An Evaluation of Fossil Fuel and Hybrid Energies as Alternative Fuel - Term Paper Example

? This paper deals with an evaluation of fossil fuels and hybrid energies as alternate fuels, and a comparison between the two energy forms.The supply of abundant, clean, and affordable energy is paramount for the development and industrialization of society, and it is for this purpose that effort needs to be made to research alternate sources of clean and limitless energy so that it can cater to the growing demands of the expanding population. The paper focuses on the affordability, relevance, and development of the hybrid energies, by employing the technique of compare and contrast with the established and traditional forms of fossil fuel energies. It also takes into account the impact of these energy forms on the environment, including human health, to determine which form of energy is the most viable. It concludes by recommending an amalgamation of the two energy forms, and increased development of the hybrid energy sources, so that an endless supply of cheap and clean energy can be provided. Harris Kamran Environmental Studies Research Paper 11 August 2011 An evaluation of fossil fuels and hybrid energies as alternate fuel Background: The availability of abundant, cheap, and clean energy is a prerequisite for the advancement and progress of any country, both in terms of technology and society (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009). This means that energy supplies make the bedrock of development. The most commonly used forms of energy come from the traditional sources, which are termed fossil fuels due to the process of their development; these fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas (Glaser, 1968), and originate from the fossilized remains of plants and animals. Hence, they are organic in nature, and widely available around the world (Glaser, 1968), since their availability does not depend upon artificially generated raw materials or rare minerals. These fuels have been widely used all over the world for energy production, not only because of their rampant availability, but also because of their cheap production costs and low cost of the yield (Glaser, 1968). However, the produce is often not well-refined, or even if it is refined, it is not entirely clean, so that these forms of energy are associated with phenomena such as greenhouse gases and global warming (Glaser, 1968). Owing to their organic composition, these fuels give off copious amounts of carbon, sulfur, and other chemicals when burned, leasing not only to the destruction of the ozone layer (Glaser, 1968), but also to human medical conditions and the destruction of ecosystems (Keatinge & Donaldson, 2004). These threats to the well-being of the geo-sphere at large have resulted in a concern about their continued and increased used by the growing population (Glaser, 1968), and experts have expressed doubt about the safety and practicality of these fuels in the present day society (Glaser, 1968). Another issue is the limited, albeit abundant, supply of these fuels, which is threatened to run out anytime in the future (Glaser, 1968). Due to these reasons, there is an increased research into hybrid forms of energy as alternate energy sources. These energy sources include, but are not limited to, solar power, hydropower, hydrogen fuel cells, techniques such as MED, MSF, and Reverse Osmosis, wind energy, tidal energy, biofuel, and other techniques that offer a relatively clean and unlimited supply of energy (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009). This paper purports to discuss some of these alternate energy sources, especially as they compare to the traditional fossil fuels, to determine the worth and value of these hybrid energy sources in the mainstream market and their application both industrially and domestically. It begins with by presenting the advantages and disadvantages of both energy forms, discussing the infrastructure and policies of the government with regard to the development of these energy forms, a comparison of the impact on the environment of these energies, both the traditional and hybrid forms, comparison and discussion of the production and costs of these energies, and ends with a conclusion and recommendations about the employment of hybrid energies as alternate energy sources. Advantages and disadvantages: The conventional fossil fuels have both advantages and disadvantages over the more advanced and non-conventional alternative energy sources. Similarly, the alternate hybrid energies have both pros and cons related to their design and mass production. This section focuses on a comparison between the two forms of energies by comparing their values and relevance in today’s society. The fossil fuels have been used for centuries owing to their poignant benefits over the other forms of energies (Glaser, 1968). The most important of all is their easy availability (Glaser, 1968). It is true for all the three kinds of fossil fuels; coal, oil, and natural gas (Glaser, 1968). Out of these three types, coal has been used the most widely and is still in demand today, mostly because of the ease of access to this energy (Glaser, 1968). It should be noted here that the localization and extraction of the fuel form may not be low-cost and easy in itself, but in relative terms, that is, when compared to the extraction of other fuel forms, and hybrid energies. The mining and refining of coal does not require very sophisticated machinery or technical knowledge, and this provides it with an edge over the extraction of especially the hybrid energies which oftentimes involves intense training and expertise (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009). Another advantage is the close association of the fossil fuel with each other in terms of location and extraction procedures, so that they can often be extracted from the same or closely-spaced sites and by the same plants or the same technology (Glaser, 1968), making the overall production of the fuels very cost-effective (Agha, Wahab, & Mansouri, n.d.). Another major advantage is the abundant supply and stores of the fossil fuels around the world; even today, the fossil fuels provide 80% of our energy needs (Muradov, 2001). This is testament to the importance of fossil fuels as a bedrock of the industrialized and developing societies. Again, coal takes the lead in providing the most energy needs of the world, at 75% worldwide in 1910 (Glaser, 1968), and in 1960s, oil and gas accounting for 65% of the energy needs (Glaser, 1968). The same is true of the hybrid energies, like solar power and hydro-power. In fact, in this regard, the hybrid energies supercede the fossil fuels in that they have a potentially limitless supply, where as the fossil fuels, although in abundant stores yet, are nevertheless, exhaustible (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009). This is the most pressing issue when it comes to exploring other means of energy production and developing alternative energy sources. The global population is expanding at an exponential rate; it is estimated that in the coming years, Africa will experience a 50% increase in its population (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009), and Asia a 25% increase (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009). This increase in the statistics will coincide with an increase in the demand and consumption of energy worldwide (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009). The fossil fuel stories, although sufficient temporarily to meet the demands globally, are likely to be depleted with an increase in production (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009), forcing the scientists and researchers to look for other means of energy generation. It is calculated that the threat to the adequate availability of these fuels would occur when the present day stores would fall by a percentage of ten (Glaser, 1968); that is, there would be a 10% decrease in the supply of fuels, especially, coal (Glaser, 1968). Another major disadvantage of using fossil fuels is their impact on the environment in terms of increased global warming and pollution (Glaser, 1968). Unrefined fuels such as coal and petroleum give of gases such as sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide which are not only damaging to the environment, but also pose a health hazard (Glaser, 1968). The growing concern for the environment in the recent years due to a rapid increase in the generation of green house gases owing to the spread of industrialization and technology has led to a global dislike of the use of the fossil fuels (Glaser, 1968), and a concern over their contribution to the worsening condition of the ozone layer (Glaser, 1968). As already mentioned, apart from the threat to the environment, the unmonitored use of these fuels can have health risks like lung cancer, throat cancer, skin and eye diseases (Keatinge & Donaldson, 2004), and other medical conditions owing to the chemicals that they release into the air (Keatinge & Donaldson, 2004). On the other hand, the alternate energy sources are termed as clean energy because they have the advantage of almost a zero negative impact on the environment (Our Energy, 2010). This is due to the method of production and the type of extraction that these energies require, which lead to almost no production of green house gases (Solar Thermal Energy, 2008). It is important to note that most of the alternate energy sources are utilized to generate electricity (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009), which is subsequently used for the various industrial and domestic processes. Very few of the hybrid energies have the flexibility to be used directly in energy-consuming processes (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009). Indeed, this makes them clean as the use of electricity in itself does not produce any side effects on the environment (Glaser, 1968). However, it does limit the use and application of the hybrid energies (Agha, Wahab, & Mansouri, n.d.), in that entirely new engines and set ups would have to be designed which would be based on electricity, whereas the traditional fossil fuels, having the capability to be used per se, present a more varied and multi-faceted application both industrially and domestically (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009). Infrastructure: the government policies and the demand in the industry for the hybrid fuels are two essential components in determining the use and success of these energy forms in the mainstream industry, and it is only when they can be commercially accepted and harnessed that they can truly succeed in being alternate to the traditional fossil fuels. Let us examine the industry demand by studying one industry in particular, the automobile industry. The automobile industry is always on the look out for cheaper alternatives, and ones that preferably also create less pollution. This is because of the ever-increasing inflation in the price of oil and gasoline, and the tremendous amounts of greenhouse gases that these conventional fuels add to the environment (Bogo, 2008). The most promising alternative that can be expected to fully mature in the next five years and infiltrate the consumer market is that of biofuels such as ethanol; indeed, in 2007, the U.S. produced “6.5 billion gal. of ethanol and 250 million gal. of biodiesel” (Bogo, 2008). Another technology which is certainly being considered is that of fuel-cells, such as hydrogen cells; however, this technology is still in its initial stages and is less likely to compete with biofuels as a popular alternative energy in the automobile sector_ the annual sales are of only 800,000 units (Stern, 2009). The government of the United States has passed many laws and acts to facilitate the development, harness, utilization, and advancement of alternative energy fuels, especially in regard to the automobile industry. If the technology is sufficiently developed, there should be no problem as to its functioning in the country. These acts include, but are not limited to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, and others (U.S. Department of Energy, 2011). The discussion of these acts individually is beyond the scope of this paper; suffice it to say, that the policy framework and foundation for the development of alternative energy sources is ripe, and in full accordance with the development of these sources themselves. Impact on the environment: the growing concern for the environment in the recent years has resulted in doubtful views from the experts about the continued use of the traditional fossil fuels (Glaser, 1968). And since this use of the fuels is expected to rise in the coming years, it is felt that there is an urgent need to explore alternate means of energy generation, ones that would pose the minimum threat to the environment and the health of the people (Glaser, 1968). The impact on the environment can be studied in terms of the amount of green house gases emitted by the use of the fuels (Glaser, 1968), and their carbon skeleton (Postnote, 2006). These statistics, however, need to be balanced against the cost of production for the various types of fuels, and the cost effectiveness and efficiency of these fuels both in harnessing these energies and in their large-scale mass production (Agha, Wahab, & Mansouri, n.d.). A compromise often has to be made as fossil fuels, although having a high negative impact on the environment (Postnote, 2006), have very low production costs (Solar Thermal Energy, 2008). The most striking feature of hydropower is its very low negative impact on the environment, especially of the small hydropower plants (Our Energy, 2010). This is because the large-scale plants, although producing no waste products like gases and fumes, effect the surrounding ecology by disrupting the ecosystem and laying a waste to the soil in terms of agriculture (Our Energy, 2010). Hence, of late, the small-scale power plants, which can be set up on local water supply pipelines and, therefore, not radically shifting the ecosystem, are preferred (Our Energy, 2010). Another near-zero negative impact hybrid energy comes from the solar thermal technology (Solar Thermal Energy, 2008). This is the most favored form of the hybrid energies, and is increasingly becoming cheaper than the conventional fuels to both harness and maintain (Solar Thermal Energy, 2008). The point focus form of this technology is much more efficient than the other forms, almost double the efficiency (Solar Thermal Energy, 2008). This means that to produce the same amount of energy, it will have the least negative balance on the environment. The highest negative balance on the environment comes from the burning of fossil fuels (Postnote, 2006). Even from among these traditional fuels, coal has the highest carbon footprint, reaching to a level of more than 1,000 gCO2eq/kWh (Postnote, 2006). However, another interesting fact has still kept the coal burning in practice; its lowest cost of production from among all the known energy sources, be they conventional or alternative (Solar Thermal Energy, 2008). Whichever factor wins shall determine the future of energy fuels. Another drawback of the use of fossil fuels is the impact they have on the health of individuals (Keatinge & Donaldson, 2004). This is due to the fact that the majority of the fossil fuels, especially in their unrefined state, release harmful chemicals and gases into the environment which have adverse effects on the health of the people (Glaser, 1968). Some of these chemicals include sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, heavy metals such as lead and mercury (Glaser, 1968), and carcinogenic chemicals such as asbestos and soot (Keatinge & Donaldson, 2004). The health problems arising as a result of inhaling these chemicals include skin and eye problems such as cataract and skin cancer, throat and lung cancer, and liver cirrhosis (Keatinge & Donaldson, 2004). These chemicals tend to mix in the rain water to form acid rain, which, apart from destroying building facades and stonework, causes leeching of metals such as aluminum into lakes and ponds, resulting in clogging of the gills of fish and other marine life, destroying the ecosystems (Keatinge & Donaldson, 2004). So, the chemicals released from these fuels not only effect the ozone layer and human health, but also have negative effects on animal and plant ecology. Production and cost comparison: one of the most important parameters that need to be studied is the cost of production, the production capability, and the cost of running and maintaining the plants for both the fossil fuels and the hybrid energies. This is important because the economy of these systems oftentimes determine which of the types of energies would be harnessed in a particular geographical area, depending upon the economic state of the country that is employing that particular energy type (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009). To this end, a comparison should be made between the production ability and cost of the fossil fuels and the alternate energies. The alternate energy sources are quite developed in areas that enjoy an abundant water supply, be it in the form of fresh water or long beaches along the sea, and in areas where there is abundant solar energy available for the production of thermal electricity through techniques such as MED and MSF. Such countries and geographical areas include the Middle East and North Africa (Agha, Wahab, & Mansouri, n.d.) which have access to abundant sea water, so they can extract energy through the systems of Reverse Osmosis (Agha, Wahab, & Mansouri, n.d.). Other than the reverse osmosis technoique, the technique of MED has been employed in Takashima Island, Japan, Black Sea in Bulgaria, and the Plataforma Solar de Almeria in Spain (Autonomous desalination, 2005). These particular areas have the benefit of abundant thermal energy exposure and development, through which they can produce electricity or use thermal energy directly for desalinating purposes (Autonomous desalination, 2005). The cost of production can be divided into several categories, such as the start up cost, the maintenance cost, the cost of raw material and machinery, and the cost of treatment, running the plant, and refining the produce. All these costs need to be calculated in order to produce a viable, affordable, and efficient energy alternative. The start up cost is often less for the fossil fuels (Our Energy, 2010), as they do not require the use of sophisticated machinery, intricate technical knowledge and expertise to extract the energy (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009). However, the negative impact on the environment (Solar Thermal Energy, 2008) and the costs of running the plant and refining the produce are high, and so in the long haul, these energy sources can be expensive (Our Energy, 2010). Also, those techniques that can directly employ the thermal energy or hydropower to produce yield are relatively cheaper than those techniques in which the thermal energy or hydropower first needs to be converted into electricity before it can be applied or utilized (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009). This is because the cost of conversion is high (Eltawil, Zhengming, & Yuan, 2009), and it also reduces the efficiency of the system (Agha, Wahab, & Mansouri, n.d.) so that more raw material is required to produce the same amount of yield that the other systems produce with less raw material. Conclusion: The paper has aimed at discussing the pros and cons of both the fossil fuels and the hybrid energies in order to establish which of the energy forms is viable for use in the developing and growing society of today. It started by presenting a background to the energy forms, and pointing out the major forms of hybrid energy in use today. It then proceeded to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both the energy types, a discussion of the current infrastructure and policies of the government regarding the production and utilization of hybrid energies, a comparison of the impact that these energies have on the environment, human health, and ecosystem at large, and the production and costs of these energy forms to determine the most cost effective, efficient, affordable, and clean energy source. It is safe to conclude that in the growing present day society, with population, industrialization, and development booms, the mere use of fossil fuels is not sufficient to cater to the growing needs of the people, nor is it deemed safe and environmental-friendly anymore (Glaser, 1968). There is a growing concern about the well-being of the planet, and the fossil fuel pose serious threats to the ecosystem. Also, their limited nature means that with the increase in population, they would face depletion (Glaser, 1968), and alternate energy sources would have to be harnessed in order to cater to the energy demands of the society. It should be stressed that the aim of the discussion is not to conclude that there be a radical shift from the traditional energy sources to the hybrid energy forms altogether, rather that both the forms of energy should be used to supplement each other so that a relatively clean, abundant, and limitless supply of energy can be provided. References (2005). Autonomous Desalination Unites Using RES. ADU-RES, 1-324. (2006, October). Postnote: carbon footprint of electricity generation. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn268.pdf (2008). Solar thermal energy: an industry report. Retrieved from http://www.solar- thermal.com/solar-thermal.pdf (2010, September 26). Our energy: small hydro (small hydroelectric). 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