subject: End Energy and Environmental Problems with Renewable Energy [print this page] End Energy and Environmental Problems with Renewable Energy
More than 85% of world's energy consumption depends on fossil fuels. And these days, the need for energy is even increasing due to industrialization and increase in population. However, we are aware that if we continue to depend on fossil fuels, it will further endanger our planet earth. The continuous emissions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere add up to the growing environmental concerns. But as Robert Alan said, "We can create a more sustainable, cleaner and safer world by making wiser energy choices."
We cannot deny the fact that fossil fuels are valuable in today's energy system and account for more than 85% of the world's energy consumption. How can we meet the energy demands at the same time resolve environmental concerns, if we predominantly depend on fossil fuels? We can't, and sooner or later we will have to find alternatives. We can end these energy supply and environmental problems by focusing on alternative energy sources.
Why alternatives? For two practical reasons - energy supply and environmental concerns. We all know fossil fuels come from our natural resources thus all will eventually run out. By some estimates, they may be depleted within the next 50 years or so. Fossil fuels were formed from organic materials over hundreds of millions of years and cannot be renewed. When they run out, they are gone for good.
Second reason is the environmental pollution which is one of the growing global concerns. Today, the combustion of fossil fuels is the major cause of atmospheric pollution. Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and many other poisonous chemicals that go into the air, water, and ground. This causes both health and environmental problems such as smog, acid rain, climate change, ozone depletion, and extinction of wildlife.
So the best solution is to find alternatives. The future is definitely not in fossil fuels, we know that. It belongs to renewable energy. Solar power, wind power and hydro power and waste to energy are the leading renewable energy technologies nowadays. The probably one winning solution and most interesting one is the Biosphere process system or biosphere technology. It is a form of gasification wherein it destroys traditional and non-traditional waste materials to generate electricity. The technology operates on a Zero Waste Philosophy wherein it recycles all feedstocks back into nature or the marketplace in a way that protects both public health and our environment. Unlike other standard gasification processes biosphere technology does not pollute the environment. It's done at elevated temperature and oxygen-starved environment thereby limits atmospheric emissions.
Alternative energy sources are definitely the way of the future. But how smooth will the transition from fossil fuels be? That's up to us and is certainly something to consider sooner rather than later. The world's dependence on oil continues so long we remain to use oil. What every country needs to do now is to invest heavily on renewable energy sources such biosphere technology instead of exhausting resources to target fossil fuel reserves.
