Hitomi Satyanegara
In today's world, electricity is seen as a valuable commodity in spots around the globe. It plays an essential role in our everyday lives, from powering homes to our tiny devices -- essentially electricity makes the world turn. Put simply, the process of producing electricity revolves around the heating of water to produce steam, which in turn rotates a turbine. The rotational energy from the turbine is then converted into electricity in a generator,. There are different ways of heating the water, but a major method is through the burning of coal. The combustion of coal, while efficient, causes a myriad of problems, namely environmental ones. To power the Earth into the future, clean energy sources must be considered, in order to maintain the longevity of the environment in the planet. Two strong candidates to fill this role would be solar energy and nuclear energy, both of which are relatively clean sources, are efficient and also continuously being developed by researchers. Given more resources are invested towards the expansion of these energy sources, both nuclear and solar energy could be potentially become major energy sources in the future.
Coal energy is our current main source of electricity. It is a non-renewable energy, because the fossil fuels that enable the use of coal, are limited, and take years to form. Its uses are usually to produce electricity to power industrial or manufacturing plants, and even our own homes. Coal energy is used because it is an affordable and abundant source of energy, however this doesn’t mean it is impossible for it to run out. There are many advantages and disadvantages to coal usage. The advantages of using coal include its price stability, as aforementioned, its relative abundance and its high energy capacity upon combustion. Its disadvantages are more plentiful -- combusting coal produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which contribute to global warming and climate change. Even though we depend on this source of energy the most, it does not mean that it is the best for our environment. As it is non-renewable, it will run out one day, which makes it hard for all of us once that day comes. At the current rate of fossil fuel consumption, the availability of coal is depleting very quickly, putting many jobs in danger -- from coal miners, to CEOs of oil companies.
There has been a lot of discussions covering the topic of solar energy as it seems to have a lot of benefits, as well as disadvantages that may come with it once people have decided to apply it as their source of energy. Generally It is a renewable energy source that comes from the light and heat of the sun which is harnessed by using advanced technologies that allow it to power our electricity or even generate heat. This is one of the widely discussed alternative energy sources to the combustion of coal, mainly because of its potential environmental benefits. One of its advantages is that it is available virtually everywhere, which means it can be used all over the world and that it would be very unlikely for it to run out, because the sun is always present. Another advantage would be reducing electricity bills, since we would be depending on the solar system. Instead of expending finances, you would in fact be receiving payments for certain surplus energy that would be exported back to the grid; this benefits you and those who need that energy. The maintenance needs aren't extensive either, aside from keeping it clean. Solar energy can even reach rural communities, especially those that or even heat, and it can reach out to areas that lack access to an energy grid. Therefore, electricity can become more accessible, if our future societies choose to invest in solar-powered systems. Alongside all those benefits, there are cons too. For instance, on areas that have cloudy or rainy weather conditions, the costs of operating solar energy may become quite expensive, and inefficient. The space it consumes is considerably large as well, so for those with small living spaces, solar equipment may prove to be uncomfortable device. Although it produces less pollution and greenhouse gases, It is also worth considering, that this technology may lead to the emission of toxic materials into the environment.
Currently, nuclear energy accounts for around 14% of the electricity production worldwide and is steadily rising because of the cleanliness of nuclear power plants. Nuclear power plants produce energy by heating water through nuclear fission from the uranium fuel. In the process of fission where uranium atoms are split after being hit with a neutron, this fission produces energy and causes the system to heat up. Heating water to produce steam which will rotate a turbine, produces rotational energy, which is subsequently converted into electricity in a generator. The main advantages of using nuclear energy are its efficiency and sustainable nature-- the technology produces little to no carbon emissions, thereby it may help to lower greenhouse gas emissions. However, the uranium waste left over from the production of energy is highly radioactive and requires special care in order to be safely stored, as its remnants will remain to be radioactive for centuries. Another point to be made is that uranium-235 is the fuel used to generate electricity. However, it is a rare isotope, and needs to be enriched from the more common uranium-238, adding to the cost and complexity of using nuclear fuel. On a more optimistic note though, scientists are currently investigating on an alternative nuclear energy source, thorium, which is less radioactive, more common and more efficient compared to uranium fuel. Developments in the research on thorium may expand the use of nuclear fuel in the future for a better means of energy production.
In order to improve our unsustainable energy sources, solar and nuclear energy are worthy contenders. Both have their advantages and opportunity costs, however further research can help limit such disadvantages. Both sources of energy would benefit both the near and far future because they would definitely be a step forward from our current source of energy in terms of efficiency and relative sustainability. Despite their relative sustainability to fossil fuel energy, these two energy sources also have some environmental consequences. Although nuclear energy is a good alternative because it is a cleaner option, relatively safe, and somehow manageable, the wastes left behind are highly radioactive and will remain that way for centuries. It is still unknown how to control or prevent the consequences of radiation. Solar energy is a good alternative as well, since it is accessible everywhere in the world, reaches areas where it wouldn’t usually reach, as well as easy to clean. However, the costs and its dependence on weather really affects the effectiveness of the solar energy. If the two main issues with nuclear and solar energy are resolved, then these would be suitable and more sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. It ultimately comes down to how much science has advanced when we choose to fully implement this technology. Nonetheless, both solar and nuclear energy are potential prospects for a more environmentally-friendly society.
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