Pros and cons of Energy

We use non-renewable energy from coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear to produce electricity. We need electricity to power our home, lights, computer, to fuel our cars and all of other conveniences that most of us take for granted. However, scientists agree with the burning of non-renewable energy are releases “greenhouse gas”, which contribute to global warming.

We must find alternative solutions for our energy needs such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass.

Here is a comprehensive list of the pros and cons of energy.

Pros and cons of coal

Coal Pros

Here is a list of the pros of coal

Coal Cons

Here is a list of the cons of coal

High quantity available to use as a fuel for combustion for locomotion and generating electricity. Coal is one of the most plentiful resource in the world.

Relatively cheap due to the large amount of coal available and coal are easy to access.

Large amount of electricity can be produce using coal at low price.

Coal power plants can be built anywhere in the world.

Coal is also very versatile, it can be burn and it can be transformed into liquid or gas.

Produce large amount of pollution, the dirtiest source of electricity comes from coal according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

Coal burning produce acid rain and release carbon dioxide which cause global warming.

Coal burning release toxic gas into the air we breathe, which may lead to health problems, especially for people with respiratory problem and people with asthma.

Coal is nonrenewable, which mean it can run out and cannot be recycle.

High transportation cost for countries with no coal resource.

Mining coal may lead to mining accidents.

Pros and cons of nuclear

Nuclear Pros

Here is a list of the pros of nuclear

Nuclear Cons

Here is a list of the cons of nuclear

One main nuclear benefit is the low amount of carbon dioxide because there is no burning of fossil.

Can produce high amount of electricity in a single nuclear power plant.

Does not need a lot of space to build a nuclear plant.

Nuclear is reliable, less chance of power shortage because of natural disasters.

Possibility of nuclear meltdown. Nuclear radiation fallout cause by a meltdown can contaminate the environment for hundreds of years. Making it unsafe to live.

One major nuclear energy issues is nuclear waste, which is still an unsolved problem.

Waste product produce by nuclear can be used as weapons and bombs.

High cost for nuclear plant and requires constant safeguards.

Require high level of security from terrorist attack.

Require Uranium, which is a very rare resource and may last for about 30 – 60 years.

Nuclear power plant take about 20-30 years of planning to build a single plant and nuclear power plant last about 30 – 60 years..

Pros And Cons Of Oil

Oil Pros

Here is a list of the pros of oil

Oil Cons

Here is a list of the cons of oil

No other energy source can move vehicles with greater speed at longer distances than oil.

Create jobs for the local economy.

Use in cars, convert into electricity, plastics, wax, sulfur, asphalt.

Oil is non-renewable, which mean it will eventually run out.

Burning oil pollute the environment by releasing CO2 and other toxic.

Burning oil releases green house gases, which contribute to global warming.

Oil companies need to build big oil rigs to extract oil offshore and inshore.

Oil leaks may occur which result in environmental disaster by killing wild life, disturbing the biodiversity of that area and it take years for cleanup.

Extracting oil from sand takes a lot of water.

Drilling for oil is unpredictable; it takes a lot of time to search for oil.

It is expensive and dangerous to transport oil.

Pros Cons Wind Energy

Wind Pros

Here is a list of the pros of wind

Wind Cons

Here is a list of the cons of wind

Wind energy is now cost competitive compare to other sources of energy like natural gas.

Harnessing the power of wind and turn it into electricity is the least expensive of all other renewable energy. It is affordable enough for farmers to build their wind farm to earn steady income.

Wind is free; there is wind all over the world. There is endless supply of wind and this mean blackouts and power failures are almost non-existent for people who rely on wind power.

On average, the cost of a wind turbine, the installation and the operation will be paid back within the first 6 months of operation.

New modern wind turbines are design to produce more electricity and are quieter than its predecessors because of the improve blades.

Turning wind into electricity does not output any pollution, no radioactive waste, does not emit toxic into the hemisphere, does not contribute to global warming, and does not need fossil fuel, no need for coal or oil, that mean wind is environmentally friendly.

The use of wind allows us to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy like fossil fuel.

Create new jobs and keep the local economy strong.

Wind energy can provide a stable and long-term power supply.

Some wind power plant rent land from local farmers and that support the local economy.

Many windy locations that are suitable for wind farms are located in remote areas and far away from the electricity demand in the cities. Expensive and long power wires will need to connect the wind turbines to the cities where the electricity from the wind will be use.

Wind turbines have the potential to harm or kill birds and bats, as they cannot see the propellers especially when they are flying at night. However, statistics have shown that other human activities like traffic, hunting, pollution and high-rise buildings killed more wildlife than wind turbines.

Wind turbine install in poor design structures usually breaks apart over time.

Few people consider wind turbines undesirable in appearance because they are very big and tall.

Wind turbines can be damage or destroy in a thunderstorm because wind turbines are tall and made out of steel or metal. The National Lighting Safety Institute concluded that most wind turbines damages were cause by lightening especially in the warmer part of the world.

Wind flow does not always flow the same speed all the time. This mean the production of electricity from wind is never consistent.

Wind turbines can produce sound about 50-60 decibel. The slower the propellers spin the louder the sound.

Pros and cons of Solar Energy

Solar Energy Pros

Here is a list of the pros of solar

Solar Energy Pros

Here is a list of the cons of solar

Solar energy produce by solar panels does not emit any carbon or pollution, smog, acid rain, and it does not contribute to global warming. Solar power is a greener way to help protect the environment. The only pollution solar panels produce is when they are manufacture and the fuel used to transport them.

Solar panels do not make any noise because there are no moving parts and it does not release any gas or smell.

Solar panel can be install in isolated area like the deserts where there are a lot of sunlight. Most often, these isolated areas are not connected to the national grid. For people who live in these isolated areas can take advantage using electricity from solar power.

It is more cost effective to install solar panels in isolated areas than installing high voltage wires to connect with the national grid.

Solar panels can be install in most rooftops and this remove the problem of finding the required space.

Although, solar panel initial cost is very high, however, once solar panels are install they provide free electricity for many years and solar panel will eventually pay for itself many times over.

There are financial incentives available by government. There are government grants for clean renewable energy like solar power. These government grants help reduce the initial cost for installing solar power system.

Using solar panel to produce electricity does not require the burning of fossil fuel, which contribute to global warming. With solar power, the user is less dependent on fossil fuel.

If you use less electricity on your solar power system, you can actually sell and make money by selling your access power back to your utility company.

The solar power system are set up so you can use your solar power when the sun is up and when there is no sun you can switch back to your regular utility or you can use a backup system.

The use of solar panels allows us to reduce the dependence on foreign sources of energy.

Create new jobs and increase the local economies.

Little to no maintenance: Solar power systems are virtually maintenance fee and last for decades.

After the initial installation and upfront cost, there are no recurring payments.

Additional solar panels can be added to an existing solar system at later time.

Solar panels are still very expensive this is because the semi-conducting materials used in building solar panels.

Need the sun to convert the solar cell to electricity. Solar panels cannot work during the night, to solve the problem you may switch back to using your regular utility or have a backup system.

Solar panels take up a lot of space; normally solar panels are place on rooftops or on empty land.

Not all locations are suitable for solar power. Places with little sunlight are not suitable for solar panels.

Biomass Pros Cons

Biomass Pros

Here is a list of the pros of biomass

Biomass Cons

Here is a list of the cons of biomass

Biomass is one source of renewable energy that produces biogas, biofuel, heat and electricity from organic wastes. Biomass energy does not require fossil fuel.

There are always organic wastes available to produce biomass energy, which make biomass accessible.

Some people use biomass to heat their homes and for cooking.

Biomass can be produce locally, which help employ local residents, and that mean it is much more cost effective.

Since biomass can be produce in the local area, there is no or very little need for long pipelines, wires, and transporting biomass.

Gas such as methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide are release during the biomass creation and when using biomass.

The extraction process of biomass is still expensive.

Sorting biomass materials is more expensive than other form of energy such as fossil fuels.

Need huge space to build a biomass plant and it requires a lot of water for breaking down organic wastes.

Biomass has the potential to produce 10 times more energy from the sun or wind, but it still produce toxic gasses that contribute to global warming.

Using biomass still need wood, which mean trees will be needed.

Natural Gas Pros Cons

Natural Gas Pros

Here is a list of the pros of natural gas

Natural Gas Cons

Here is a list of the cons of natural gas

Natural gas burn more cleaner than fossil fuels with 45% less carbon dioxide with coal and 30% less than fossil fuel.

Does not pollute the underground water or pollute the ground when it is burn.

Natural gas is use to heat homes, to generate fire for cooking, run with your hot water heater to produce hot water, and to run different appliances.

People without natural gas pipe in their homes can use small tanks containing natural gas.

Natural gas burn without releasing soot or sulfur dioxide.

Natural gas can also be use as a fuel to run cars, trucks and airplanes. It burns cleaner than diesel and gasoline.

Natural gas can be use to create some plastics, paints, it can produce ammonia for fertilizers and hydrogen.

Natural gas is widely available.

Natural gas is lighter than air, if there is a leak, it is likely that it will dissipate and it is less likely to create an explosion when compare to propane gas that is much heavier than air.

Natural gas is another type of fossil fuel that means it is non-renewable and still releases carbon dioxide (CO2).

Need long pipelines, need big tankers on land and sea for transportations. Need specialized fuel tank in vehicles for transport that carries some safety concerns. The long pipes disrupt the ecosystems.

Natural gas is cleaner than coal and gasoline but it is still releasing carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming.

It can be expensive to use natural gas if your home if not properly insulated.

Some electrical appliances need high voltage which are expensive to install and dangerous.

If there is a leak, it may cause fire or an explosion.

In some areas, methane excess from natural gas is burn into the atmosphere because it is uneconomical to transport to external markets.

When using natural gas in cars or trucks, the mileage from natural gas is lower than gasoline.

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Author: Oil gas coal


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5 thoughts on “Pros and cons of Energy

  1. Love what you did here.I find it very clean and easy to understand.I can see that despite all those disadvantages there is still more advantage from it that most of us take for granted,just like conveniences.Keep up the good post coming!

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