Alternative Sources of Energy - Essay Example

Alternative Sources of Energy: A Viable Solution to the Problem of Climate Change Introduction There is an old Western movie that would have actually been quite forgettable, had it not been for the closing monologue of the dying lead character: “If the world were made of gold, men would fight for a handful of dust.” One could build an entire economic treatise out of the scarcity of a good being the measure of its value, especially in the matter of oil. If oil were inexhaustible, it would not be the subject of much political debate. Oil as traditional energy source is linked to economic development, and countries that do not have their own oil reserves have gone to great lengths to exert control over countries that do. Simon (2007) calls fossil energy a “wicked problem”, in the sense that it is characterized by a high level of information uncertainty, exists in a contestable policy environment where multiple actors compete with each other, and it is determinative of institutional relationships and complex choices. Many scientists have argued that the technology to develop alternative fuels have been in existence since the 1960s and 70s, when America sent the first man to the moon, but that a complex web of political and economic interests have stifled efforts to develop alternative energy sources. Today, it is generally agreed that at the rate the world consumes its oil reserves, eventually these would dry up like the once mighty oil fields of Texas, of which only a fraction are still in production. Rumours of aging oil fields and rising levels of water, as well as runaway prices in petroleum products, seem to indicate that Saudi reserves may be reaching exhaustion point (Anwar, 2010). The meaning of “Alternative Energy” The phrase “alternative energy” connotes more than just energy sources other than those traditionally resort to. It also implies that the sources of energy “are more efficient than conventional non-renewable forms” (Southampton City Council, 2009), and that they “do not use up natural resources or harm the environment” (WordNet, 2010). The attributes of sustainability and the absence of undesired consequences are implicitly included when one refers to alternative fuels or energy (Alternative Energy Institute [AEI], 2010). The very term itself appears to imply that these are only secondary, back-up, or stand-by sources, something resorted to in the meanwhile, much in the nature of emergency lights in office buildings when the power goes off. In a published account of a congressional hearing on fuels, one legislator was described as having said that the term “alternative fuels” implies that basic economic principles dictates that ‘the market [should] pick the winners (Review of the Administration’s Energy Proposals for The Transportation Sector, 2007). The confusion of its political implications is probably the reason more people prefer to speak of “renewable” rather than alternative energy. Society has not yet made the transition in mindset from its reliance on fossil fuels, which is after all what twentieth century industrialization and expansion was built on. In 1900, automobile and air transport were non-existent, people heated their homes with wood, coal and whale oil, and Thomas Edison had not yet invented the light bulb, much less developed a means for electrical energy distribution. It is remarkable how, in less than a hundred years, we would be talking of alternative energy. Prior to discussing alternative sources, however, it is important to first examine what they are alternative to. Current Sources of Energy There are currently two major sources of conventional energy: fossil fuels, and nuclear energy. Fossil fuels are “one-time energy gift to the human race” (AEI, 2010). The average age of the gasoline in our tanks is about 70 million years (AEI, 2010), and it is but logical to assume that it will take another 70 million years for presently decomposing plant matter to replenish those deposits already extracted. Looking back at our fledgling human history, hardly have 100 years of active oil exploration, extraction and consumption passed, and already the prospects of oil reserve depletion is a stark reality. Further worthy of note is the fact that the large-scale use of fossil fuels has impacted tremendously on our environment. It has not been too long ago that people could not conceive that their actions could influence the environment. The atmosphere was permanent, and so were the wide expanses of rain forests and the massive oceans, so that anything released into them will just be absorbed and dissipated (Reid, 2000). Today it is known that elevated levels of chlorofluorocarbon levels in the atmosphere dissipated the ozone layer, disappearance of the rain forests due to indiscriminate logging has caused the extinction of an incalculable number of plant and animal species, and oil spills into the oceans are causing a significant drop in ocean life relied upon by fishermen for their harvests. The burning of fossil fuels likewise are now known to release stored carbon into the Earth’s atmosphere as one of its net combustion products (AEI, 2010). Al Gore’s lecture, “The Inconvenient Truth” (and for which he was awarded the Nobel), dwelled lengthily on how carbon dioxide gas produced by the combustion of fossil fuels accumulate in the atmosphere and act as a layer of insulation, trapping heat and causing global warming. Nuclear energy is likewise built upon a finite energy source. According to figures by the Uranium Institute as reported by the AEI, the total world recoverable resource of uranium is estimated to be 3,256,000 tons. However, nuclear power plants currently operational worldwide require 75,000 tons of uranium annually, and this only supplies some 17% of total power needs. It is estimated that total uranium resources will be enough to supply current and expected demand only for the next 42 years. Some would argue that breeder reactors would be able to create abundant fuel in the form of plutonium. However, such reactors could conceivably commoditize the supply of weapons grade plutonium, and besides breeder reactors is the most environmentally hazardous of all reactors because of the handling of highly toxic plutonium. Overall, conventional sources of commercial quantity energy, whether it comes from fossil fuels or nuclear radiation, are not only dangerous to the environment, but also inescapably exhaustible. Even if it were debunked that the threats of global warming and nuclear accidents were significant, there will inevitably come a time when these fuels will dry up, and alternatives will become imperative. Alternative sources of sustainable energy The alternatives to fossil fuel and nuclear power will thus have to address the twin concerns of being renewable and environmentally safe. Several of these alternatives already currently exist to a significant degree, and output levels are noticeably rising. The following are worthy of mention (sourced from AEI). Wind Power. Wind is created when the movement of the atmosphere is impelled by variations in the Earth’s surface temperatures when the sun lights up and warms a portion of the Earth. Long before electricity, wind power had been harnessed by windmills. Disadvantages to this form, however, is that winds blow intermittently, and the lack of constancy may impact on its reliability as a major power source. Thus the operation of wind farms, where several windmills are constructed to maximize wind power. However, this requires a relatively extensive expanse of land for enough windmills to produce significant amounts of power. Solar Energy. Solar energy relies for the most part on nuclear fusion power radiating from the sun’s core. Captured through photosensitive materials, the energy is collected and stored in a variety of ways, from solar water heating to attic cooling (with solar attic fans) for use in the home, to application of sophisticated technologies that directly convert sunlight to electrical energy, through the use of mirrors and boilers, or photovoltaic cells. The viability of solar energy is promising in countries that experience regular sunny weather year round, but it is insufficient in temperate countries that have four seasons, or in the extreme north or south when darkness prevails for months at a time. Geothermal Energy. It is known that beneath our planet’s surface, there is a gradual seepage of residual energy from the original accretion of the planet, that is enhanced by heat from radioactive decay. There are areas where geothermal gradient (i.e., the increase in temperature with increasing depth) is sufficiently high to generate electricity. Possible sites, however, are limited to a few locations on earth, indicating that it is only in these locations where the possibility of geothermal power generation may be usefully explored. Promising sites are those where active volcanoes exist, Biomass refers to energy sourced from plants. This form of energy is commonly used worldwide, although not always in desirable procedures. The most popular of these is the burning of trees for cooking and heating purposes. Burning releases abundant volumes of carbon dioxide gases into the air, and in many cases exacerbates the air pollution level in the immediate location. There are more modern ways of harnessing biomass, however. The more useful methods are methane generation and the production of alcohol for use as automobile fuel and for driving electric power plants (AEI, 2010). Hydroelectric Energy uses the power of moving water for generating electricity. Practical knowledge of this power has been existing since the time of the Greeks who used water wheels to convert kinetic into mechanical energy with which to grind grain and pump water. It was later deduced that if a turbine were turned by water falling from a height, the turbine could in turn activate a generator and electricity could be produced. In 1879, the Niagara Falls powered the first hydroelectric power plant. Today, man-made water reservoirs that power hydroelectric facilities have been created in places where natural waterfalls are not present. In general, hydroelectric power is considered convenient, efficient, inexpensive, highly environmentally friendly, and will remain renewable while rain falls and rivers run, prompting several to consider it the leading source of renewable energy. However, where reservoir dams are built and the countryside is flooded, people who live in the area (particularly those cultures indigenous to the mountain location), are forced to relinquish their tribal lands, homesteads and lifestyles, in order to accommodate the project. The dislocation is usually stressful, controversial, and at times marred with antagonism and violence. There is tremendous social cost is in the dislocation of entire communities and the demise of some indigenous cultures. Hydrogen Fuel Cells are viable sources of renewable energy anchored upon the characteristic of Hydrogen, which is at once the most abundant element in the universe, and is combustible. Hydrogen is known to be the element that fuels the fusion reaction in stars. Experiments on hydrogen’s properties began way back in the 17th century, and today hydrogen fuel cells are used to provide a significant amount of the electrical power in NASA’s Space Shuttle. It also powers electric automobiles and a host of other new applications. Other sources of renewable energy are currently being explored. These include tidal, ocean thermal, wave, and hot fusion phenomena. Tidal energy results from the gravitational pull exerted by the sun, moon and earth. Wave power is evident in waves crashing on the shore; it is actually originated by the wind, which in turn in driven by sunlight. Ocean thermal energy is solar energy collected by the sea; and hot fusion is again based on the power of hydrogen. The harnessing of the energy contained in these sources make them potential alternatives to the traditional energy sources. The Kyoto Protocol and the Copenhagen Summit The Kyoto Protocol is a bold initiative linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and concurred in by 38 countries representing almost all the advanced and emerging nations of the world (with the notable exception of the Unites States). It is unprecedented in that the 38 industrialized countries and the European Community have through this instrument committed themselves to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of five percent against 1990 levels over the period 2008-2012 (UNFCCC, 2010). Unfortunately, the Copenhagen summit of 2009 failed to elicit a similarly brave consensus, supposedly due to countries taking their cue from one another and primarily the United States, and expressing unwillingness to commit to further emission reduction if other nations do not similarly do so (Guardian.co.uk, 2009). Economics, politics, and power play may be seen to dominate the spirit of the supposed climate change summit. Discussion and Conclusion Throughout the debate on traditional versus alternative fuels, various issues have emerged, for which there appear to be no conclusive answers. Is climate change truly related to carbon emissions related to human activity? Many scientists seem to believe so, but a growing number have also voiced their reservations, saying that climate change will occur independent of human activity. Are not renewable sources more expensive than traditional fuels? Yes, for the moment they are, since they are in a stage of development. And would not agreement to reduce emissions unduly disadvantage a nation economically? Many political leaders seem to think so, as the broadcasted debates during the Copenhagen meeting seem to point out. Why then the need to convert to alternative fuels? The opinion of this writer may not matter in the great cacophony of voices on this matter, but it appears that we have no other recourse than to find renewable energy. Whether fossil fuels contribute to global warming or not, the inescapable fact is that it is limited and exhaustible, as with nuclear fuel. At one point in humanity’s future, whether near or distant, our descendants will be devoid of these traditional sources of energy. We owe it to them to begin meaningful progress on this matter during our lifetimes. The mundane problems prove insignificant to the concerns of tomorrow: political and economic power play becomes irrelevant when “free” energy becomes available to all, as nations will be weaned from the need to import oil, and exporting nations be relieved of the power to hold a world hostage again. Increasing technological development will inevitably bring costs down, and even now local communities have on their own initiative begun their own alternative power generation. The direction for the future appears irreversible. There is no alternative to alternative fuels. Reference Alternative Energy Institute (AEI) 2010 “Alternative Energy”. Accessed April 20, 2010 from http://www.altenergy.org/ Anwar, H 2010 “Are Saudi Reserves Drying Up?” Accessed 21 April 2010 < http://www.silverbearcafe.com/private/saudireserves.html> Guardian.co.uk 2009 Copenhagen climate change conference 2009. Accessed 20 April 2010, "International Energy Annual 2006". Accessed April 20, 2010 from Reid, Stephen J (2000) Ozone and Climate Change: A Beginner’s Guide, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Review of the Administration’s Energy Proposals for the Transportation Sector. 2007 Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representative of the One Hundred Tenth Congress. US Government Printing Office. Simon, C A 2007 Alternative Energy: Political, Economic, and Social Feasibility, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Maryland, USA Southampton City Council 2009 ‘Alternative Energy’, Glossary. Accessed 20 April 2010 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2010. ‘Kyoto Protocol’. Accessed 20 April 2010 WordNet 2010 ‘Alternative Energy’, WordNet, Princeton University. Accessed 20 April 2010 Read More