You may have heard of both renewable and non-renewable energy sources, but what exactly do they mean? Find out the differences between petroleum and solar energy in this article.
Petroleum And Nuclear Energy
First off, let’s be clear about one thing. Petroleum and nuclear energy are not the same thing. Though they both come from the same source (oil and minerals, respectively), they are produced under completely different conditions. While petroleum is abundant and can be found practically anywhere in the world, nuclear energy is tricky to get ahold of. It’s also worth noting that even when they are technically available, the cost of nuclear power is high and can vary dramatically. This leads us to our next topic.
Cost Effective
Even before you consider the risks and environmental impact that come with nuclear energy, it’s clear that petroleum is a cost-effective energy source for large-scale power generation. The reason is that the price of a barrel of oil is pretty much constant and doesn’t rise or fall depending on the current state of the economy or whether or not there are gas stations available near you.
This makes it easier for power companies to plan their budgets and know what price they should expect to pay for electricity, no matter what the current market conditions are. Additionally, the fact that the cost of petroleum is so stable makes it easy for power companies to plan for future price fluctuations by investing in reserves that can be sold on the open market. This is probably the single most important reason why petroleum is such an attractive option for large-scale power generation.
Risks
Like any other form of power generation, there are risks associated with petroleum. One of the biggest is oil pollution, which arises when accidents or illegal activities happen during the production or transportation of the substance. Aside from the fact that many large-scale power plants still rely heavily on oil for cooling, there is also the risk of oil spills if there is an accident during production or transportation. Another source of risk is the risk of natural disasters, such as floods or earthquakes, damaging the plants and requiring repairs.
Nuclear power, on the other hand, is relatively safe. The most notable risk associated with this form of power generation is nuclear waste, which is generated in significant amounts during the process. This type of waste must be stored safely, which can be quite challenging, especially since many of the materials used in the process are also very hazardous. The chance of an accident or severe damage is very low, but it still exists and must be taken into account.
Environmental Impact
When it comes to environmental impact, petroleum is clearly the better option. This is because the production of petroleum doesn’t cause any significant damage to the environment. In fact, it can be said that petroleum production encourages sustainable practices, as it requires a lot of oil to be extracted from the ground. As a general rule, the less energy a substance requires to produce or process, the less harmful it is to the environment.
On the other hand, nuclear energy is generally considered to be extremely destructive to the environment, as the production of this form of power requires a lot of material to be excavated, mined, and manufactured into pieces that can be used in a nuclear reactor. Even after the energy is generated, there is still considerable decomposition that occurs, leading to more toxins being released into the air. This, in turn, can be harmful to both humans and animals alike.
Societal Impact
As we discussed above, one of the significant advantages of petroleum as a source of energy is that it doesn’t cause any significant damage to the environment. This, in turn, has positive consequences for human society, as the production of petroleum doesn’t require the exploitation of workers or undermine the local economy in any way. In fact, many people consider the societal impact of petroleum to be its greatest advantage.
On the other hand, the production of nuclear energy has negative consequences for human society. This is due mostly to the fact that the majority of nuclear energy is generated from fissile materials. In other words, it requires a lot of uranium or plutonium to produce energy, and these are both highly strategic materials. This means that their production, especially for military use, has significant political overtones, as they can be used to create nuclear weapons. In other words, creating energy from fission has negative societal impact. Though it’s relatively safe for power plants to produce nuclear energy, it isn’t exactly cheap and easy to get. This makes it more of a specialist and high-end energy source.
The bottom line is that though both petroleum and nuclear power have their advantages, the former is clearly the better option, as it has a significantly smaller impact on the environment and human society. This is why we can often find petroleum-based products advertised as “green” or “sustainable,” as these products require less energy to be produced and have less of an impact on the environment than their nuclear counterparts.
Renewable And Non-Renewable Energy
Besides petroleum and nuclear energy, there are also non-renewable energy sources, such as coal and natural gas, which are considered to be “traditional” or “fossil fuel,” due to their origin from decayed matter. These sources, like petroleum, are very common and can be found practically anywhere on Earth, so they aren’t going to go away anytime soon. Though they are not going to disappear, it is worth noting that they have limited use and must be mined and exploited in order to produce more.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are renewable energy sources, including solar and wind energy, which are considered to be sustainably produced or “green” energy. Though they are natural and non-toxic, solar and wind energy are often considered to be “zero-emission” forms of energy production, as they don’t harm the environment in any way. This makes them ideal alternatives to traditional forms of power generation, such as fossil fuels.
The general rule with regard to renewable energy sources is that the less they are used, the better. This is because as they are used, they are depleted and eventually become useless. Additionally, the production of solar and wind energy is often considered to be carbon-free, as these sources don’t produce any toxic by-products during the production process. This makes them ideal green energy sources.
The Difference In Practice
Though the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy is often discussed in theory, it can be difficult to put into practice. This is because most people take their daily energy for granted and don’t really consider the sources from which it comes. As a result, they often don’t see the value in speaking out about alternatives to traditional sources of energy.
This attitude is quite understandable, as most people don’t like thinking about unpleasant things. It is quite challenging to change how people think, as this usually requires an extensive and intensive education program. Additionally, many people are not aware of the risks that come with alternative energy sources, as they are not as familiar with these materials as they are with traditional forms of energy. The bottom line is that though renewable energy is often seen as the cleanest option, this is not necessarily true, as it requires additional effort to produce.
To conclude, it’s quite clear that petroleum is the superior option when it comes to power generation, as it has a very small impact on the environment, while also being relatively affordable and available in large quantities. This makes it easier for power companies to plan their budgets and ensure that they have enough energy to meet their needs, no matter what the current economic conditions are. Though it isn’t perfect, the use of petroleum allows us to continue living in a civilized society.