Range of Energy resources
Both Renewable and Non-renewable resources can generate energy. But we can clearly see that renewable resources are more sustainable because there's no depletion of natural capital such as solar power hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass and tidal schemes. Which is opposite for non-renewable resources that cannot be replenish such as fossil fuels .
But according to worldwide energy consumption chart in 2004 we can see that most of the people use non-renewable resources much more than renewable resources because it's cheaper and doesn't require much process .
Advantages and disadvantages of energy sources
Fossil Fuels are the energy resources that is formed when dead animals or plants decompose ,the process takes more than thousand years.
- Gas and oil are made from oceanic organisms .
- Coal is from land plants (mainly from trees growing during the Carboniferous Period).
- Fossil are made from the dead preserved dead organisms
These energy sources contain alot of carbon from under the water which when the energy are used up it will release quite amount of carbon.
Fossil Fuels
- Cheap and plentiful but it contribute climate change and unsustainable.
- There are technologies controlling pollution from the fuels but it's getting more difficult to extract the fuels
- Oil can be delivered over long distant by pipeline but oil spilling is very dangerous for nature ecosystem and living organisms
Nuclear Power
- Nuclear power plant produces radioactive waste that can last for thousands of years but does not produce carbon dioxide or the cause of climate change
- A large amount of energy can be generated in a single power plant but it is extremely dangerous if something unexpected happens to the power plant such as terrorist attack .
Advantages and disadvantages of renewables
- Fossil fuels are cheaper
- The locations of renewable resources are limited
- Cannot run out because the resources are renewable
- Produce fewer emissions
Hydroelectric power
The turbines can be switched on whenever it’s needed — it’s reliable.
The disadvantages of HEP is that many areas may be flooded (habitats, farmland and displacement of people).
Tidal power
It produces energy by using the ebbing or flooding tide to turn turbines.
Disadvantages of tidal power
It required to generate sufficient energy and the right shape of coastline to channel water through the turbines.
Solar energy
It’s very expensive to turn into high quality energy for manufacturing (compared to using fossil fuels).
Passive solar energy (combine with insulation) is cheaper for heating homes than fossil fuels.
The disadvantage is that it’s limited in northern countries during winter months.
Wind power
Produced by wind turbines.
The disadvantage is that if there’s no wind, no energy is generated.
The location of the turbines is hard, it need to be in areas of consistent high wind.
Biofuel
Biofuel energy is produced by burning plant material to produce heat.
Disadvantages of biofuel is that it produces emissions and require large amounts of land to grow the biofuel crop.
Wastes
It can be burned to generate energy.
Advantages of wastes
It’s available at all times and it does not deplete natural capital.
Disadvantages of wastes
The burning adds to global warming gases.
Geothermal energy
Can be obtained from heat in the ground.
It does not release any form of pollution.
