Coal As An Alternative Energy Source Environmental Sciences Essay

burn As An Alternative Energy Source environmental Sciences EssayThe lexicon meaning of preference is offering a choice of second possibility in other wrangle it is or sothing like replacement. In our case sear is good pick commencement of competency as it bath replace or so of the energy sources that ar in existence.Alternative source of energy is a commodious marge that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels.The term depicts or reflects a set of energy technologies and fields which argon alternate of each other and so on. As such, the list of energy sources excluded is an indication of what problems that the alternative technologies are facing. Controversies regarding dominant sources of energy and their alternatives commence a long history beca wont as the time is changing the needs and sources are also varying daytime by day. Today the nature of what were regarded alternat ive energy sources has changed considerably over time and it has become dis droped issue because of the variety of energy choices so defining some energy types as alternative is passing controversial.As a whole , alternative energy is that which is produced without the undesirable consequences of the longing of fossil fuels, such as high one C dioxide arcs, which is considered to be the major contri just nowing factor of global warming according to the Intergovernmental grace on Climate Change. Sometimes, this less(prenominal) comprehensive meaning of alternative energy excludes nuclear energyIt is nearly fixed that ember ordain have a future as a good alternative energy source. We have enough reserves of sear that can last for at least cc old age but only rate of consumption will be in our control. However, blacken reserves are spread more equitably around the manhood than oil reserves the united States have the largest reserves all over the world. Also it has a good fu ture because it is very inexpensive as other possible energy sources. ember is inexpensive to extract and to use to produce electricity. However, some factors key the future of coal appear to drop. There are some technical limitations present when utilise coal as an energy source. For example, it cannot be used for transport purposes unless it is used in electric vehicles. There are also some ecological issues to contend with.The need for an energy alternative has most nations looking in all directions, and one of those is coal as an energy source. Many experts see coal as practicable alternative source of energy. It is not known as the cleanest means of producing energy, but it is a cheaper alternative.The future of coal as an energy source is yet unknown, but there are many a(prenominal) predictions for how it may be implemented. For countries with rising oil hurts, it is predictable that coal may become a cheaper source of energy. It is also predicted that the come in prim ary coal energy consumption should remain about the same for another two decades, and wherefore slowly begin to growing.There are some problems with the cleanliness of coal, which causes a vast amount of contaminant, but treating the electrocution fumes can solve these problems. However, coal is still a great producer of carbon dioxide, and with most nations difficult to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this could scupper any plans of using it as an alternative energy source. combust is a notorious pollutant containing sulphur which gives off sulphur dioxide when it is burned. Once it is in the atmosphere, sulphur dioxide becomes sulphur acid, which are an irritant to the lungs and a main component to acid rain. Coal also has many other disadvantages that put its future as an alternative energy source in doubt.Burning coal produces CO2, which is a hearty knowngreenhouse gas that is very harmful to the environment. There is no resultant role to the CO2 that comes from burning c oal, so this may cause it to go to the back of the line as a possible alternative energy source. Therefore, countries thatare tryingto reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, would not seek to increase coal consumption, because it would defeat their purposes. On the other hand, countries that are not concerned with greenhouse gases will only increase their coal consumption in the coming years.Coal is not the perfect alternative energy source, but it is a possibility. Technological research is developing rapidly all over the world and there are many research programs in action today, including, research on the gasification of coal to produce hydrogen for fuel cells, and the draw and confinement of CO2.The future of coal as an alternative energy source is unclear, and there are some countries that are willing to settle more than others.The future of coal as anenergy source may be dependent on a countrys needs or requirementsand, even more so, their concerns.Environmental Impacts of th e Use of CoalBecause coal contains more carbon per unit of energy than other fossil fuels, it will produce more carbon dioxide per unit of electric power production than petroleum or internal gas. Electrical utilities, being the largest consumers of coal, are the largest sources of CO2 emissions from coalThe only practical way to prevent CO2 levels from going far into the dangerous range, with disastrous effects for humanity and other inhabitants of the planet, is to phase out use of coal except at power plants where the CO2 is captured and sequesteredIf CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants continue to produce at rates projected by the U.S. energy information administration, it will be impossible for the fall in States to achieve the steep economy-wide emissions reductions it needs to have a reasonable chance of avoiding the worst effects of temper changeTransporting coal from where it is mined to where it will be burned also produces significant quantities of air pollutio n and other environmental harms. Diesel-burning trucks, trains, and barges that transport coal release NOx, SOx, PM, VOCs (volatile organic chemicals), CO, and CO2 into the earths atmosphereThe Legacy of Coal MiningNearly 150 years and some 13 billion tons of coal later, its strikingly obvious that the great wealth of natural resources in West Virginia has been anything but a blessing. Rather than manner of speaking riches, it has brought poverty, sickness, environmental devastation and despair.Much of the surface mining more accurately mountaintop removal slices off some(prenominal) hundred feet of the mountaintops, uncovering entire seams of coal.Mining causes widespread deforestation, soil erosion, water shortages and pollution, smoldering coal fires and the emission of greenhouse gases. Massive excavation operations strip land bare, lower water tables, generate huge waste mountains and blanket surrounding communities with dust particles and debris.Despite coal being the most abundant and cheapest of the carbon based sources of energy, and despite the coal industry earning the benefits of clean coal, the fact that the role of coal in energy production is now confined to electrical generation gives hope that the negative environmental legacy of coal can be reduced. Alternative sources of energy, such as hydro, nuclear and wind power are ideally suited to generate electricity.Application and future prospectiveCoal as an alternative to woodCoal gasification as an alternative to petroleumCoal is not the perfect alternative energy source, but it is a possibility. Technological research is developing rapidly all over the world and there are many research programs in action today, including, research on the gasification of coal to produce hydrogen for fuel cells, and the capture and confinement of CO2.The future of coal as an alternative energy source is unclear, and there are some countries that are willing to settle more than others.The future of coal as ane nergy source may be dependent on a countrys needs or requirementsand, even more so, their concerns.The world reserves of coal are large enough to last two hundred years, but only at their current rate of consumption. However, coal reserves are spread more equitably around the world than oil reserves,with the United Stateshaving the largestreserves. It also has a promising future because it is not as expensive as other possible energy sources. Coalis inexpensive to extract and to use to produce electricity. However, some factors suck up the future of coal appear to be bleak. There are some technical limitations present when using coal as an energy source. For example, it cannot be used for transport purposes unless it is used in electric vehicles and the most important thing is that trees will nowhere to be seen in next thirty to forty years so in conclusion we cant have any access to the coal energy.America and other nations face an unprecedented transportation fuel crisis. Petrole um fuel, a life blood of our economy for some 100 years, is entering a sustained period of supply shortage due to huge take aim increases from growing economies in Asia and elsewhere. This freshly demand is here to stay and likely to intensify, causing more price increases, price volatility, political manipulation of oil supplies, and global instability as competition for dwindling supplies intensifies. This is already impacting our energy, economic, and homeland security. Government, commercial, and finance leaders around the world are now taking action.Since one solution is unlikely, a suite of new technologies and energy sources will be needed to address the challenge. One of those solutions is carbon-to-liquids technology, which the U.S. surgical incision of Energy projects could supply 10% of the nations transportation fuel in just 20 years. As new fuels and technologies like this are developed and deployed, the challenge we must meet is that they be more sustainable and les s of a burden on the environment than current technologies.