Source of Energy and Generation of Electricity

Renewable and Non-renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources are the energy sources which can be continuously replaced. Examples of renewable energy are:

• Hydro energy
• Solar energy
• Wind energy
• Geothermal energy
• Biomass
• Tidal energy

Advantages of Using Renewable Energy

1. Clean and do not pollute the environment.
2. Easily obtain.
3. Can be replenished once it has been used.
4. Can prevent energy crisis.

Fossil Fuel

The advantages of using fossil fuel such as petroleum, natural gas and coal as a source of energy to generate electricity are.

• It is relatively easy to be collected as they are present in large amount in one place.
• It contains high energy capacity.

The disadvantages of using fossil fuel as a source of energy are.

• It releases a lot carbon dioxide when it is burned. Large amount of carbon dioxide presence in the atmosphere will cause the increase of the temperature of the atmosphere, known as global warming. Global warming is the most serious environmental problem that we are facing now.
• Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy.
• Pollute the air. Burning of fossil fuel will release particles and some hazardous gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide which will pollute the air.

Hydroelectric

The advantages of using hydroelectric as a source of energy to generate electricity are.

• It is a renewable energy.
• Building a dam does not pollute the environment.
• In a lot of country, water can be easily obtained and is free.
• Building a hydroelectric plant does not involve very high technology as nuclear power plant.

The disadvantages of using hydroelectric as a source of energy are.

• Building a dam will cause a large area flooded with water, and hence seriously destroys the ecosystem nearby.
• The flooded area causes the loss of wild life habitat and agriculture land.
• Dam failure happens will cause a disaster to the lower reaches area of the river.
• The cost to build a dam is very high.

Nuclear Power

The advantages of using nuclear energy as a source of energy to generate electricity are.

• The nuclear fuel such as uranium and plutonium has high energy capacity. Small amount of uranium can produces huge amount of energy.
• Nuclear energy does not pollute the air.

The disadvantages of using nuclear energy as a source of energy are.

• Hazardous radioactive waste is produced during nuclear reaction.
• The radioactive waste will cause pollution in a very large area if leakage happens in the nuclear power plan.
• The cost to maintain a nuclear plant is very high.
• Building a nuclear plant involving very high technology. Only a few countries own such technology.

Wind Power

The advantages of using wind as a source of energy to generate electricity are.

• It is a renewable energy.
• It does not pollute the environment.
• It is suitable for mountain area because the wind speed in mountain area is relatively high.

The disadvantages of using wind as a source of energy are.

• A large area is needed to build the windmills.
• The windmills will produce high level of noise.
• The power generated is inconsistent due to the inconsistent of the wind speed and wind direction.

Solar Power

The advantages of using solar energy as a source of energy to generate electricity are.

• It is a renewable energy.
• Sunlight is free and can be obtained easily.
• It does not pollute the air.

The disadvantages of using solar energy as a source of energy are.

• A large area is needed to install the solar plate.
• The amount of sunlight at non-tropical area depends on the season.
• The energy collected need to be store in a cell so that it can be used at the time sunlight is not present.
• Its capacity is limited by the capacity of the cell. Normally a cell has relatively low capacity.