carbon emissions. The alternate resources of energy include biomass, hydroelectric systems, wind power, solar systems, biogas, and fuel from ethanol, methanol as well as vegetable oil, among others. Some of these technologies are discussed hereunder.(Pimentel et al, nd) Hydroelectric power In this system, a dam on the running water creates a reservoir that stores huge quantity of water. When this water is released for spinning the turbine, it generates electricity. Hence, no fuel or oil is used to run the turbine, while this clean system gives green power. However, it requires large areas of land for building the reservoir, thus cutting on the agricultural land use. (hydropower, nd) The hydropower is very efficient, clean and inexpensive. It utilizes natural resources like water from rivers, lakes and waterfalls. While providing almost 97 percent of the renewable energy resources across the world, hydroelectric power is the major alternate energy resource, available in the world. In addition, the hydroelectric generating systems have eliminated the burning of millions of tons of coal and billions of fuel oil gallons. Accordingly, hydropower is the future green power, as it eliminates the carbon emission and green house effect.(Hydroelectric power, nd) Bio mass energy While most biomass burning meets the requirement of heating and cooking, this energy can also be converted into electric power. The utilization of biomass from forest wood has proven to eliminate the need of putting conventional coal or fuel-based power plant in areas that have abundance of natural resources like wood. Bio mass is responsible for maintaining the closed carbon cycle without causing any increase in the net emission levels of carbon dioxide. The main difference between the bio mass and fossil fuels is the ability of biomass to absorb the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.(What is) Viability of alternate energy resources for electric power generation Wind and solar energy find commercial application in the current efforts for searching viable alternatives to conventional power generation methods. The opinion of experts presented in the Wall Street Journal, on this subject point to certain unconventional features of these resources. For example, the windmills require natural winds blowing at high speed to generate required electricity. However, in certain areas like of USA like Texas, the wind stops blowing during the hot season. Accordingly, as electric power demand rises during this season, the windmills do not help much. Similarly, solar power is dependant on positioning of sun over a region and this feature limits the utilization of full potential of solar power during a particular season. In addition, the technological advancement in solar and wind power generation has not been able to keep pace with the similar advances found currently in natural gas production. There are instances where power from natural gas proves to be cheaper than wind and solar power. Alternative transportation fuels point to use of battery-operated cars, which again have not proved to be commercially viable. Production of ethanol as an alternative clean fuel also seems to remain commercially unviable. (Pirrong, 2013) Conclusion Experts are linking the current frequently occurring natural disasters with climate change, carbon dioxide emission and green house effect. Hence, there is an urgent need to exploit the use of renewable energy resources on commercial basis. While hydropower can provide inexpensive clean and green electricity in areas that have abundant water sources, wind and solar power generation need more technological innovations to make them commercially viable. At the same time, political will and consensus among world leaders is required to work out the possible solution to such dangers. Works-Cited Biello.D. (2007). Scientific American Magzine. Energy and sustainability news Retrieved from: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/10-solutions-for-climate-change/ C. Hubbert’s Peak Theory. (nd).. Articles on Energy in Globalization 101 Magzine Retrieved from: http://www.globalization101.org/c-hubberts-peak-theory/ Cool Trends (2008). Publication from International Society of Sustainable Professionals Retrieved from: https://www.sustainabilityprofessionals.org/files/Cool%20Trends.pdf Hook.M, (2013). Depletion of fossil fuels. Published in Energy Policy, Vol 52, PP 797-809. Hubbert. M . K (1956). Nuclear Energy and Fossil Fuels. American Petroleum Institute Retrieved from: http://www.hubbertpeak.com/hubbert/1956/1956.pdf Hydropower (nd) . Publication from Renewable energy world Retrieved from: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/hydropower Hydroelectric power. (nd).. Publication from alternative energy magazine Retrieved from: http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/hydroelectric.html Pimentel. D et al (2012). Renewable Energy: Current and Potential Issues Publication from Oxford Journals, Bioscience, Vol 52, Issue 12, pp 111-1120 Retrieved from: http://bioscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/52/12/1111.full Pirrong. C (2013). The Experts. The Wall Street Journal report, Retrieved from: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324485004578424624254723536 What is Biomass? (nd) Biomass energy center Retrieved from: http://www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk/portal/page?_pageid=76,15049&_dad=portal Read More