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Comparing fossil fuels and renewable energy essay
Impact of using fossil fuels
Impact of using fossil fuels
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Recommended: Comparing fossil fuels and renewable energy essay
Many nations count on coal, oil and natural gas to supply most of their energy needs. Fossil fuels are a finite resource. Fossil fuels also causes air, water and soil pollution and produce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Renewable energy from sources that are replenished as fast as they are used. Examples include energy from the sun, wind, moving water and plants. Wind and solar energy are clean sources of energy that have the potential to make a significant contribution to New Zealand economy. New Zealand is rich in renewable energy resources more than developed countries and much of its energy meets by harnessing the power stored in rivers, lakes and geothermal fields. Nearly a third of the total energy is consumed including electricity, heat and transport fuels comes from renewable sources. (http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/wind-and-solar-power/page-1). The 70% share of renewable energy sources make New Zealand one of the lowest carbon dioxide emitting countries in relation to electricity generation. Electricity demand has grown by an average of 2.1% per year since 1974 and 0.6% from 2005-2011. Despite being slightly above the global range New Zealand has called one of the least energy efficient countries when comparing economic output against electricity consumption. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_New_Zealand).
The New Zealand economy relies on a range of energy types from a variety of imported sources. While the transport section is heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels the electricity sector in particular is heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels, the electricity sector derives its primary energy sources from indigenous sources such as hydro and gas. (http://www.iscr.org.nz/f310, 14...
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...th the regions. Accordingly, we can plan for future capacity on the backbone grid with much greater certainty identifying this now gives us the opportunity to determine strategies which will reduce the cost and footprint of providing this additional capacity and allows us to consider a wide range of technology options for providing this well ahead of critical need dates. The location of generation and steps changes in regional demands may require significant additions to regional connections from the grid backbone. But in these cases the requirement is less certain. Grid capacity expansions at the regional connections are not required in every scenario. Newer technologies for better utilizing the grid such as extracting more capacity from the existing lines or enhancing system performance with the use of demand side management are likely to have added value here.
Semantically fossil fuels are a renewable source of energy, however given that it takes millions of years for the organic materials to be broken down and converted, it is wholly unrealistic to consider them as renewable. As the demand for fossil fuels increases and source diminish faster than they are replentished, the United States must work towards a renewable energy independent state using truly renable sources, both technically and in practice. With changes in the home, as consumers in buying goods and with alternative fuel sources backed by public trust and governmental involvement, the United States could drastically lessen its dependence on fossil fuels, foreign and domestic.
James, Tom, and Peter Fusaro. Energy and Emissions Markets: Collision or Convergence? Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 2006. Print.
The Web. 4 July 2011. Sims, Ralph E. H. et al. “Chapter 4: Energy Supply.” Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007.
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The dependency on fossil fuels is a pressing issue for not only America, but the whole world. People everywhere continue to search for solutions to the growing problem by taking steps to create a cleaner environment, reduce the price of fuel consumers pay and most importantly, protect the nation’s security from foreigners. America, being one of the leading consuming nations of fossil fuels, is negatively affecting the environmental, economic and political aspects pertaining to its dependency on non-renewable resources.
Are Smart Microgrids in Your Future? Exploring Challenges and Opportunities for State Public Utility Regulators
AES Corporation is one of the largest independent producers of electrical power in the world, with an ownership stake in 177 facilities in Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, and the United States. The company supplies more than 59 gigawatts of electricity worldwide to 16 million customers through its electricity distribution network. The company's operations are grouped into four major business segments: Contract Generation; Competitive Supply; Large Utilities; and Growth Distribution.
Over the last two centuries, humanity has become increasingly reliant on fossil fuels. Over that time, the consequences of constantly burning fossil fuels have accumulated into a threat to industrialized cities. The burning of fossil fuels causes acid rain to shower on cities and ecosystems around the world, tormenting their inhabitants. The increasingly deadly pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels has caused the deaths of many people around the world by causing respiratory problems. Not only has the pollution worsened, but the supply of fossil fuels is not limitless – as humanity’s reliance increases the supply decreases, and that is all the more reason to break humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels should be replaced with cleaner alternatives because fossil fuels cause environmental hazards, are non-renewable, and are detrimental to human health.
...tner of this electricity plant. That will definitely decrease our profits and control but it will assure the constant power demand by these industries. Thus we can reduce our external threats through this step. These industrialists will also help financially in our expansion plan and give us better goodwill in the market.
Energy is a daily necessity we take advantage of without fully understanding the consequences of creating it. The electrical energy that we use as consumers comes from power plants that then convert other types of energy to electricity. The most common way this is done is from burning fossil fuels. The only benefits to this method is the low cost and the growing demand for oil, natural gas heating, and other products refined from fossil fuels. The repercussions of this cheap practice is the environmental and physical harm caused by the fumes and other byproducts of using fossil fuels. One main set back of this method is that people may not continue using it forever. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources that have come from millions or years
The United States currently relies heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas for its energy. While the price of natural gas per barrel continues to plummet, the United States is constantly seeking new sources of renewable energy. Renewable energy consists of any type of natural resource (solar power, ocean power, wind power, rain, snow, etc.). that naturally and automatically replenishes itself. Renewable energy is important because it is infinite and everlasting, meaning our children and our children’s children will be able to utilize these resources long after we are gone.
Dilley, L.; Earle, J.; Keats, G.; Nxele, A.A. & Ravenscroft, G. (2012) Non-conventional energy sources. Focus Geography Grade 11. 4th edition. Cape Town, South Africa. Maskew Miller Longman. pp. 274-277, p. 280
In chapter thirteen of our book, Environment by Raven and Berg, it shows us just how important renewable energy sources are. Currently the United States of America thrives on the use of fossil fuels and nuclear power. The main problems with these types of fuel are that they are both limited and can be extremely harmful to our environment. They cause global warming, air pollution, acid rain, and oil spills (Environment), and not only that, but in the grand scheme of things, these sources really aren’t even that cheap of a fuel source. There are many alternatives to these all but outdated fuel sources.
Fossil fuels are “highly combustible substances formed from the remains of organisms from geologic ages” (327, Withgott, Laposata). When it comes to fossil fuels there are three major types: coal, natural gas, and oil (328, Withgott, Laposata). With fossil fuels you need to know how they are formed, where deposits are, how to extract the resources, and finally how society uses them. Knowing these things will give people a better understanding on the impact of fossil fuels.
middle of paper ... ... g the Energy Revolution." Foreign Affairs. Nov/Dec 2010: 111. SIRS Issues Researcher.