Renewable Energy Consumption in the Future - Research Paper Example

Renewable Energy Consumption in the Future Energy runs the world. Through it we cook the food we eat, power the electronic devices that run our houses, runs trains, operates airports, powers computers, among others. However, the growing population density on this planet is depleting that the resources that produce energy. The United Nations said that there are currently 7 billion people in the world (Roberts, 2011). These 7 billion consumes energy through fossil fuels, nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power plants (Walsh, 2010). The main challenge we are faced with is the sustainability of these energy sources and the effect they have on the environment. At current consumption rates, we are left with 200 years of coal, 40 years of oil and 60 years of gas. Fossil fuels, Nuclear and hydroelectric power plants also pose a danger to the environment (Hargreaves, 2011). If we are to address the issue of global warming, brought about through carbon emissions, then we will have to use the right energy sources, and dispose of the waste produced in our day to day lives in an effective manner. The use of solar panels is leading renewable alternative energy source used globally. Solar panels work by harnessing the radiation from the sun and converting it to electricity. Its main advantage is the abundant availability of the sun’s rays, and wide spread accessibility across the globe. But supply can be variable and intermittent, depending on weather conditions and time frames. These factors would probably underscore why the uptake of solar panels has not been as wide spread as would be expected. According to the Pew Center on Global Climate change (2010), solar power only produces one percent of the energy requirement of the whole world in 2008. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (2010), Americans generated approximately 2.3 million tons of waste, in the year 2009. 53% of that waste was dumped, 33.8% recycled and 11.9% burned. This would seem to indicate that only a small portion of waste actually gets recycled. According to the grass roots recycling network (grrn.org), many of the products that we think are recycled are actually “down cycled”. For example, newspapers are turned into low value products like insulation material and cow bedding. The problem with this type of waste management system is that it leads to the continual degradation of the environment, and depletion of natural resources, likes forests. A huge part of waste is constituted by paper products, and if we are not careful how we source for more paper materials, we could end up cutting more trees, and thus further compounding the green house effect. The best way to achieve the reduction of carbon emissions is by looking for better and more sustainable renewable energy sources and by utilizing better recycling methods. Enhanced Geothermal Systems This system generates electricity by harnessing the heat naturally generated by the earth (Blodgett & Slack, 2009). To accomplish this, you need to dig into a rock located in a cold area. The fractured network is then improved to make a basin into which supplementary wells are going be pierced in. Chilly H2O is then squirted towards the wells, through the fractured network, gripping the warm temperature from the rock as flows into the rock. The end result is, steam is captured from the resurfacing water, which is then used to power steam turbines. Afterwards, it is then redirected to the fractured network to repeat the whole cycle again. This method of power generation produces zero carbon emissions and is currently in use at Copper Basin in Australia. Smart Grids A Smart Grid is a “computerized” electricity grid. It involves adding two way digital communication technology devices to an electricity grid (Williams et al, 2007). Each electronic device on the network can gather data, through sensors, plus two-way digital communication between the field and the utility’s network operation centre. This connectivity can then allow the operator to adjust and control each individual device. The design of these grids will also accommodate the integration of alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power. The targeted end result is to achieve an electricity grid that will make the consumption and distribution of electricity more cost efficient and effective, thus lowering carbon emissions. A report done by the International Energy Agency indicates that more than $16 trillion will spent, between the years 2003 to 2030 (2010), to develop and install smart grids . Carbon Capture and Storage This process is achieved through a process called Carbon Sequestration, which involves the deliberate removal and storage of carbon in a sink (storage place). According to the International Energy Authority, Carbon Sequestration could account for a third of the carbon emission reductions needed by 2050. This technology is already in use at the Spremberg plant in Germany and as a result, the carbon emissions in this plant are said to be 90% less than those of traditional power plants (Tharakan, 2010). Nuclear Fission Power According to hiper-laser.org, nuclear fission is when Deuterium and Tritium (hydrogen isotopes), stick with each other which, in turn, creates Helium. Helium is an energetic substance named neutron. When this neutron is captured, it can be used to heat water and thus drive steam turbines. The main advantages of using this system is, energy sources used for this type of fission are abundant, it does not produce any carbon emissions, no long-lived radioactivity and its is totally safe to operate, as compared to traditional nuclear plants. Extended Producer Responsibility OECD (2008) explains that this concept is about a policy method in which a manufacturer’s obligation for a service or product goes beyond the purchase. This approach shifts responsibility for waste management upwards going to the maker, and away from municipalities. It also incorporates incentive programs to motivate the manufacturers and designers to consider the environment when making their products. This policy aims at reducing waste management costs, reduce the depletion of natural resources, and enhance product reusability and recyclability. References EIA Energy Information Administration, (2010). Renewable Energy Consumption and Electricity Preliminary 2009 Statistics, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Washington: EIA Hargreaves, S. (2011) Global Energy Use to Jump 53 %, Money CNN, [online] Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/19/markets/global_energy_use/index.htm [Accessed] November 8, 2011 Blodgett, Leslie, and Kara Slack, (2009). Geothermal 101: Basics of Geothermal Energy Production and Use. Washington: Geothermal Energy Association. OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development). 2008. OECD Environment Outlook to 2030. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Roberts, S., (2011). U.N. Says 7 Billion Now Share the World, NY Times, 43(12), pp14 Tharakan, P., (2010). Carbon Capture & Storage S.E. Asia, New York: Asian Development Bank United States Environmental Protection Agency (2010). Municipal Solid Waste In The United States: 2009 Facts And Figures, Washington: Office of Solid Waste Walsh, B. (2010). A New Clean Economy — With Old Sources of Energy, Time Magazine, 3(17), pp32 Williams, E., Lotstein, R., Galik, C. & Knuffman, H. (2007). A Convenient Guide to Climate Change Policy and Technology. Read More