images from freefoto.com unless otherwise stated
wind turbine
image source - www.nrel.gov (14931)
UK Sustainable Energy Resources
Alternative Energy News
The Eco Friendly Directory
Green Directory UK
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| Costa Pinto biofuel production plant | Krafla Geothermal Station |
Sustainable Energy Resources
Sustainable energy is energy that can be produced without using resources that cannot be renewed. For example, burning gas, coal or oil will use the fossil fuel forever. But renewable energy is produced from energy resources which are not depleted when the energy is released. The energy from renewable resources is generally used to heat water or to operating a turbine to produce electricity.
By definition, sustainable energy is renewable energy. Of course this definition excludes the use of fossil fuels from being burnt to create energy. And we do need to generate energy from renewable resources. Whatever the reserves are globally, all countries will eventually run out of fossil fuels!
The definition of 'renewable energy' allows the generation of electricity from nuclear power although this continues to be a contentious subject with many people!
Sustainable energy include resources such as: hydro power, biofuels, solar energy, wind energy, tidal power and geothermal energy.
Sustainable energy sources may also include technologies that improve energy efficiency.
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| Evacuated tube collector | Pathfinder Aircraft in Flight |
Fossil fuels
The use of fossil fuels has had a consequence on the environment of planet Earth already. Carbon dioxide (co2) and nitogen oxides (nox) and other substances are released into the atmosphere. Some of the consequences of doing this, such as smogs, are visible to us. In addition these substances cause ill health, produce a dirty environment, and make a major contribution to global warming and, potentially, to climate change.
Smogs are dangerous to people's health. The Great Smog of 1952 in the UK darkened the streets of London and killed approximately 4,000 people in the short time of 4 days and a further 8,000 died from its effects in the following weeks and months (smog). There are cities around the globe that have regular smogs which must have a negative affect on people's health.
A global economy built on sustainable energy requires all the nations of Earth to be involved in switching to renewable energy and to stop using fossil fuels. This will involve governments throughout the planet working together!
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| Pelamis electricity from wave energy | solar powered petrol station |
Global electricity consumption
We also need to make a serious effort to reduce electricity consumption, mainly because a lot of our electricity is generated from burning fossil fuels. But electrical devices will still need electricity! Most households consume electricity and using electricity more efficiently is almost as important as generating electricity from new renewable energy resources.
The global electricity consumption in 2007 in kilowatt-hours per capita is 2,846 kWh. (worldbank)
In comparison the USA consumption of electricity per capita was 13,638 kWh, the UK was 6,123 kwH per capita and Germany was 7,834 kWh per capita.
References:
- Krafla Geothermal Station - Wikipedia - User: Mike GNU - Free Documentation License
- Costa Pinto production plant - Wikipedia - User: Mariordo - Creative Commons LicenceAttribution 3.0 Unported
- Pelamis - Wikipedia - Author: P123 image in public domain
- Seagen - commercial tidal generator
- User: Duffy -
Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported
(smog) Bell, Michelle L.; Michelle L. Bell, Devra L. Davis, Tony Fletcher (January 2004). "A Retrospective Assessment of Mortality from the London Smog Episode of 1959: The Role of Influenza and Pollution". Environ Health Perspect 112 (1): 6–8. doi:10.1289/ehp.6539.
(worldbank) data.worldbank.org
eo&e