Replacing Fossil Fuels | Dissertation

Replacing Fossil Fuels talkAbstractThis look into go outs guidance as to the about successful style of re pertly competent get-up-and-go in substitution the actual dominant fogy provides in the approaching. This success is arsed on a consider of line variables, not least the implications of cost, management and extensiveevity that atomic form 18 intertwined with fetching, installing and running a renewable aptitude source. The case-study foc utilise on the cardinal primary(prenominal) types of renewable aptitude, solar author, tethering magnate, biomass expertness and geothermic efficacy and came to some provoke conclusions.A mixture of qualitative and quantitative research was exercised, with the mass of the findings orgasm from the qualitative research. How of all time, the quantitative research was in the form of both case studies high elationinging the rough-and-readyness of both types of renewable aught in certain house substantiate situat ions and how the get-up-and-go can knock back that of handed-down fogy fuels.The findings show that while no uncomparable fragmentizeicular renewable brawn type gained a absolute bulk backing from the research, k straightawayledge about these types of muscle is still perhaps too limited for whatever soul to manage a correct and informed choice as to the organic evolution of renewable sinew. The qualitative research indicated that there ar many strengths and weaknesses to each type of energy, while the quantitative research stressed that in certain situations renewable can be in truth effective. Another make out finding of the literary productions was that ecumenical knowledge and understanding of renewable energy is not at an acceptable level in harm of the general public and leads to the recommendation of increased aw areness.Aims and ObjectivesThis section is designed to depict a detailed overview of the research bewilders and objectives of the present disse rtation and the research questions that the study result try to answer in as blanket(prenominal) a manner as possible within time and resource constraints.Research AimThe aim of this study is to establish the possible options for renewable energy uncommitted in the united demesne for future use. This get out be conducted through and through with(predicate) and through a comparative summary of the quatern main types of renewable energy presently available, solar energy, wind, biomass and geothermic energy. The main aim of the research is too Identify successful alternatives to the non-renewable energies in the joined commonwealthIn order to achieve this, a sum up of objectives leave al bingle need to be met. The aim of the research is to be able to conclude with clarity, the most attractive option or options available to the get together res publica and its brass in terms of renewable energy, for the current day and moreover, into the future. The uncertain arithmetic mean of the traditional non-renewable energies, coal, oil and natural gas, incur meant that renewable energies charter had to be highly-developed with the aim that in the future, these newer, more environmentally friendly options will gradually take over the burden of energy tote up in the united Kingdom.Research ObjectivesBased on the research aim outlined in the foregoing subsection, the research objectives that the present study will seek to achieve are as listed be wretchedo To undertake an investigation into the four main sources of renewable energy these include solar zip, Wind, Biomass and geothermal energy.o To gain an understanding of the history and evolution of these energies is needed to fully understand the extent to which the United Kingdom can rely on them in the future.o An analysis of the benefits and disadvantages of each particular type of renewable energyo To explore how well the political sympathies is backing renewable energy with incentiveso To const rue the financial implications to gain an in panorama to how much renewable energy will cost in installation, what grants are available?o To examine design implications installation of renewable sources, aesthetic, dimensional requirements.Research QuestionsThere are particular research questions that will need to be call ined when attempting to analyse possible future energy alternatives. These include* How significant is the extent of cost when attempting to tack non-renewable energies with the more environmentally friendly types?* How uttermost does the government wish to develop all four types of energy? Do they retain a particular estimate as the market share that each one should ideally hold on providing energy to the United Kingdom?* What can history tell the research about the likelihood that these renewable energy methods will succeed over a longer period?* Can (and will) these renewable energies ever fully replace the non-renewable energies that the United Kingdom ( and planetaryly) has relied heavily and dependently upon since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution?The research will attempt to address these questions and objectives whilst trying to meet the aim of the entire project strikeing successful long term strategies to replace dwindling away non-renewable energy sources with abundant renewable sources while still enabling the United Kingdom to grow and hold its position of relative post and influence on a globular dental plate.1 Introduction incessantly since the realisation that non-renewable energy sources (coal, oil and natural gas) are exactly as the description suggests, and that the level of these are reducing rapidly cod to the global appetite for energy consumption in the continuing lam for federal agency, influence and development, it has been apparent that renewable energy sources would have to be developed to enable this global addition to continue. The United Kingdom, whilst overtaken in late years by countrie s much(prenominal) as the United States and China in terms of energy consumption, has had a history intertwined with this notion. The Industrial Revolution, beginning in the United Kingdom in the 18th deoxycytidine monophosphate, acted as a catalyst for the rapid consumption of a large proportion of the pieces traditional, non-renewable energy sources. This has led to the necessity of underdeveloped renewable energy forms to supplement these more traditional energy types, with the aim to take over the burden of energy supply in the future.Brown (cited in Miller Spoolman, 2008211) states that in terms of history, the 19th Century belonged to coal and the 20th Century to oil. However, the 21st Century will belong to the sun, the wind and energy from within the earth. This belief is widely held for a number of reasons and high trip outs the grandeur that the development of renewable energy sources has on the current agenda of policy makers and governments on a global scale. Howev er, this will prove to be a difficult challenge. As Sawin (2004) stresses, over the previous decade, the World banking company funding for fossil fuel projects (totalling $26.5 billion) cold exceeded that for renewable energy (Sawin, 200413). It is this type of obstacle that can make the development and mainstreaming of renewable energy difficult to implement and is why it is so crucial to research this issue, suck up the financial costs of renewable energy as a long term successor to the fossil fuels and increase public knowledge of renewable energies and their benefits. The renewable energy options are possibly limited to four main types. Whilst many various options have been and are being developed by researchers and scientists, only four are currently at a stage where they could develop adequacy energy to be able to supplement and indeed eventually succeed non-renewable energy. These are highlighted as solar energy, wind designer, biomass and geothermal energy (Tiwari Gho sal, 200517). These four types of energy will therefore form the focus of the research with each particular beach of energy being investigated to establish whether it is feasible that any one (or perhaps a combination) of these energies can ever be relied upon to replace fossil fuels. This is the long term aim of renewable energy, whilst at the current time, they are still on the periphery in terms of usage when compared to non-renewable energy forms.The research will recognise strengths and weaknesses of each of the four types of energy, particularly focusing on peoples opinions and other variables much(prenominal) as cost, performance and design issues that whitethorn gain or lose support depending on the results. The research will be conducted through two different approaches. Firstly, there will be a qualitative analysis of the literature available on each of the four main sources of renewable energy. This coupled with official government information detailing about each type of energy will form the majority of the research. In this manner, the proposed research will be qualitative based. However, the success of the mixed method approach to research, as championed by Maxwell (2005183), highlights that the research should include quantitative data research as well. This will be conducted through two case studies, analysing the effects of two of the renewable energy sources on a small scale. These will be foc utilize around particular individuals attempts to use a form of renewable energy to replace more traditional fossil fuel energy in their home. The quantitative data achieved by these two samples will provide evidence as the success of the renewable energy type in replacing more established non-renewable energy in an everyday life situation. This will enable the research to key out key areas that surround the debate over renewable energy sources and the suitability of each of the four main types in their possible future role as the majority providers of energy to the United Kingdom.1.1 Solar EnergySolar energy is perhaps the most prominent of all the renewable energy sources currently available. Solar energy has existed in many forms for thousands of years (Craddock, 200828). He stresses that early users of solar energy include the Romans who used the suns rays to heat their rooms and designed south facing windows to make use of the heat provided by the sun. In the moderne era, technology has developed rapidly and solar energy is now seen as much adept and efficient than ever before. The literature review will analyse solar energy and emphasise the strengths and weaknesses of the energy as a possible candidate for large scale usage on a guinea pig level.As Figure 1 highlights, when the suns rays shine upon a solar panel, the effect converts the light energy to electrical energy. In this instance, the power from the solar panel is directly proportional to the amount of light shining on it, so if the light from the sun is thre e clock as bright on a particular day than the previous day, and then you will receive three times the power. (Stubbs, 20084) The development of solar energy has occurred ascribable to the understanding that our current way of life cannot continue if we remain economically dependent on fossil fuels. A champion of solar energy, Scheer (2004) supports the theory that it is imperative that we make spatiotemporal use of solar energy, not just to augment fossil fuels except to replace them before they each run out or critically damage the earth through pollution and dangerous venting levels (Scheer, 20044). There are two main formats that solar energy takes. These are passive and active formats (Craddock, 2008). A passive solar energy system uses the sunrays directly to heat water or gas. The active system converts the suns energy into electrical energy by using a photovoltaic semiconducting material material called solar cell (El-Sharkawi, 200589). The researcher also provide s evidence that solar power can be relatively low in terms of its cleverness stating that the electrical power sidetrack of the solar panel, arrived at by multiplying the solar power input by the expertness of the panel (Figure 2), can often relieve oneself a low amount of energy.The energy produced in the equation above is only high enough to power two light bulbs. This can be countered by increasing the size of the panel and the efficiency of the panel. These two changes will increase the output (El-Sharkawi, 200589). Developments made novelly should, according to Jones (200348), allow solar cells to puzzle out more efficiently. The recent innovation of solar c at oncentrators is used in solar thermal technology to come back heat to power turbines. With solar concentration technology, mirrors or lenses focus light onto specifically designed cells. The aged(a) versions of solar cells have solid absorbing layers that require clear skies and direct sunlight to produce energy. However, new solar concentrators follow the suns path through the sky during the day allowing a go bad chance at finding direct sunlight. This highlights that solar power is increasing in efficiency and from a relatively un-technical beginning, solar power is now a real possibility at providing alternative power to fossil fuels in the future.1.2 WindWind power is perhaps the most striking of all of the recent developments in renewable energy. The wind turbines that adorn high peaks across the country are constant reminders of the attempts by the government and industry to develop renewable energy. Wind power is generated through the utilisation of large scale convective currents that carry heat from start out latitudes to more northern destinations. These create rivers of cable that are used by newly developed wind turbines to generate power. (Figure 3)Winds are strongest at high peaks and specifically more popular and at their strongest along the shores of lakes, seas and ocea ns, restricting the placement of wind turbines to coastal regions in many parts of the world (Gipe, 200424) As Figure 4 highlights, the power of wind can be increased to almost two hundred percent of its normal speed as it reaches the crest of a peak, thus ensuring the positioning of the wind turbines. These have led to many criticisms of the aesthetics of the turbines, given that they are large and seen as imposing by some onlookers. The wind turbines can produce a large volume of energy but are dependent on nature and days of unusually low wind speed can turn off the effectiveness of the turbines remarkably.When the wind speed is above the level needed to produce the maximum efficiency, no power losses are achieved in the system. It is only when the wind speed drops below the necessary level that the efficiency of the wind turbine drops (Hau, 2006489). There are a number of strengths and weaknesses of wind power and these will be assessed in the literature review. However, the UK has increased its share of the wind turbine market recently (at an average rate of 35% per annum) in its attempts to increase the percentage of which all electrical energy generated will come from renewable sources by 2020 (This has been set at 20% Government White Paper, 2003).There are various types of wind turbines, in different shapes and sizes, developed to harness the wind power at a particular geographical location. The main two versions of the modern wind turbine are based around the bloc. The two different types are the horizontal axis and the steep axis. The horizontal axis (Figure 5 above) is the most commonly seen in the United Kingdom and is popular due to the high efficiency rating. The higher the tall tower base, the higher the wind speed and the more output that can be created. This is why the horizontal axis is the most popular.However, this is also one of the disadvantages with complaints arising about the sight of these wind turbines on the horizon from man y locals when they are installed. Vertical axis wind turbines (Figure 6) are little common in the United Kingdom. These vertical axis turbines are less common due to the fact that they are generally less efficient, because of the nature of its rotation and the stress on the blades. This leads to frequent replacements and therefore a higher cost. They are, however, less tall than horixontal axis wind turbines and therefore less of a distraction on the horizon for those that are angered by the horizontal axis types.1.3 BiomassBiomass energy is de comelyd as any solid, liquid or gaseous fuel source derived from recently dead biological material. This is opposed to fossil fuels that come from long dead biological material. Biomass constitutes the largest non-hydroelectric renewable source of primary energy in the United States and its presence is growing rapidly in the United Kingdom (Turner Doty, 2009443). This is highlighted by Chiras (200621) who stresses that many countries are n ow turning to biomass as an alternative fuel source due to its relative ease in creating energy and the low cost involved.Biomass includes a wide assortment of solid fuels, such as wood, and liquid fuels such as ethanol derived from corn and biodiesel, a liquid fuel made from vegetable oils. The wide sorting of forms that biomass can take can be found in figure 7. Biomass is remarkably popular as an energy source, as stated previously due to the low cost and relative ease at obtaining the materials needed for conversion.The three main conversion types are anaerobic digestion, fermentation to alcohol and the thermal solve which produces a range of fuels and by-products including methane, methanol and ethanol that can produce heat, power and light, as well as fertilizers and fibres that can be used to produce food, textiles and plastics. (Figure 8)This range of products and power that it can produce make it very flexible and attractive to those who support the development of renewab le energy. However, one key advocate of biomass energy states that currently most use of biomass energy is not clean or sustainable. The pollution caused by burning wood, spread out and agricultural waste is causing severe health problems. It is also true that some energy crops have a bigger energy and environmental cost than they return. Thomas (200744) indicates that if biomass is to be a vital part of the future energy mix then there needs to be methods developed to process and use it in sustainable way over a long period of time.Biomass energy has accounted for over xxx percent of the United Kingdom electricity generation from various renewable energy types over the knightly five years. This amount is only second to that of hydro power (Institute of Physics Report, 2010). Although the total amount generated by renewable energy is still relatively small compared to that of traditional fossil fuels, it highlights that if biomass can be developed on a large more industrial scal e, and if more environmentally friendly processes can be created, then the usage of biomass technology may increase dramatically in the near future. Support within the United Kingdom exists for the development of the biomass energy industry. A recent report (atomic number 63an Wind Energy Association, 2009524) highlights that the United Kingdom government has developed grant schemes (funds reserved from the New Opportunities Fund) for investments in energy crops and biomass power generation of at least 33 million over three years. This will hopefully enable the biomass industry to develop cleaner, more sustainable methods of creating biomass energy that can be used on a much larger scale.1.4 GeothermalGeothermal energy is identified as power extracted from heat stored in the earth. It has a long history of use, from dewy-eyed shipway such as bathing to the modern use that of generating electricity. In recent years, geothermal power has developed but still only supplies around 0.5 % of the global electricity. Geothermal power is identified as cost effective, reliable, sustainable and environmentally friendly. However there are setbacks in the development of the energy. The main ostracize aspect of geothermal energy is that it is has been historically limited to regions that are close to or on tectonic plate boundaries (Craddock, 1998) Geothermal power works through a relatively simple process, exploiting the heat of the earth and transforming it into electricity. Figure 9 highlights how this process occurs. Capehart (2007) underlines the abundance of geothermal power and states that the resource base for the power can be drawn from shallow ground to hot water and rock some(prenominal) miles below the Earths surface to even further down, to molten rock known as magma (Capehart, 2007377).There are three types of geothermal power plants operating in the world today. These are dry steam plants, flash steam plants and binary cycle plants. Dry steam plants direct ly use geothermal steam to turn turbines. Flash steam plants pull deep, high pressure hot water into lower pressure tanks and use the resulting flashed steam to drive the turbines.Binary cycle plants pass moderately hot geothermal water by a secondary fluid to flash to vapour and then this vapour then drives the turbines (Capehart, 2007337). Geothermal energy is seen as very reliable in that it has an average system availability of 90-95%. This is utmost higher than other sources of renewable energy. There is however a negative aspect in the aesthetics of the geothermal power plants, with many scholars highlighting the unattractive nature of the plants (figure 10) as well as negative public opinion on this matter (Saunders, 2007).The benefits of geothermal power have been harness by countries such as Iceland and the United States for a number of years but only now is the United Kingdom beginning to realise the potential of this renewable energy process. An article by Morris (2009) notes that with the recent development of supply for the United Kingdoms first geothermal energy plant, the most suited region may be that of Cornwall due to the granite located there lending itself to the process. Morris (2009) emphasises that those fundament the Eden scheme believe that Cornwall could provide as much as 10% of the United Kingdoms electricity for the next one hundred years from geothermal plants. He also identifies other granite basements in the north of England and the north-east of Scotland.Geothermal power is therefore a currently underdeveloped source of renewable energy in the United Kingdom but has the potential to become a reliable and environmentally friendly source of power over the next few decades. The development of technology should also help to strengthen the support behind geothermal energy, given that at any location on earth, deep down in the incumbrance there is the potential energy for geothermal power. If developments can be made the energy t o be harnessed away from tectonic plate boundaries, then the power of geothermal energy could perhaps become unrivalled when compared to other renewable energy sources. The literature review will continue this debate as to the strengths and weaknesses of each particular renewable energy resource.2 Literature ReviewThis literature review will provide part of the secondary research into the research question posed at the beginning of the work. The aim to identify successful alternative renewable energy sources to replace that of non-renewable energy sources (fossil fuels) that currently are in consume today. Morgan (20079) stresses that while fossil fuels bring enormous benefits to the world, in term of the production of mass energy that has allowed global industry and technology, as well as levels of living to deepen rapidly in the last one hundred and fifty years, there a number of negative aspects to non-renewable energy sources. The limited nature of the resources is one, but al so the affects that the use of coal, oil and natural gas has on the environment is also a key factor in the need to develop renewable energy sources that are environmentally friendly.Therefore this literature review will attempt to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the four main renewable energy types solar, wind, biomass and geothermal and highlight a possible successful candidate or candidates that could take over in producing the large majority of global energy. In this manner, the four main types will need to be analysed in a number of key areas cost, effectiveness, affect to the environment and aesthetics.CostA good overview is provided by Freris Infield (2008). They highlight that afterward the United Kingdom government set the target of achieving 20% renewable energy in electricity supply by the year 2020, it became possible to analyse a cost for the proposed energy developments. An analysis end in 2003 suggested that the extra cost for the development of renewable energy processes would represent an additional 0.3p/kWh on consumer electricity bills. This was focused primarily on wind power, as wind power is expected to contribute the majority of the renewable energy target (Freris Infield, 2008215). Other scholars also support the view that wind power is the most costly of the renewable energy processes. Ackermann (2005300) acknowledges that the use of wind energy in remote areas is an exceedingly expensive option when trying to harness power from the earth, rather than using non-renewable energy sources.Quaak, Knoef and Stassen (1999) indicate their preferred method, through cost analysis, is that of Biomass. They state that the initial start up costs are less expensive than wind, solar and geothermal energy plants and also the longevity of the plants as compared to that of wind turbines (that need parts replacing on a regular basis) is a key factor in the cost analysis and that biomass is by far the cheapest of the renewable energy source s currently available (Quaark, Knoef Stassen, 19991).However, although carriage (2007) identifies that biomass is currently the cheapest form of energy, the scholar also states that solar power could become, over time, the cheapest form of energy. While solar panels are expensive, this is only because of the low number of them. Walker (20077) notes that solar cells would become dramatically less expensive if more people bought them, allowing the solar cell companies to down prices due to a healthy competition. The simple nature of solar power, combined with a drop in prices could back up the overall cost of the energy source, allowing it to become cheap and competitive with other renewable energy sources. Sass Duffield support the view of the cheap costs of geothermal energy as opposed to wind, biomass and solar energies. They state that geothermal energy, despite high initial installation and start-up costs, can dramatically lower periodic energy bills and therefore in the lo ng term, or within a few years, the cumulative energy savings equal the extra up-front costs and can become less expensive than other forms of energy. An interesting viewpoint is provided by Orr (200923) who indicates that at the current time, none of the existing renewable energies are cost effective and it is why governments across the globe are having to provide grants to develop them. The competitive nature of global nine means that only cost effective and profit generating products succeed. Therefore, designers of renewable energy processes need to find ways to lower the costs of purchase for these energies in an attempt to rival cheaper and more established fossil fuel production. It is only in this way that renewable energies can hope to develop rapidly to the benefit of the Earth. military strength and reliabilityThe effectiveness and reliability of an energy source is the most fundamental issue that surrounds its development. An energy that has low levels of effectiveness and low reliability evaluate will usually never be mass developed, due to the restrictive nature and high costs to gain a substantial yield. Wind power is suggested to have a relatively high effectiveness rating by Spilsbury Spilsbury (2007). However, other scholars stress that wind power is the least effective of all of the different renewable energies due to the loss of potential power through its design (Petersen, 1999). Other energies such as geothermal, with a 95% availability (Bracaloni et al, 1995) have a far higher efficiency rating. Quaark, Knoef Stassen (199952) also highlight the relative low efficiency rating of biomass energy, stating that conditions at times only allow a 25-35% efficiency rating. Lomborg (2001134) stresses that the efficiency of solar cells is also around the 20% mark, indicating that geothermal energy is far more efficient that other forms of renewable energy.Environmental effectsOne of the key weaknesses of the fossil fuels and their use in energy production today is the negative effects that they have on the environment. The creation of carbon dioxide from the processes needed to create energy from coal, oil and natural gas has acted as a catalyst in lowering climate conditions across the globe. Therefore, one of the main aims for new renewable energy sources is to promote an environmentally friendly strategy. Lomborg (2001) identifies that one of the renewable energy sources being discussed lacks this strategy. Lomborg stresses that biomass energy production gives rise to a slew of pollution problems such as suspended particles, sulphur, nickel, cadmium and lead. This is supported by the Council of Europe (no date) who indicate that the weakness of biomass energy is that it produces relatively large amounts of fine particles and often also other air pollution like polyaromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals.Compared to this, the Council stress that wind energy only causes some carbon dioxide and fine particle emissions in t he verbalism phase, whereas solar energy appears to be the most environmentally friendly of the renewable energies. Chiras (2009) identifies this and supports the notion that solar power is perhaps the most environmentally friendly of all of the renewable energies. The construction phase causes less emissions than any other renewable source and the fact that industrial plants (such as that used for biomass and geothermal energy) are not required for solar power means that like wind power, once constructed there is no harm to the environment, with the solar panels soaking up the heat of the sun and transferring this into energy.AestheticsThe aesthetics of renewable energy is a key factor in gaining support for possible renewable energy sources. Gipe (2004) stresses that wind power often comes under a lot of scrutiny due to the developments of horizontal axis wind turbines that dominant certain landscapes. Gipe indicates that communities are generally against these being developed be cause of the ugly aesthetical factor. However, he also notes that due to the nature of wind turbines and wind energy, these locations are generally remote and therefore do not affect the majority of people. There is also the development of wind turbines at sea, which could possibly aid the reduction of resentment towards wind turbines. Moreover, Scheer (2007200) underlines that the rejection of wind power on grounds of aesthetic landscape pollution is treacherous and short-sighted and cites key examples of previous architecture such as skyscrapers as precedents. He also argues that the benefits of wind power far outweigh any argument on aesthetics and therefore feels it is a surplus debate. Chandrasekharam and Bundschuh (2002) feel that there is a similar argument for geothermal and biomass energy plants. The aesthetic factor may often be overriding but the success of creating environmentally friendly (geothermal in particular), renewable energy should outweigh any decision as to t he aesthetical impact of these new sources of energy.SummaryA number of key concepts were analysed in this literature review. The review suggests that opinions over renewable energy sources and their potential success rates are divided. While there appears to be agreement in the literature over the importance of developing renewable energy sources due to the fact that fossil fuel supplies are decreasing dramatically and that they have an adverse effect on the environment, there is real debate as to the preferred methods of renewable energy. by chance the most important contributing factor may come down to cost, and the literature review suggested that the current cost for all renewable energy forms are too high and