We have three nonrenewable sources of energy that are commonly used today: oil, natural gas, and coal. We are using these resources faster than they can be replaced. These resources, which come from ancient plants and animals, take millions of years to form. This is why we must find alternative fuel sources. In this paper, I will describe five alternative sources of energy and give the two advantages and disadvantages of each source.
Solar energy has a great many advantages and disadvantages. It is one of the most promising alternatives. The total energy the sun produces each year is about 35,000 times the amount of energy used by man. Also, solar power is virtually inexhaustible and is very good for the environment. However, solar power is not without its disadvantages. It is not cost efficient to set-up. Also, during times of minimal sun exposure you may not gain enough energy to keep your home running.
Another alternative to the fuels most use today is wind power. It is available everywhere, and it never runs out. Also, wind has no thermal discharge so it is very environment-safe. Another pro worth mentioning is that wind power is developed enough to be used en mass. Unfortunately, wind has to be moving at over 7 miles per hour to produce an efficient energy output. It can also be noted that energy production is sporadic and depends only on wind; therefore it is very wild and can't produce reliable energy at all times.
Hydroelectric energy is yet another alternative. It produces no chemical waste pollution, so it is very environment safe. It is also a very easy process to start and stop. However, the construction cost of building dams and other hydroelectric plants are very high. It is also known that the mortality rate from dam accidents is high. There are fewer locations in the world for large dams. Also, dams can cause drastic changes in plants and animals ecosystem. Hydropower is effective in that it produces no life threatening by product.
Geothermal energy is energy generated by heat stored beneath the earth’s surface. It requires no form of combustion, it already exists as heat. It is also much cheaper than nuclear powered plants, and once the plant has been built, there are no fuel costs. Geothermal energy is not without its disadvantages, unfortunately. How long geothermal wells will last is unknown. The effect it produces on the environment is the production of waste water with a high mineral count.
If we utilize the energy of the ocean tides, we can also produce a new method of energy production. After all, %70 of the earth's surface is made up of water, so there is plenty of potential. The larger plants may have the ability to protect coastlines from high storm tides. Unfortunately, tidal plants can only process energy while tides are going in or out. So energy can only be harvested 10 hours a day. It is also worth mentioning that tidal barrages are very expensive to build, and few sites exist that can hold large ones.