Energy Options

Solar Power
Uses infinite (sustainable) solar radiation to produce power for heating water (solar water heaters), heating food (solar cookers, and for electricity generation (Photovoltaic/PV cells). Carbon dioxide is released in the production of the equipment and can be expensive for the consumer. Large areas are required in sunny climates to produce large amounts of electricity (such conditions are often far away from settlements.

Wind Energy
Wind is totally renewable, can be a variety of scales (onshore, offshore or for individual buildings), and locations can be targeted to highland areas with strong winds. Noise pollution is a huge problem for locals and visitors (perfect locations are often in protected areas), they are large and ugly, ruining the landscape and wind is very unpredictable, making the amount of electricity vary greatly.

Biomass
Burning material that is or was recently living is carbon neutral since it releases what it took in during its life. Biofuels produced by fermentation such as methane and alcohols can be an easy process, appropriate for both developed and developing countries. Methane can be collected from landfill sites, reducing the enhanced greenhouse effect Large areas of land are required to produce the biomass, this reduces farmland for food production or destroys habitats such as the rainforest. Biomass then has to be transported and processed, which can involve fossil fuels.

Hydroelectric Power (HEP)

HEP supplies 20% of the worlds electricity and is very efficient once a plant has been built by creating a dam. The volume of water released can be controlled so that it is in line with electricity demand or to control the flow of water, preventing flooding. Building large dams is expensive, releases carbon dioxide and floods huge areas of land, forcing people to move and a habitat to be destroyed. Migratory fish are one of the worst affected groups of organisms. There is also the small chance of a huge flood if the dam fails. 1

Fossil Fuels
The technology that involves using coal, oil or gas to heat water which turns a generator has been used for the longest out of all current energy options and is still cheap and reliable, providing we have the fuel. Natural gas is much cleaner to burn. Energy from fossil fuels is generally accepted as bad for the environment: 1. Some of the gases such as oxides of nitrogen (NOX) can dissolve in water vapour and form acid rain, which can kill plants aquatic organisms, corrode rocks and reduce the nutrient content of the soil. 2. The greenhouse gases released can also contribute to global warming by the enhanced greenhouse effect. This temperature rise could lead to rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events and habitat loss. 3. There are problems associated with mining such as habitat loss and wildlife displacement, contamination of local air and water with particulates. 4. Oil spills from pipes, tankers or during extraction can lead to animals consuming it, suffering reduced movement or by causing hypothermia as feathers and fur reduce the ability to control body temperature. All of these effects will lead to the death of wildlife.

Wave Energy
Waves are always going to happen due to the gravitation pull of the moon and sun, so the turbines should turn regularly. Waves vary in strength, so generation will be inconsistent, the equipment is very expensive and producing and transporting it produces carbon dioxide.

Nuclear
Nuclear power was first exploited in 1956, there are now 439 reactors in 31 different countries around the world, so the technology is well developed and some people believe nuclear provides the solution to our exhaustion of fossil fuels very low amounts of carbon dioxide are produced. The electricity generated is cheap and large amounts of energy can be harnessed from a small number of fuel rods. Nuclear waste is highly radioactive and remains so for thousands of years, so careful storage is required, which is expensive. Accidents such as that at Chernobyl and Fukushima are catastrophic to the surrounding flora and fauna. Decommissioning is very expensive. There are limited amounts of uranium and plutonium, so nuclear power is a non-renewable source of energy.

Tidal Energy
Tides are very regular, so the electricity produced from barrages or turbines under the water is reliable. The equipment production is very expensive and producing it releases carbon dioxide, the barrages can stop the movement of organisms, disrupting ecosystems and turbines can kill aquatic animals.