Alternative Sources of Energy
Petroleum, commonly referred to as oil, is the main source of energy for the entire planet, but as it is a finite resource, there exists only so much of it. As a result of its becoming scarce, oil has become a precious commodity that is the source of much competition among nations. In the 21st century the world is frantically searching for alternative sources of energy other than oil and can perhaps turn to either biomass or magnesium as a possible substitute. Biomass is one of the oldest forms of energy and has been used ever since the invention of fire, while the energy potential of magnesium has only recently been discovered. But with some ingenuity and new technologies both of these forms of energy may be a successful alternative to petroleum.
Biomass as a fuel source can be utilized from the combustion of organic material such as "wood products, dried vegetation, crop residues, and aquatic plants." ("Biomass Energy") As plants can be re-grown biomass is a renewable form of energy which comes from the sun and, through the process of photosynthesis, is converted into "complex compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen," called carbohydrates. ("How Biomass Energy Works") The easiest way to generate energy through biomass is to burn it. From the earliest times mankind has burned wood and other biomass fuels in order to make heat. The heat from burning wood can be used for a number of processes from heating water to smelting ore. The most common use of biomass for transportation was the use of wood to fire steam engines which could power anything from trains to ships. More recently, "biomass fired steam power has been used to generate electricity [which] & #8230;can have numerous environmental and air-quality advantages over burning fossil fuels." ("How Biomass Energy Works") But biomass has other uses than just the generation of electricity, it can also be converted into liquid form and used as a fuel for automobiles....
Strip Mining Project Strip mining has long attracted the attention that "fracking" is now due to the proven or at least theoretical environmental impacts and issues that can or definitely arise when the practice is engaged in. Not unlike similar industries like timber, anything that destroys or alters wetlands/marshes, anything that leads to increase erosion and so forth is hotly contested and debated. Even basic things like irrigation of crops can
Alternative Energy Source Alternative energy Alternative energy refers to the energy sources that have no undesired impact and they are renewable since they are generated by fuel sources and they restore themselves over a short period of time and do not diminish and are not derived from fossil fuels. They include solar energy, wind energy, geothermal, biomass, biogas and hydro electric power. These types of energy have a significant potential to reduce
Nuclear Power as a Promising Alternative Fuel for the Future The Nuclear Dilemma (World Nuclear Association) There are a plethora of reasons in which alternative fuels are becoming increasingly desirable as potential power source for everyday consumption in the future. One such reason is that fossil fuels are non-renewable resources that will eventually be exhausted in regards to the feasibility of extracting these resources. It is not necessarily that non-renewable resources will
Environmental Hazards as a Consequence of Crude Oil/Natural Gas Exploration, Transportation, Refining and Storage Ever since crude oil was first successfully drilled in the U.S. In Titusville, Pennsylvania, in 1859, the demand for oil has only been increasing over the years in countries all over the world. (Camden, 1883) Crude oil, from which various petroleum products are obtained, is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon component found trapped in rocks below the
Vertical Farming-Opportunities and Challenges for Singapore There has been much talk surrounding the environmental issues of food production, with many now suggesting the city is the ideal place for growing food to cater for rapidly expanding urban populations. In Singapore, small-scale examples of this are emerging, such as Changi General Hospital and the Tanjong Pagar apartment complex. This dissertation will examine the Vertical Farming movement, and look at the opportunities and
Because of the wide variety of feedstocks ethanol offers great opportunity for economic growth and can help generate jobs outside traditional system. There are many benefits of using ethanol as an alternative fuel. Most importantly the manageability of E85 is far easier than gasoline as it is less volatile. E85 fueling equipment is slightly different but costs almost the same as one used for storing and dispensing petroleum fuels. It
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