Week 3 - Discussion
Week 3 - Discussion
As you know, our world is heavily dependent on fossil fuels for meeting our energy needs. In Chapter 6 of Contemporary Environmental Issues, you have read that there is concern about the possibility of reaching a peak in oil production, and even coal and natural gas will eventually run out. (Next week, in Chapter 7 of the textbook, we will read about an even more pressing reason for no longer relying on fossil fuels: global climate change.) Chapter 8 of Contemporary Environmental Issues introduces a variety of possible alternative energy sources, including nuclear power and many renewable options like wind power and solar energy. Next week, you will participate in a collaborative project aimed at developing an alternative energy plan for a particular community—the details of which won’t be revealed until then.
For now, let’s all pool our research into what possible energy choices might be able to help us move away from fossil fuels. In your main post this week, please identify two alternatives to fossil fuels that are currently available. Discuss the barriers that keep these alternatives from replacing coal, oil, and natural gas as our primary means of energy. Discuss the role that government plays in ensuring a transition to these renewable alternatives in a post-carbon world. Be creative—these ideas might become the building blocks for next week’s sustainable energy plan. Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Utilize at least two scholarly or reputable resources and your textbook to support your claims, using the Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources document for guidance. Cite your sources in APA style, as outlined in Ashford Writing Center. Quoted text should constitute no more than ten percent of your post.
Paper For Above instruction
The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is a critical pathway toward sustainable and environmentally responsible development. Among the promising alternatives, solar energy and wind power are two of the most widely available and technologically mature options currently accessible. However, significant barriers hinder their replacement of conventional fossil fuels, including technological, economic, and infrastructural challenges, as well as policy and market dynamics.
Solar Energy
Solar power harnesses the sun's abundant energy through photovoltaic cells, making it an attractive renewable resource with increasing efficiency and decreasing costs (IRENA, 2020). Despite its potential, several barriers limit solar energy's widespread adoption as a primary energy source. The intermittency of sunlight is a primary issue; solar panels only generate electricity during daylight hours and are affected by weather conditions, necessitating reliable energy storage solutions (Lund & Mathiesen, 2009). Additionally, high upfront costs of solar panel installation and the need for extensive space for large-scale deployment pose economic and logistical barriers, particularly in densely populated or resource-limited areas (International Renewable Energy Agency [IRENA], 2020).
Wind Power
Wind energy capitalizes on the kinetic energy of moving air, which can be converted into electricity through wind turbines. Wind power is considered cost-effective and scalable, with many regions experiencing significant wind resources (National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL], 2019). Nonetheless, barriers include visual and noise concerns associated with turbines, which can lead to local opposition—a phenomenon known as ‘not-in-my-backyard’ (NIMBY). Moreover, wind farms depend on consistent wind patterns, and their locations are often remote from major population centers, necessitating substantial investments in transmission infrastructure (Aitken, 2010).
Role of Government
Government policies are pivotal in overcoming these barriers and facilitating a transition to renewable energy. Governments can provide incentives such as subsidies, tax credits, and grants to lower the cost of renewable energy projects (Sawin et al., 2020). Regulatory frameworks and renewable energy mandates encourage utility companies to integrate clean energy sources into their portfolios. Additionally, government investments in research and development can improve technologies for energy storage and grid integration, crucial for addressing intermittency issues. Establishing clear long-term policies and commitments signals market stability, attracting private investments and fostering innovation (Kuyper & Bakke, 2020).
In conclusion, solar and wind power are vital alternatives to fossil fuels, but technological, economic, social, and infrastructural barriers must be addressed to enable their dominance. Government intervention plays a crucial role in creating an enabling environment for these renewable sources to proliferate, ultimately facilitating a transition toward a post-carbon, sustainable energy future.
References
Aitken, M. (2010). Measuring community acceptance of wind energy: deployment, communication, and local issues. Energy Policy, 38(8), 4041-4049.
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). (2020). Solar Power: Technology Brief. https://www.irena.org/publications/2020/Feb/Solar-Power
Kuyper, J., & Bakke, K. M. (2020). Policy pathways for renewable energy integration. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 119, 109020.
Lund, H., & Mathiesen, B. V. (2009). Energy system analysis of 100% renewable energy systems—The case of Denmark in years 2030 and 2050. Energy, 34(5), 622-631.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). (2019). Wind Energy Resource Assessment Database. https://www.nrel.gov/wind/resource_assessment.html
Sawin, L. C., Nicholas, D., & Lantz, E. (2020). Transitioning to renewable energy: policy options and challenges. Environmental Politics, 29(3), 457-473.