crude oil,alternative energi
By kidungasmara
@kidungasmara (1)
Indonesia
November 29, 2007 7:58pm CST
Now,world crde oil price progressively mount. Are there correct solution to make alternetive energi subtitution of petroleum as source of energi ?
3 responses
@Devlar (6)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Yes, I think there are.
Wind power is available in several forms. The traditional tall towers with long blades efficiently capture strong, steady winds, but those are only viable in a few areas. Newer designs that target the light and variable winds in urban environments can be useful as a way to reduce power needs on a building-by-building basis.
Solar energy can be captured several ways. Traditional photovoltaics(sp) may be very energy intensive to manufacture, but they keep getting cheaper to make. They do only work while the sun is up, but they can help reduce power needs, and if they can send the energy to a storage system during the daytime (during off-peak hours), they can supply that energy in the evening. Also, several designs which use a field of mirrors to focus sunlight on a stirling engine exist as a power plant-sized solar option.
Nuclear energy is safer than it has ever been. First, several new concepts, including the "pebble bed" reactor make operating the plant much, much safer - although, to be fair, currently operating plants are still extremely safe. Second, secondary reactor systems are being developed to use what is now hazardous radioactive waste as fuel, eliminating the mid-range half-life isotopes from the waste. Short half-life byproducts are very dangerous, but decay in years or decades, not centuries. Long half-life byproducts are far more easily shielded, although it is true they have enormously long half-lives. However, with the middling isotopes gone, nuclear waste is far easier to deal with.
Ethanol is also a viable alternative, since it is comparatively carbon neutral. Also, some ethanol source crops can be grown in regions that are not being used for food crops. This does count out corn (one of the least efficient ethanol sources), but that's a political problem. In addition to crops, algae is being looked at as a source for ethanol production.
I don't think any of these ideas can completely replace petroleum, but a combination of some of these can help with finding a complete solution.
@Devlar (6)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Yes, I think there are.
Wind power is available in several forms. The traditional tall towers with long blades efficiently capture strong, steady winds, but those are only viable in a few areas. Newer designs that target the light and variable winds in urban environments can be useful as a way to reduce power needs on a building-by-building basis.
Solar energy can be captured several ways. Traditional photovoltaics(sp) may be very energy intensive to manufacture, but they keep getting cheaper to make. They do only work while the sun is up, but they can help reduce power needs, and if they can send the energy to a storage system during the daytime (during off-peak hours), they can supply that energy in the evening. Also, several designs which use a field of mirrors to focus sunlight on a stirling engine exist as a power plant-sized solar option.
Nuclear energy is safer than it has ever been. First, several new concepts, including the "pebble bed" reactor make operating the plant much, much safer - although, to be fair, currently operating plants are still extremely safe. Second, secondary reactor systems are being developed to use what is now hazardous radioactive waste as fuel, eliminating the mid-range half-life isotopes from the waste. Short half-life byproducts are very dangerous, but decay in years or decades, not centuries. Long half-life byproducts are far more easily shielded, although it is true they have enormously long half-lives. However, with the middling isotopes gone, nuclear waste is far easier to deal with.
Ethanol is also a viable alternative, since it is comparatively carbon neutral. Also, some ethanol source crops can be grown in regions that are not being used for food crops. This does count out corn (one of the least efficient ethanol sources), but that's a political problem. In addition to crops, algae is being looked at as a source for ethanol production.
I don't think any of these ideas can completely replace petroleum, but a combination of some of these can help with finding a complete solution.