Energy Crisis Article

The Energy Crisis

The facts are not 100% conclusive, but there is a general worldwide consensus that an energy crisis looms in the future. As so much of humanity's tasks and survival is so closely dependent on energy (fuel that drives our cars, heats our homes, and powers our appliances and equipment), an energy crisis would no doubt spell a crucial crossroads (if not a veritable roadblock) in humanity's history. Experts are urging the use of alternative energy solutions to avert the catastrophic complications of a worldwide energy crisis.

Since the Industrial Revolution, fossil fuels have been the primary source of energy for human society. Now, several hundreds of years later, reserves of this non-renewable energy source are running low. Current projections claim that the world's supply of oil will be used up by the year 2050. The threat of depletion of fossil fuels-coal, oil, and natural gas-has spurred governments and private agencies to promote the use of alternative energy sources.

Alternative energy solutions focus on natural prime movers that can be tapped to produce energy. These prime movers include wind, geothermal energy, hydropower, and solar energy. Other, newer alternative energy sources include fuel cells. These and other alternative energy sources are currently being developed and used with varying success, but the question remains--Will they ever be as efficient as fossil fuels?

Let's take a look at the more popular forms of alternative energy and see how they fare in that category:

*Wind energy has been used since medieval times to grind flour and pump water. Today, wind turbines generate electricity to power homes and small towns, and have seen much success in many windswept areas in the world, particularly in the United States.

However, wind is for the most part unpredictable with no electricity being generated during times of the year when there is no wind. Unless a town is situated close to unpopulated hills, rows of wind turbines are unsightly.

The biggest hindrance to the implementation of wind energy, however, has been and still is cost efficiency. Power companies all over the world hesitate to invest in or buy power produced by wind turbines, but governments have taken steps to subsidize alternative energy sources, wind among them.

*Tidal energy is another possible source of renewable energy. Tidal energy harnesses the energy of ocean waves, and is an effective source of power, even though it is understandably limited in its geographical aspect.

*Geothermal energy uses geysers and other underground sources of heat, and because of that is a very important alternative energy source in remote locations such as Iceland. Like tidal energy, geothermal energy is geographically limited--sources aren't found everywhere, and must be first located before they can be tapped.

*Nuclear energy can theoretically produce inexhaustible amounts of energy, but the dangerous possible complications from its use keep it from achieving wide acceptance. Nuclear plants follow strict safety regulations and are generally safe, but catastrophic mishaps have occurred in the past, cementing a rather unfavorable reputation with society. Today, even environmentalists are not thoroughly convinced in advocating the use of nuclear energy.

*Other, more recent alternative energy innovations like fuel cells still need a lot of work before getting accepted as a mainstream energy source. As promising as alternative energy sources seem today, they still fail to match up to the efficiency of fossil fuels.

Wind energy and hydropower currently appear to be the most viable alternative energy sources in the long term. Solar energy also promises to play a huge role in powering our homes and cities, but carries a heavy technological drawback. The technology to produce better, more efficient solar cells is not available, and the development of solar cell technology has somewhat leveled off into an apparent peak. Solar cells are also costly to produce being even less cost-efficient than wind turbines.

Time is running out for all of us, and the use of alternative energy today demands a level of attention that has never before been seen. While scientists and environmentalists all over the world scramble to find solutions to the looming energy crisis, we can start doing our share by practicing simple energy saving measures. We have no reason not to--it is always to our benefit in the long run. Should we fail to arrive at suitable solutions to the energy crisis before time runs out, civilization as we know it may grind to a halt, causing everyone to revert to walking and biking to get around!