Sustainable Sources For Electricity Generation - Research Paper Example

Sustainable Sources For Electricity Generation Introduction Sustainable energy is the provision of energy sources that meet the needs of the future without compromising with the present needs. There are various sustainable renewable energy sources and among them include wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy and hydroelectricity energy. Solar energy is one of the most powerful sources of power, which is commonly used in many countries. Solar energy is used for various activities including heating, generating power, lighting and other varied activities. Solar power comes directly from the sun and it plays significant roles in the precipitation and evaporation cycles that make hydroelectricity power possible (Armaroli and Vincenzo 123). Wind power is another renewable source of energy and it is converted from wind turbines to make energy sources. Hydroelectricity also is a renewable energy source generated from hydropower in order to produce electrical energy. These are the effective sources or energy but they pose economic, social and environmental challenges to the society. Ways of Generating Electricity a) Solar Energy Solar energy is produced from the sun; and it is converted to electricity in order to produce clean source of energy. The sun is the main source of heat and it converts electricity direct from sun as indicated in figure 1 below. The solar power takes place in two developing stages including photovoltaic and concentrated solar power. Photovoltaic is the method that involves direct conversion of solar power directly into electricity. The photovoltaic cells allow one to continue using power from the sun. The photovoltaic cells coverts electric current from light through the mean of photoelectric effect. However, the CSP (concentrate solar power) mirrors convert sunlight into a small ray. The heat is then used as a source of convention power in the source plant. Varied concentrating technologies are present in the source plant and these include parabolic ditch, linear Fresnel reflector and other technologies; thus, they track sun or light. The concentrated sunlight heats the working fluid (pressurized gas for actuating machines), which is the used energy source. Sun Solar Figure 1: Solar energy b) Wind Energy Wind energy generates power through converting wind power into electricity. It uses the windmill device for converting wind power into electricity. The wind is gushed into the wings that enable the wings to rotate; thus generating electric power. Figure 2 below indicates a simple wind power with the wings that are placed directly to the blowing wind to allow the windmill to rotate easily. It is essential to place directly the windmill where there is abundant wind because once the wind does not blow; the wind power will not generate electricity. Figure 2: Wind power c) Hydroelectricity Energy Hydroelectric power is a technique of producing electricity from water bodies. The water held in large areas usually in dams is forced into the turbine generator as indicated in figure 3 below and this makes the generator to rotate. The hydraulic turbine covert electricity through mechanical means under the help of the magnetic elements attached to the generator shaft. The magnetic connected to the turbines enables the generator to rotate when the generator also starts to rotate. This generates electricity currents that lead to production of hydroelectricity power. Figure 3: Hydroelectricity power Challenges Encountered in the Distribution of Energy from Generation Point to Consumption Point Technical Challenges Growing concern about climate change and energy security has harnessed renewable energy sources as a challenge in the electricity industry. Climatic change and energy security are the major challenges facing the contemporary electricity industries. For instance, the cost and technical performances as well as end user friendly or environmental sustainability pose critical challenges to the industry. The technical issues many relate to the associated renewable energy compatibility with the ability of the equipment to function effectively in the distribution process up to the consumption point. For example, the renewable energy generator should meet the required engineering standards and should be able to isolate faulty equipment from the rest of the electric industry. It should also have a reasonable ability to withstand abnormal operating system conditions. Environmental Effect Both sources of energy including solar energy, wind energy and hydroelectricity energy may pose environmental challenges. First, the process of solar generation may pose significant challenges to the environment. Although, solar energy is one of the renewable energy sources, which are environmentally friendly, the distribution and integration process of power system cannot be solved (Armaroli and Vincenzo 119). Hydroelectricity power and wind power also pose varied environmental challenges to the society. For instance, the distribution and process involved in power generation may lead to emission of CO2 with its adverse effect of climatic changes in the environment. Hydroelectric power involves use of water and this may lead inadequate water use by people because of increased water harvesting from water sources for hydro generation of power. Societal Effect The social effect results because of varying environmental and economic effects resulting from renewable energy sources. Kruger (56) argues that the increased sustainability of energy sources creates social consequences. For instance, the increased rate of renewable use of energy sources may lead to increased or decreased rate of employment in some places. The social impacts are similar to wind, hydroelectricity and solar power. The social impacts may also include the consumption choices regarding the three energy sources. The supply and the political relations as well as the reliance of other nations on the energy source especially the hydroelectricity power may create social effects. Lastly, the climatic changes and other consequences resulting from the renewable power generation may lead to health related issues. This may result from environmental effects of energy sources; thus contributing to socio economic costs of maintaining a health society. Economic Effect The process of generating and distributing energy sources from the point up to consumption point is costly. First, the cost of producing energy from the windmill is costly because the turbine per size is expensive and they pose varied economic impacts. Wind power has moderate cost but increased ongoing cost because of improvement in the performance of turbines and power generation efficiency (Kruger 45). Electricity plays significant roles in the economy but the cost of production is too high. For instance, the generation of hydroelectric power takes varied phases and this makes the generation process costly. It is also constructed in areas where there is plenty supply of water; thus the distribution of power from the plant to the consumption areas may lead to increased costs per consumption unit. The economic viability varies depending on the place and the demand for power. Solar energy also has its own challenges basing on the local power requirements as well as fluctuating demands. This energy source is economical in various residential areas. Reasons For Elimination Of Fossil Fuels And Nuclear Power Plants In The Future As A Way Of Generating Electricity The industry claims that nuclear power and fossil fuel are sustainable source of energy and this has led to high debate as to whether these two sources are efficient sustainable power sources. The claim is debatable but of course, there is no source of energy, which is derived from mining sources from the earth, which can be sustainable. However, sustainability of the two sources of energy is highly accepted by many people. Nuclear and fossil energy sources are not sustainable energy sources but they cannot offer enough energy required in the future. The power plant will be eliminated and they will not generate electricity in the near future. This is because in case the uranium and other reserves could be exhausted, then the two sources of energy will not generate power in the future. Kruger (23) argues that the only sustainable energy source for power generation comes from the sun. He further reveals that any other energy sources obtained from terrestrial sources is not sustainable because of exhaustion. The conversion process of energy from one point to another may lead to environmental degradation. This is because it increases entropy, which may scientifically refer as the creation of increased disorder. The sustainable energy sources should not be exhaustible and they should not lead to entropy. Therefore, fossil fuel and nuclear power will continue to reduce because of exhaustion; thus will no longer be used for generating power in the future. For instance, the fossil fuel will be exhausted in the future because it is not a renewable energy source. The finite amount of deposits that was deposited far back on earth will become exhausted and many industries will not generate power from it. However, unless industries or people will save the environment and stop burning fossil fuel, they will save the environment. Therefore, it will become difficult for nuclear plant to generate electricity in the near future in case they continue depending heavily on fossils and nuclear power energy sources. Nuclear power and fossils fuel will be eliminated in the future from generating electricity because they are non-renewable and unsustainable sources of energy. The burning of fossil fuel is viewed from the environmental perspective as unsustainable sources of energy. This is because they constitute a dangerous gas that impacts the life of human being and ecosystem. Burning of fossils produces a greenhouse gas known as carbon dioxide that is dangerous when inhaled. This gas can also lead to global warming, with its associated consequences such as climatic changes, disappearance of significant ecosystem and many other impacts (Nersesian 122). Moreover, nuclear power emits carbon dioxide and it is not sustainable; hence, it can impact the environment. Although, the operation of nuclear does not lead to emission of CO2, but the large amount of energy required in the power plant contributes to emission of CO2. Most of the energy used in the nuclear power plant is emitted from the fossil fuel energy and these are used during the end of power plant. The uranium fuel used in the nuclear power is heated to allow radioactivity in order to reduce; thus contributing to easy transportation. This process of melting down nuclear is dangerous to the both human beings and non-living things. This process leads to environmental degradation and it is costly. Therefore, nuclear power will also be eliminated due to exhaustion; thus, they will not be used in power generation in the future. Countries That Are Strongly Committed To the Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources for Electricity Generation The primary source of energy for power generation in the contemporary world is the use of non-renewable sources. However, United States of America, Asian Pacific and Europe countries are among the nations that are highly committed to utilization of renewable energy sources for electricity generation. Many of these countries depend heavily on renewable energy sources for industrial purposes, transport and communication aspect, mechanical work and consumption purposes. Energy is vital because it is used for varied activities across the globe. The consumption of energy in the industrial market economies have increased significantly. The future development depends upon the sustainable use of energy sources that are safe and environmentally friendly (Armaroli and Vincenzo). Advantages that countries Gain in the Early Adoption of Renewable Energy Countries that are committed to utilization or renewable energy sources gain varied advantages. One of the advantages is the reduction of the emission of greenhouse gas and dependence of non-sustainable resources that cannot be renewed. Greenhouse gas emission has become an economic impact because it contributes to varied problems including the climatic changes and destruction of ecosystem. Clark (34) reveals that ensuring sustainability of renewable energy sources such as reducing greenhouse effect is essential. This is because it improves air quality and reduces the environmental costs. Therefore, investing in renewable energy sources may contribute to an economic boom of the country. This is because of the green wagon of creating the best renewable energy sources while maintaining the economic and environmental cost at the lowest price. The free market should allow producers to utilize alternative sources of energy in order to reduce the exhaustion of oil products. For instance, Canada, Britain and United States of America offer subsidies to oil companies in order to enable them compete favorably with other alternative energy sources. Therefore, the consumer of oil energy fails to determine clear cost between oil and other alternative sources of energy. This becomes challenging for investors to invest in renewable sources but allows companies to utilize alternative energy sources effectively. Secondly, earlier adoption of renewable sources contributes to diversification of energy supply. This leads to increased security in the country and improves the country’s competiveness in creating new industries, employment, increase export and increased economic growth but on the same time reducing the emission of greenhouse effect. The adoption of renewable sources in earlier stage may lead to creation of increased employment in the future; thus accommodating the needs of youths. It will also increase the global competiveness as greener and clean technology industries. Many countries strive to achieve global competiveness of becoming greener technology but most of them have not yet become successful because of high rate of utilizing non-renewable energy sources. Therefore, many European countries have become leaders in renewable energy; thus increasing their global competiveness of being greener technology industries. Although the economic crisis made many investors to be cautious in the energy sector, the European markets relies heavily on renewable energy growth in the private sector. Adoption of early renewable energy sources will reduce the economic and environmental costs contributed by over exhaustion of non- renewable sources. Countries that are committed to utilization of renewable sources have the ability of conserving the environment and avoid the economic cost associated with environmental degradation. United States, Asian and European nations are committed towards consumption of energy while trying to achieve environmental sound and reduction of economic costs associated with environmental consequences. This is crucial because it contributes to economic growth or development of a nation; thus increasing the global competition in the market. Lastly, early adoption or renewable sources will contribute to less dependency on foreign oil reserves. United Nations is one of the nations that heavily depend on renewable sources; hence, they do not rely on other countries for oil reserves. They also have abundant oil reserves that they supply to other countries that have been impacted by oil crisis. This is essential because it enables the country to improve in terms of economic and reduce the economic costs of maintaining a health nation. For instance, the greenhouse effect produces from non-renewable energy sources pose risks to the health of human beings and leads to extinction of ecosystem. Therefore, adopting renewable energy sources at the earlier stage leads to achievement of a sustainable economy. Technical Challenges by Incorporating a Smart Grid for the Distribution and Monitoring Of Electrical Energy Generation The smart greed is the implementation of new technological networks, equipment and control that works together in order respond to the demands of electricity in the 21st century. Although the smart greed is effective, it may pose technical challenges to solar energy, wind energy and hydroelectricity energy. First, the use of smart grid in the solar energy may become costly because of the complex nature of controlling the grid system. The smart grid is only effective during energy and in case other suppliers requires them to be installed on their network. Installing it in a single application is costly especially when everyone is using his or her own solar energy. Secondly, the smart grid may create challenges especially during the integration of hydro electricity used in remote areas. Although smart grid can monitor the consumption of hydroelectric power, sometimes it may create barriers and limit the renewable electricity generation consumption (Gevorkian 132). Lastly, it may impact the end user and consumer will use less fuel but emit a lot of CO2, which may impact the environment. The government may use the smart grid, but the construction and maintenance of smart grid may be costly especially when monitoring energy consumption. For instance, the installations of this smart grid technology to monitor the distribution of wind power may be expensive. This is especially in the distribution of wind turbines; thus, integration may become difficult. Work Cited Armaroli, Nicola, and Vincenzo Balzani. Energy for a Sustainable World: From the Oil Age to a Sun-Powered Future. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH, 2011. Print. Clark, Woodrow W. Sustainable Communities Design Handbook: Green Engineering, Architecture, and Technology. Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2010. Print. Gevorkian, Peter. Large-scale Solar Power Systems: Construction and Economics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Kruger, Paul. Alternative Energy Resources: The Quest for Sustainable Energy. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley, 2006. Print. Nersesian, Roy L. Energy for the 21st Century: A Comprehensive Guide to Conventional and Alternative Sources. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe, 2007. Print. Read More