Hydroelectric dams can make massive environmental impact on local fauna and flora. It can destroy local forests, habitats of wildlife, deregulate life cycle of river and kill water organisms with turbine blades - basically to create dam it is necessary to flood huge area which have far-reaching consequences not only for flooded area but also for the whole river.
Solar energy seems to be less harmful – it is just free energy from the sky, right? Sadly manufacturing and cleaning photovoltaic solar cells is most hazardous, and it is not the end of generated waste. Concentrating solar thermal plants requires water cooling, and when they can be dry-cooled (that is when water is not lost as a steam) the cost is higher and effectiveness is lower.
By far, wind energy looks much better. Wind turbines do not generate any waste while working. Biggest downside is comparatively big area they need to occupy to generate energy.
The most efficient, not dependent on environment conditions and generating the least air pollution are nuclear plants. This graph nicely shows the sheer amount of power that they produce:
https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/infographic-how-much-power-does-nuclear-reactor-produce
Of course there is a big downside: radioactive waste from spent nuclear fuel, having half-life of millions of years. But what if there was a way to process it? Recycling technology can recover even up to 95% of uranium and plutonium in spent nuclear fuel. Depleted uranium is now widely used for example by military as material for bullets or in aircraft production. What's interesting, in XX century uranium glass was fashionable – beautiful, glowing in dark tableware:
But technology is not waiting, soon - in about 10 years – IVth generation of reactors is expected to be available for commercial construction. It is expected to be much safer, efficient and what's most important - to have closed fuel cycle. It means that e.g. sodium-cooled fast reactor would run on its own spent fuel. In addition, in case of reactor overheating the chain reaction automatically slows down.
Under this link you can watch introduction to IVth generation reactors (5-12 minute):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsjQNtr8Zjo
Future of atom energy sounds quite interesting.
What energy source sounds like the best idea for you?
Would neighbour of power plant disturb you?
How do you think, will look the future of power plants?
sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_IV_reactor
https://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/renewable-energy/environmental-impacts
Personally, I don’t want to believe in commercials. I don’t have a TV and I’m not interested in worldwide news. The only things which helps me to be online it’s a Twitter. I decide what kind of news I read. Information about market like energy it’s not my kind of interests so my opinion is very personal. No matter what kind of facts are behind some theory, it still could be false. On the other hand the energy from solar could be good, especially for our environment. The sun is available for everybody. Of course there is no possibility to talk about sunshine when you are in deep north or south where is time for perpetual night. I don’t know if neighborhood of power plant will disturb me. It sounds very interesting but it’s hard to imagine how it will be live near by it. I think that we as a human beings have a lot of to do related to power plants. We should think more about our safety and that’s should be our goal. Energy is very important for us but our safety it’s the number one of everything.
ReplyDeleteWhat energy source sounds like the best idea for you?
ReplyDeleteDefinately renewable one, it doesn't matter if it's solar, wind, tidal movement or just plain old hydroelectric. Nuclear power plants in my opinion are the next best thing, but we need to learn what to do with all the radioactive waste (from IV gen plants too, even if they run on spent fuel, something will still remain after spent fuel is used, right?).
Would neighbour of power plant disturb you?
If it was gas or coal power plant it definately would. Nuclear wouldn't and it would be same with renewables :)
How do you think, will look the future of power plants?
In my opinion coal and gas plants will die out because of how dirty they are. Electricity generation in UK is already often generated without use of coal power plants at all!
For me wind turbines look elegantly on landscape but always when I come closer to them I'm impressed how huge it is.
DeleteYes, there will be waste but much safier. Gen IVth reactors will be able to use rich uranium, "breed" fissile plutonium and other minor actinides, use it as well - leaving us much less radiotoxic waste that will decay much more rapidly.
What energy source sounds like the best idea for you?
ReplyDeleteAny kind that is rewindable is the best one for me. I think that solar and nuclear are the safest for the planet. Of course, we need to solve the potential waste with nuclear option. That could be eliminated by IV gen you mentioned.
Would neighbour of power plant disturb you?
Not at all, if that would mean a cheaper rent then definitely wouldn’t mind.
How do you think, will look the future of power plants?
I don’t have that much knowledge to predict that but I think that nuclear power can be the future here. Just remember to any kind of power to be safe to people and environment.
Hah! Good startegy with cheap rent here :)
DeleteI think the best source of energy is a renewable energy like sun rays, but for now, unfortunately, it isn't well developed yet to be enough efficient.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on what you mean by neighbour. In my home town there is a power plant but it is a few kilometers from my flat, so it isn't a problem, if only the plant is safe.
I think powerplants in a future will be obsolete as people will learn to gain power from sun or other renewable energies in so efficient way, that they could get as much energy as needed just in their houses. Maybe it will be connected with some new discovered physics or even metaphysics..
1. This is difficult question each of these sources has some drawbacks. Maybe one day people will come up with a way of producing energy that will not negatively affect the environment.
ReplyDelete2. I personally don't feel it. But I live in Warsaw, it is true that in winter, when energy is generated for heating buildings, which causes smog, it is a nuisance.
3. Honestly, I have no idea, I hope some discoveries will allow us to live as long as possible on this planet.
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ReplyDeleteWhat energy source sounds like the best idea for you?
ReplyDeleteWell from your article it seems like wind and nuclear energy are the best solutions for our future. I always thought that solar power plants are the most environment friendly source of energy but looks like I was wrong.
Would neighbour of power plant disturb you?
Depends on what kind of power plant it would be. Coal power station is definitely not something I would like to have near my house. And honestly, nuclear power plant also make me feel uneasy. Despite of all the pro nuclear energy arguments I still wouldn’t feel safe living near it. Negligence with removing radioactive waste or natural disasters like earthquakes can always occur. To make it clear, I am not supporting ani-nuclear movements. I just have my concerns about having something like that around the corner.
How do you think, will look the future of power plants?
I have superficial knowledge on this topic so it’s really hard for me to give a constructive response. I just hope that we will find a solution that is not hazardous for the environment.
What energy source sounds like the best idea for you?
ReplyDeleteI believe that we have a powerful atomic reactor - the Sun ;). As you mentioned, unfortunately, we're not able to effectively use its energy so instead of developing another IV reactor, I would allocate funds for research allowing to use the energy of our star.
Would neighbour of power plant disturb you?
Yes, I would not like to live next to any kind of industrial building. Special districts or areas outside the city should be allocated for this.
How do you think, will look the future of power plants?
As I mentioned, I hope that we will be able to effectively obtain solar energy.
What energy source sounds like the best idea for you?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jacek. green based energy or nuclear power should be standard in many countries.
Would neighbour of power plant disturb you?
Definitely yes. Big factories or standard power stations are not great neighbours. On the other hand small green power plants, in my opinion, would not bother me
How do you think, will look the future of power plants?
I really believe that many houses will have own small power station. In my opinion, solar panels are the best innovation for standard houses.
What energy source sounds like the best idea for you?
ReplyDeleteThe safest one :) Atom energy sounds great, and I think that this can be the best power source available. I think that wind power also is a good thing. But of course - the drawback of large amount of land needed makes it less possible to become a main power source.
Would neighbour of power plant disturb you?
I don't know how loud it is, but it could disturb me. I think that's not a best view when you see large concrete building when you wake up
How do you think, will look the future of power plants?
I think that we will try to develop much less harmful power sources to maintain a need of technology developement and to fill with power new, much more energy dependent devices.
I like the idea of wind turbines as an energy source. I suppose they are not as efficient as we would like them to be but they seem to be least disturbing.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd rather not live near a nuclear power plant. It may not sound logical, and I know I shouldn't be afraid but the fact is, I feel kind of discomfort at the thought of having a nuclear reactor in the neighborhood.
I think people will constantly work on inventing safer and less disturbing energy sources. Who knows what the future brings? Maybe some groundbreaking discovery that will be a beginning of an energy revolution.
1. What energy source sounds like the best idea for you?
ReplyDelete- I would say power plant. Taking into account how much power can be harvested from such a small energy srouce and nowadays safety of power plants
2. Would neighbour of power plant disturb you?
- I think so, afterall power plants are not pretty. I'm sure a power plant can be built in place that won't be bothering anyone.
3. How do you think, will look the future of power plants?
- Probably it will become the main source of power in the world. The only con regarding power plants was always safety. Current technology is advance and is still imporving, so I think the safety is no longer an issue.