The Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Energy

It is ones individual discretion about any energy source they want to make use of but taking into account the various advantages and disadvantages into account.

It is a known act that one can become environmentally friendly by making use of the alternative energy resources and save the entire world from wasting the natural resources. A lot of the countries have proved that making use of the renewable energy resources have lead them to having umpteen work opportunities for their people.

One has to look at all the pros and cons of the alternative energy sources. As only the electricity can be stored when compared to the renewable energy which has the maximum impact of running. One cannot be able to store the alternative energy source nor consume in large quantities. Anyone making use of the alternative energy must have sufficient knowledge of what they are using and how to maintain it. Most people don't know much about alternative energy, only those that specialize in it, which is a huge disadvantage for most people.

Solar Energy
Solar power works wonderfully and would save us lots of electricity. One of the greatest benefits of this is that sun-power is always free and abundant. Depending on what part of the world an individual lives in will determine whether they can depend on solar power alone can take the place of electricity. Those people who are living in higher planes cannot make use of the solar energy as it cannot be made available in these areas despite their need to have it. Solar energy is the best alternative energy for homes.

Wind Energy
In order for wind to work as an energy alternative, there would need to be lots of it. This alternative source of energy will be best generated in places having maximum content of water. In order to have the air capture properly one needs to have a lot of space where the windmills can be constructed. This alternative source of energy cannot be created by those regions having lesser air.

Tidal Energy
The ocean's tides are used for natural power of generating plants to make energy. This kind of energy is quite erratic as it depends on the movement of the tides varying on so many factors. Tidal energy may be hazardous for the safety of the animals and birds as well.

Hydroelectric Energy
This is energy that is basically used for dam operations. The water from the ocean is what is used to keep the dam operating. By this method energy gets utilized to the optimum. The prime disadvantage of this is that it is not possible to construct dams at all places and that too with so much of money required.

Biomass Energy Disadvantages

Biomass Energy disadvantages. There really are not that many. But we do need to look at the whole picture when trying to see if biomass is a good alternative fuel to fossil fuel such as coal or oil.

1. Biomass produces greenhouse emissions. The biggest argument against biomass is that it produces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

2. It takes more energy to plant ,cultivate and harvest the crops and trees than it is worth to get a net energy gain. It also takes up more water from the earth and other fossil fuels to make the fertilizers and fuels for planting and harvesting. it also, supposedly, takes up more land for the crops and trees.

3.Biomass collection is difficult. There was a man who, in 1979, traveled from Jacksonville, Fl to Los Angeles, Ca on wood he was using in his biomass gasifier attached to a Chevy Malibu. He would travel 1 mile for every pound of wood. Not the most efficient use of fuel.

4. Biomass crops not available all year. Corn, wheat, barley and the like are seasonal crops. They are not available all year. Trees are also a slow growing resource even though they are renewable. This would also tend to be a negative on the side of biomass fuels.

Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy - It's All Location, Location, Location

1. The location must offer geothermal activity close by. Here is a quick lesson on the disadvantages of geothermal energy. Check out the picture below. Study it for a few minutes.

Do you see any lava flows or steam vents? Probably not. This is a picture of Amelia Island where I live.

There is no volcanic activity anywhere near this area.

So you see the big drawback to geothermal energy is that there must be hot rocks close enough to drill into in order to harness this energy. Not only do the rocks have to be hot, but they also must be suitable for drilling.

The rocks also must be close enough to be able to access. Not many areas are as fortunate as Iceland in this regard.

2. Geothermal activity is not always so faithful. Sometimes the geothermal activity takes a rest. it will be constant for several years and then stop for a few months. Hence, not all areas offer faithful heating resources.

3. You cannot transport geothermal energy. I used to live in the coal region of Pennsylvania. For years coal trucks used to drive by our front door hauling Anthracite coal to home and industries.

Coal cars a mile long along the railroad tracks were often times filled with King Coal to be shipped to the Reading Foundry. Can't do that with geothermal energy. It is only good where it is at. So the steam is utilized to run the generators to produce electricity. Another big one in the discussion of the disadvantages of geothermal energy.

4. There may be geothermal gases. Geothermal steam and hot water do contain naturally occurring traces of hydrogen sulfide (a gas that smells like rotten eggs) and other gases and chemicals that can be harmful in high concentrations.

Geothermal power plants use "scrubber" systems to clean the air of hydrogen sulfide and the other gases. Sometimes the gases are converted into marketable products, such as liquid fertilizer. Newer geothermal power plants can even inject these gases back into the geothermal wells.

For a good article to read on the disadvantages of geothermal energy, click here 5. Tectonic Activity. Usually where there is volcanic activity where you find geothermal energy, you will also find other types of tectonic activity such as earthquakes and also active volcanoes.

There have been cases where earthquakes have caused damage to the geothermal plants and/or caused disruption in the geothermal heat source. Click on the following link to learn more about alternative energy along with the disadvantages of geothermal energy

What is Geothermal Energy Advantages of Geothermal Energy

 

 

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Don't Get Blown Away by All The Positives of Wind - Disadvantages of Wind Energy

There are always two sides to the coin. Let's look at the disadvantages of wind energy.

1. Wind itself is not dependable. In order for you to turn the blades on a wind turbine, you must have wind. Without this, you are dead in the water.

So you must live in an area that has consistent wind. Valleys, mountain tops, coastal areas are good candidates. I live in Florida. Not the best place for wind unless you are along the beach and pick up the sea breeze.

2. Land along the coast is expensive If you do live along the coast, your personal property is rather expensive and you might not be able to afford the opportunity to afford the land, let alone a wind generator.

3. Wind Farms are Unsightly. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some would feel that having 100 wind turbines sitting outside your picture window is an eyesore.

I live in North East Florida. When the winds are right, we smell the byproducts of the nearby pulp mills. Some would say it is pollution; some would say it is money for the economy.

I remember visiting a family who were pig farmers. Standing outside their home, enjoying the fresh country air offered by the pigs on a hot, humid Indiana summer afternoon, their son said, "Smell that money!"

I say, pretty is as pretty does. Sure, they might mar the scene, but most wind farms along the coast are so far out you will not even see them.

Comparing apples to apples, giving up a little of the landscape to gain more on alternative energy, use less fossil fuels,lower pollution, create more jobs and improve the economy: it's a no-brainer.

Regarding the disadvantages of wind energy, Ted Kennedy stirred up a hornets nest with his opposition to wind farms off of Nantucket. Yo can read about it here.

3.Wind Turbines Interfere with Television Reception. Some say that wind turbines give off interference to television and radio signals.

4. Wind Turbines Kill Birds Some of these blades can have a span of 100 or more feet. if they are going fast enough, just like a propeller, you really do not see them.

With that speed and length of blade, birds easily fly into the blade path and get killed. Some also say the hum of the blade is an attraction to birds and they are lured into the blade. if anyone knows more, please let me know.

Wind Turbines are Noisy So another of the disadvantages of wind energy is that wind turbines are noisy. They have the hum and also a "whooshing noise" when the blade turns.

It probably is not bad with one or two, but get about a hundred of these "bad boys" cranking out a few hundred RPM's and you might have the sound of an alien attack.

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The Negative Side of Hydroelectricity...

Let's look at the disadvantages of hydropower. Despite the fact that the United States and other countries gain a large percent of electricity from hydropower, there are a few disadvantages of hydropower.

1. Hydropower dams disrupt the natural flow of rivers. This will alter the river and riverside habitat. Whenever I read about a hydroelectric plant being developed, my mind is drawn back to the 1972 movie "Deliverance".

It was in this movie that the three men wanted to canoe a river in North Georgia before the engineers began construction of a dam for hydroelectricity.

In reality the river in the movie is the Chattooga River and the dam formed Lake Tugalo. Arising high in the North Carolina Appalachians, the Chattooga River travels a rugged 50 miles before ending in Lake Tugalo?s still waters.

For much of its journey, the Chattooga forms the state line between South Carolina and Georgia.

On May 10, 1974, Congress designated the Chattooga be protected as a National Wild and Scenic River. The protection was awarded because of the river?s outstanding scenery and recreation, and its wildlife, geologic, and cultural values. The river is famous with white water thrill seekers, and is well known among trout anglers.

Even though the Chattooga Rive and Lake Tugalo are still mighty impressive, it did, never the less, alter the ecology of that region.

2. Impedes the natural flow of sediments. Rivers naturally erode, carry, and deposit sediment. These processes are what shape the river, form meanders, pools, and riffles.

The river deposits its sediment load in the impoundment when the flow velocity slows and the particles settle out. Over time, sediment can fill in the impoundment.

Eventually, the impoundment may become so shallow that the sediment must be removed by dredging or other means. The river downstream of the dam is ?starved? for sediment because the sediment naturally flowing in the river has been trapped behind the dam.

The water flowing through the outlet of the dam may be relatively clear, and carry little sediment.A third of the disadvantages of hydropower is...

3. Scour holes. Water flowing over a dam can cause scour holes to form immediately below the dam. Scour holes may undercut the foundation of the dam threatening the integrity of the structure. In addition, the currents in scour holes present a hazard to swimmers. For more information, click here.

4. Obstacles to fish migration. Here is another of the disadvantages of hydropower. According to the Water Resource Management practicum:

"Building a dam on a river has major implications for the biota found in the river system. Because fish and other biota cannot move past a dam, the dam effectively splits the river into separate ecological zones: the river above the dam and the river below the dam.

Fish passages may be added to a dam to help fish move up and downstream, but they are not always effective. Although the free movement of fish can sustain a healthy fishery, a dam may be a barrier to the movement of unwanted invasive species.

Water tends to warm more in an impoundment than in a free-flowing river, which may affect the types of fish found upstream, in, and downstream of the impoundment. Impounded and free-flowing river systems provide habitat for amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

5. Catastrophic Failure. If dam breaks it would be a disaster and would kill many people. One classic example in American history is the Johnstown Flood. According to Wikipedia:

"The Johnstown Flood disaster (or Great Flood of 1889 as it became known locally) occurred on May 31, 1889.

It was the result of the failure of the South Fork Dam situated 14 miles (23 km) upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall.

The dam's failure unleashed a torrent of 20 million tons of water (18.1 million cubic meters/ 4.8 billion gallons). The flood killed over 2,200 people and produced US$17 million of damage."

A dam catastrophe waiting to happen is being reported in China with the Three Rivers Gorge.

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The advantages and disadvantages of alternative energy

There are individual opinion about a source of energy that they want to use it for, but taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of eligible.

It is a well-known Act which is an environmentally friendly can be through the use of alternative energy sources and the whole world to save the waste natural resources. many countries have shown that make use of renewable energy sources, they have lead to numerous job opportunities for their people.

One must look at the pros and cons of the alternative sources of energy.If only the electricity can be stored in comparison with the renewable energy, which have the maximum impact of operation.It is not possible to be able to save of the alternative energy source or consume large amounts of. every person will use the alternative energy, an adequate knowledge of what they use and how to maintain. most people don't know much about alternative energy, only those who specialize in it, which is a big disadvantage for most people.

Solar energy

Solar energy works wonderfully and would save us a lot of electricity. one of the biggest advantages of this is that solar energy is always free and plentiful. depending on which part of the world a person lives in will determine whether they may be able to rely on solar energy only rather than electricity. People who are in the higher levels life do not make use of the solar energy, because it can't be made available in these areas in spite of their need to have it.Solar energy is the best alternative energy for homes.

Wind energy

To wind to work as an alternative energy, there would have to be much.This alternative energy source best generated in places with maximum water content, by weight, in order to protect air recording, it is necessary to have a lot of space where the wind mills can be built. this alternative energy source cannot be created by these regions with less air.

Tidal power

Of the ocean Tides are used for natural power of power stations for energy. this form of energy is very irregular depends on the movement of the tides varies from so many factors. tidal power are potentially hazardous for the safety of the animals and birds as well.

Hydro-electric power

This is the energy that, in principle, in favour of the operations of the dam. the water of the ocean is what is used to the dam. by this method, the level of energy used to the optimum. the main drawback is that it is not possible for the construction of dams in all places, and with so much money is required.