Essay on Danger of Non-Renewable Fuel to Climate Change

Non-renewable sources of energy are that are involved in draining fossil reserves deposits over hundreds of years. This phenomenon leads to depletion of the affected reserves. There are so many countries in the world that have today recorded a significant reduction of such sources. Such countries are however from the side effects of drilling such reserves of energy from deep underground. Some of the countries that are affected include India and China. The effect of these sources of energy on the environment is demanding (Lazkano, et.al, 2016).

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There are so many countries in the world that are experiencing degradation of non-renewable sources of energy as far as fossil fuels are concerned. This is a clear indication that soon there will be none of these sources left if appropriate measures are not put into consideration. This trend needs to be reversed so as to be able to survive the degradation process which is happening at an alarming pace.

The most abundant source of non-renewable sources of energy is coal. It is mostly found below the surface of the earth. It is also the major source of generation of electricity today. Most of the power stations require huge reserves to coal so as to be able to produce electricity continuously without any break. The steam produced by burning coal contains excessive amount of carbon. When burnt with so as to produce power, it usually mixes up with oxygen in the air thus producing carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases that contribute the largest part in global warming. Usage of coal as well as other fossil fuels has significantly increased since their discovery. The excessive extraction and its usage in the degradation of environment have led to ecological imbalance (Lazkano, et.al, 2016).

Wide usage of oil and its products on the other hand has led to massive pollution. Oil is the major fuel source that vehicles use. As a result of combustion process, very harmful gases such as carbon dioxide are produced and then released to the environment as the oil burns. Oils are also usually transported to the user by either ships or pipeline. It is estimated that each and every day around 19.8 barrels of oil are consumed in US alone. A leakage in ships is a phenomenon that has been severally witnessed. When this occurs, both plants and animals are affected not only inside but also around the sea. Just a few years ago, a ship that was containing oil of British petroleum had an accident that led to leakages. This led to killing of so many fish, whales and other small animals and plants that live in the sea.

Environmental impacts of Hydrokinetic Energy

Large operations are yet to be observed. Some of effects may however be projected. Let take the example of wave installation that requires great expanse on the space of ocean would bring about competition with other sources like shipping and fishing. This causes some damage to aquatic life. Tidal technology and energy are also located at the systems of estuary. This could however cause some damage in salinity and hydrology. As a result of this plant and animal life are adversely affected.

on top of this, even though life cycle for global warming for both tidal and wave emissions are said to preliminary, some of the published researches have it that they would not be higher than 0.06 carbon dioxide pounds that is equivalent to per kilowatt-hour. In an effort to get this into our context estimations of lifecycle emissions of global warming for the natural gas has generated electricity that is around a pound of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour.

Environmental effect of Hydroelectric Power

Lets start by looking at the land use. The reservoir size that may be created as a result of hydroelectric projects may widely vary. This mainly depends on size of the topography of land as well as the size of the generators used. Hydroelectric plants found in areas that are flat uses more land compared to those found in areas that are hilly or those that live in canyons where there is deeper reservoirs that holds more water volumes in a given small space.Flooding of land for the sake of hydroelectric reservoir has great effect on the environment. This is because forests are destroyed, wildlife habitats are as well affected, agricultural land becomes unfertile and there is emergence of scenic lands. In most of these instances, the entire community also has nothing but to be relocated

Wildlife is mostly affected by the reservoirs. This is because they tend to hold water that is usually very stagnant than the normal water in the rivers. This will thus make them to have greater nutrients and sediments which may at the end cumulate excess algae and other types of aquatic weeds. Such weeds may crowd out other animal and plant life. They need be controlled by manual harvesting or by introduction of fish that can feed on them. On top of this, so much water is always lost as a result of evaporation as a much more rate when compared to flowing rivers

Global warming emissions are as well produced at the time of installing and dismantling plants of hydroelectric power. Emissions that are produced at the time of facility operations may on the other turn to be significant. These emissions may be varying greatly depending on the reservoir size as well as the nature of the land being flooded.

Environmental effects of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal power plants may as well be having some effects of both consumption and the quality of life. Hot water that is pumped from the reservoirs underground has got very high level of salt, sulphur and other minerals. most of the geothermal facilities on the other hand have got a closed loop systems of water that are used for extraction of water that is pumped directly back into the geothermal reservoir after being used for either heat or electricity production.In these systems, water is usually contained in steel well casings that are cemented to the rock that is surrounding.

Air emissions present another environmental effect of hydroelectric power. In a situation where closed loop systems are removed from the well and not to be exposed to the atmosphere but to be injected back into the ground after heat has been given up air emissions are minimum. However, in a situation where systems are emitting hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane or even boron, gases such as hydrogen sulfide which as a rotten egg like smell is mostly emitted to the environment.

Once the atmosphere and the hydrogen sulfide mixes, it changes into sulphur dioxide. This therefore plays a part in the formation of small acidic particles which may be absorbed by the bloodstream to even cause lung and heart diseases. Sulphur dioxide also contributes in the formation of acid rain which damages crops, soils and forests. It may also acidify lakes and streams. Some of the geothermal plants are also involved in the production of small mercury amount emissions.

Why we need Sustainable and Clean Sources of Energy

Due to the fact that the world population has increased in its wealth, the demand for energy especially electricity has as well increased. There are four major sources of sustainable electricity resources; wind, solar, biomass and hydro. Sustainability is basically determined by three major parameters; social sustainability, environmental sustainability and economic sustainability.

Environmental Sustainability

This means that the source of the energy has got no effect on the environment. It also means that there is a need for positive energy balance to start with. If devices used in producing renewable energy cost more energy than its production in the long run it cannot be said to be sustainable we are basically a net energy customer. There is a material side of this on the other hand. Mining of coal is not good for the environment. However mining of neodymium as well as other earth metals required for wind turbines is also polluting the environment. In real sense, everything that I got as a result of mining causes pollution. This shows that our ecosystem is interfered with. The only thing we can guess is that in case there is submerging of complete ecosystem through building of hydropower dams is not destructive

Social Sustainability

This is not only complex but also diverse. It mainly involves healthy circumstances for decent wages and workers. However an aspect such as increase of local welfare needs to be included as well. There is also existence of an aspect of overarching on this kind of responsibility. This aspect talks of how people have got only one globe where they can be able to provide adequate food and energy for everyone. This therefore means that by using our planet effectively and efficiently we can be able to cater for future generations.

Economic Sustainability

This type of sustainability is very easy when it comes to measuring. if a given technology is sold without any subsidies, it becomes sustainable. However in most countries in the world, fossil fuels only belong to products that are heavily subsidized.

The simple principle of sustainability has it that everything that people for their well being and survival mainly depends on the natural environment either indirectly or directly. Apart from creating, sustainability is also involved in the maintenance of good conditions under which both nature and humans can exist in productive harmony thus permitting the fulfilment of social, economic and even other requirements of both future and present generations.

Conclusion

It is evident that we have already discovered ways that we can use to tap energy from the sun, water, waves and many other things. These sources of energy produces very small amount of greenhouse gases. They can therefore be termed as clean. They are also renewable since they are used over and over. Solar, water and wind are examples of clean sources of energy.

References

Henley, M. (2005). Island planet: A survival guide for the end of the fossil fuel world. Baltimore: Publish America.

In Pittel, K., In Ploeg, F, & In Withagen, C. (2014).Climate policy and nonrenewable resources: The green paradox and beyond.

Johanson,& Paula. (2009). Making Good Choices About Nonrenewable Resources. Rosen Pub. Group.Lazkano, I., Nostbakken, L., &Pelli, M. (2016).From fossil fuels to renewables: The role of electricity storage. Munich: CESifo, Center for Economic Studies &Ifo Institute.

Verma, A. K., Srividya, A., &Muruva, H. P. (2015).Risk management of non-renewable energy systems.