The issue about the availability of new and sustainable sources of energy have been under discussion for a long time. The current sources of energy are posing a significant danger to both human beings and the environment as they cause a lot of pollution which has adverse effects on climate. Countries have come together to set energy policies in an effort of curbing the detrimental global climate change and provision of alternative sources of energy, but the struggles are yet to bear fruits (Acar & Dincer, 2014). The purpose of this essay is to analyze renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy and see where the direction the world is currently heading in terms of energy issues.
Nonrenewable sources of energy cannot be replaced quickly thus making them unreliable. That is because they do not get replenished by the environment over durations of time as compared to the latter. This type of energy sources is available in different forms according to the kind of work they get used in and also their intended purpose. There are many types of nonrenewable sources of energy in the world, and they come in different forms. Currently, nonrenewable sources get used more in the world as compared to renewables. Research shows that these type of energy sources do not last for long and also take a very long duration of time to replenish. The leading producer of non-renewables is fossil fuels. They came about as a result of the decaying of marine creatures that took place millions of years ago due to excessive heat and pressure. Fossil fuels get burned to produce energy and at times electricity. The primary fossil fuels include coal, petroleum and natural gas. The main chemical of these fuels is carbon, and it is known as the worlds biggest climate polluter when released into the air. They have both advantages and disadvantages. Fossil fuels can be stored and transported anywhere thus their widespread use. The second type of nonrenewable fuel is coal. Countries like the United States use coal to produce over half of their energy.
Below are renewable sources of energy that may replace the nonrenewable sources in the future if policies and awareness get done appropriately. The issue of sustainability helps in pushing this effort in the right direction as people, industries, and other uses require sources of energy that they can depend on for an extended period. Renewable sources encompass resources that replenish themselves or get replenished by the environment thus making them inexhaustible. Their replenishment occurs over short periods of times thus ensuring their availability when needed. They are the most preferred sources of energy as the cycle provides that the resources renew before the old get used up (Pao H & Fu, 2013). There are different renewable sources available for use, and all that is required is setting up the appropriate materials to harness them. The most common renewable sources of energy are solar energy, animals, plants, liquid water, geothermal power, and biofuels. Biofuels are sources of energy made available by the decomposition of living organisms. Ethanol is a good example which is a biofuel extracted from corn. Bio-fuels are made from different materials such as cow dung, plants waste, and human waste and other renewable materials. The advantage of biofuels is their efficiency and the simple setups required to produce them.
The most common bio-fuel product is biogas. It is attained from the decomposition of waste materials and other things on specially constructed structures and help in providing energy for both cooking and lighting. Biofuels have helped much middle income and poor people by providing a cheap source of renewable energy. Many countries are also harnessing geothermal power which is also a renewable that gives heat derived from the earth. Most places around the world have geothermal power due to the cracking of the earths crust allowing heat to escape. It is one of the most used sources of energy currently as world shifts from non-renewable to renewable sources (Dincer, 2000). The third source of energy is the harnessing of solar power as well as wind energy. As we all know, the sun shines all the time in some areas. Others experience a lot of windy weather appropriate for production of wind energy through the use wind-powered turbines.
The adoption of renewable sources of energy over the nonrenewable depends on some crucial factors. The first and most useful is the formulation of energy policies with the aim of encouraging countries and people to harness the energy. Secondly, the people need primary education on the dangers and downfalls of depending on nonrenewable sources. That is a worthy cause as energy issues, and global warming affects all of us. We must avert the danger we are putting ourselves. The principal investors in this sectors are the industries, policymakers, concerned citizens, research corporations and many more. Furthermore, adoption of renewable energy sources cost friendly as they availed to us by the environment and people enjoy significant benefits of such changes.
References
Acar, C., & Dincer, (2014). Comparative assessment of hydrogen production methods fromrenewable and non-renewable sources. International journal of hydrogen energy, 39(1),1-12.
Dincer, (2000). Renewable energy and sustainable development: a critical review. Renewableand Sustainable Energy Reviews, 4(2), 157-175.
Pao, H. T., & Fu, (2013). Renewable energy, non-renewable energy and economic growthin Brazil. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 25, 381-392.
Request Removal
If you are the original author of this essay and no longer wish to have it published on the customtermpaperwriting.org website, please click below to request its removal:
