Energy Option Comparisons
|
Energy Source |
Fossil Fuel |
Energy Efficiency & Conservation |
Hydro |
Wind
|
Geothermal |
Biomass |
Solar |
Hydrogen |
Nuclear |
Fusion |
Anti-Matter |
|
Resource Availability given Current Economics & Consumption Trends |
Year 2000 oil consumption equaled 3%, gas was 1.6% & coal was 0.5% of reserves. |
Significant, but must be combined with energy generating options |
Varies according to the topography & rainfall of the local area |
Depends on amount of land or ocean surface that are willing to dedicate to wind turbines |
Limited locations where underground sources of hot water are available |
Depends on extent of land area you are willing to dedicate to the growing & harvesting of the biofeedstock |
Depends on amount of land or ocean surface that are willing to dedicate to solar facilities |
Unlimited re hydrogen. Limited by energy source necessary to disassociate the water to obtain hydrogen |
Indefinite |
Indefinite |
Indefinite |
|
Environmental Impacts associated with Extraction of Energy Source |
Severe, especially if exhaustion of cheap sources results in turn to expensive ones like oil shale. Gas although least problematic has explosion danger. |
None |
Flooding behind dams can impact, natural habitat, fish runs, human residents, historical & cultural sites |
Visual impact & birds killed by wind turbine rotors |
Gaseous emissions, land use, noise, and potential ground subsidence. |
Decrease in agriculture land available to grow food & increase in cutting of natural areas such as the rain forest. |
Visual impact & land or water area necessary for placement of solar cells on earth |
Per unit of heat generated, more CO2 is produced by making H2 from fossil fuel than by burning the fossil fuel directly. Direct disassociation from water, depending on the energy source, does not necessarily have this problem. |
Minor |
No |
? |
|
Climate Change Risk |
Catastrophic, but of the 3 fossil fuels, gas emits the least CO2 per joule of heat produced |
None, would actually reduce risk associated with alternative fossil fuels |
No |
No |
No |
Minor |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
Air Pollution |
Severe unless modified with emission controls. Gas has least impact. |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Minor |
No |
Emission-free H2 manufactured by water electrolysis that is powered by renewable or nuclear sources is not yet cost effective. |
No |
No |
No |
|
Water Pollution |
Serious at some oil fields & coal mine wastes |
No |
Can change natural temperature of water impacting the riparian habitat |
No |
Minor |
No |
No |
None, byproduct is pure water |
No |
No |
No |
|
Radiation Danger |
No, however coal power plants do generate some radioactive byproducts |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Severe, from radioactive waste & accidental release during power generation |
Minor, may be limited entirely |
? |
|
Accident Catastrophe Potential |
May be locally severe for short time. Very serious at coal mines |
No |
Severe if dam breaks |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes, great care must be taken for safe storage |
Severe: long-lasting effects over large regions |
No |
? |
|
Nuclear Weapon Risk |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Present Feasibility |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes, but limited by geography |
Yes in geo- graphic loca- tions contain- ing geothermal formations |
Yes |
Marginal |
Yes, but bene- fits are limited by the use of fossil fuel to produce the hydrogen |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Near Future Feasibiliy |
Not good. Coal has the best near future feasibility |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes, but limited by geography |
Yes in geogra- phic locations containing geothermal formations |
Yes |
Probable
|
Yes |
Yes |
Maybe |
No |
|
Long-term Future Feasibility |
Bad. Coal will last the longest. |
Yes |
Yes, but limited by geography |
Marginal |
Marginal |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Maybe |
|
Comments |
"Carbon sequestration" is the term given to technologies that can remove CO2 from large point sources. The technology has been hyped as the savior of fossil fuels, but it is of no solution for the biggest consumer, vehicles. |
Environmentally, this is probably the best option. However, it cannot be used alone. It must be used in combination with other energy options |
|
|
Will always be a minor component of energy mix |
Brazil has successfully used biofuels as a major component of its vehicle fuel mix |
|
Requires another energy source to remove hydrogen from water |
Safer technology has been developed in recent years, but probably will lose support if fusion energy finally pans out |
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