Every year, we demand for 400 quadrillion of British Thermal Units (Source: US Department of Energy). And, 88 % of this is nonrenewable: oil, coil and natural gas (collectively known as fossil fuel reserves). But, just how limited are our fossil fuel reserves? Some say it will be depleted in 50 years, others say it will be 100 to 200 years (Source: ecology.com). It doesn’t matter who is right about the remaining years of fossil fuel reserves, for there is only one fact: these reserves will run out soon. What matters is the innovations and inventions that the world could have so to have “sustainable energy.”
Energy from Hydrogen
One of these ways is Hydrogen as a source of energy. According to Forbes.com, Hydrogen could be a perfect substitute for transportation fuel, for most combustion engines can be converted to run on hydrogen. But, one problem hinders it from being the dominant source of energy: The electrolysis of water, the main way of procuring hydrogen, is prohibitively expensive. A biochemist, Barry Bruce, from the University of Tennessee may have a solution for this hindrance: he is growing photosynthetic material that produces high-energy electrons which could be used to stimulate production of hydrogen (Source: ecology.com). Thus, someday we may be able to grow fuel as we do in plants!
Geothermal Energy
One promising source of energy is Geothermal Energy. This energy is basically the heat emanating from the earth. It originates from the original formation of the planet, from radioactive decay of minerals, from volcanic activity, and from solar energy absorbed at the surface. Geothermal power is cost effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly,
but has historically been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries. Recent technological advances have dramatically expanded the range and size of viable resources, especially for applications such as home heating, opening a potential for widespread exploitation. The Earth's geothermal resources are theoretically more than adequate to supply humanity's energy needs, but only a very small fraction may be profitably exploited. Drilling and exploration for deep resources is very expensive.
Biogas: Fuel from Waste
Biogas can provide a clean, easily controlled source of renewable energy from organic waste materials for a small labour input, replacing firewoood or fossil fuels (which are becoming more expensive as supply falls behind demand). During the conversion process pathogen levels are reduced and plant nutrients made more readily available, so better crops can be grown while existing resources are conserved. Bren de Leeuw said in her article that, "The methane gas produced from this 'clean' process can then be used for power and heat subsequently replacing our traditional sources. From an environmental perspective, this natural process could then reduce pollution, greenhouse gases and odours. The opportunities beyond having a green and renewable energy source (which could be a saleable product), also includes the transformation of waste organic product into a highly organic specialty bio-fertilizer."
An article in Practical Action tells about how farmers in Sri Lanka uses cow dung in making biogas. On-farm biogas plants collect cow dung from specially adapted cattle sheds, mix it with water and channel it into fermentation pits. The resulting gas (of which 65% is methane) is produced as a by-product of this fermentation and is collected in a simple storage tank from where it is piped directly into the farmer's home to provide energy for cooking, laundry and lighting.
It's been said an article in Ashden Awards for sustainable energy that "the economic viability of biogas depends on the cost of the fuel being replaced, and whether there are other financial benefits (for instance, avoided waste disposal costs, or income from selling compost). For example, BIOTECH plant users can pay back the cost of a plant in about three years through savings in LPG.
Also, the potential of biogas plants to reduce greenhouse gases (including methane from uncontrolled dung and sewage management as well as carbon dioxide) means that carbon-offset finance is becoming a significant source of funding."
(Sources:
University of Adelaide,
Bren de Leeuw (McKeachnie),
Practical Action,
Ashden Awards)
OILGAE: Algae Energy
It is one of the major challenges that the next generation will surely face is the problem with energy oil replacement. Governments are now realizing this problem and are now trying to find solution by funding different organizations that try to solve this problem. People are also becoming aware of this issue. People seek eco-friendlier alternatives to gasoline. More studies have been focused on ethanol, corn, biodiesel, soybeans and many more.
I found an article in washingtonpost.com stating that algae can also be processed into fuel. Algae, like corn, soybeans, sugar cane and other crops, grows via photosynthesis (meaning it absorbs carbon dioxide) and can be processed into fuel oil. However, the slimy aquatic organisms yield 30 times more energy per acre than land crops such as soybeans, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The reason: They have a simple cellular structure, a lipid-rich composition and a rapid reproduction rate. Many algae species also can grow in saltwater and other harsh conditions -- whereas soy and corn require arable land and fresh water that will be in short supply as the world's population balloons.
Another bonus: Because algae can be grown just about anywhere in an enclosed space, it's being tested at several power plants across the nation as a carbon absorber. Smokestack emissions can be diverted directly into the ponds, feeding the algae while keeping greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.
Although processing technology for algae fuel -- a.k.a. "oilgae" in some environmentalist circles -- is improving, it's still years away from reaching your local gas pump. "It's feasible; it's just a question of cost, because no large-scale facilities have been built yet," Caspari says. Boeing and Air New Zealand recently announced a joint project with a New Zealand company to develop an algae-based jet fuel, while Virgin Atlantic is looking into the technology as part of a biofuels initiative (http://www.washingtonpost.com/).
Using the technologies we have today, I’m sure our generation can come up with a promising solution with this potential problem.
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