Alternative Energy Technologies: Costs, Benefits & Sustainability

Introduction

The energy industry is heavily dependent on fossil fuel production, consumption, and technology. In order to better understand a more sustainable, environmentally friendly way forward, it is necessary to examine some of the more conventional alternative energy technologies available for use. Solar, wind, nuclear, natural gas, ethanol, hybrid, and hydrogen technologies all have their costs and benefits, and understanding them helps to mitigate these costs while amplifying their benefits. The structure of energy consumption is also likely to change in the coming decades, shifting from a centralized energy production model to one where communities and groups are creating their own independent and self-reliant energy infrastructures. Once the different types of technology are applied in smaller, more customized ways, they can be used in unison to create a comprehensive energy production and consumption plan that is maximized relative to sustainability and low environmental impact.

No one energy solution is the answer to the problem of CO2 emissions and other potentially detrimental environmental impacts. The solutions also depend greatly on the region and the geography and social dynamics of the area in question. There are many different pieces to the solution that will likely best fit most energy-conscious populations. It is also nearly impossible to analyze alternative energy solutions without understanding that the current costs of certain technologies will undoubtedly become lower as improvements and technological advances take place in the future. Therefore, no specific technology should be excluded in the solution to rising global energy demands, outside of the realm of pure fossil fuels.

The Current State of the Energy Industry

Energy consumption has become an important issue as the human population has grown. The ways in which energy is obtained and consumed need to be examined in order to both better understand the potential for growth and to identify the path that creates the best possible future scenarios for mankind. Since the Industrial Revolution, oil and other fossil fuels have become the mainstay of both the energy sector and many of the economies of the largest and most powerful nations. There is significant scientific debate over whether oil will remain a viable resource even fifty years from now, or whether it will have been depleted by human use. There are many different alternatives to oil, some of which have emerged recently and others that predate oil consumption itself. In order to form an accurate opinion and make an informed policy decision regarding energy consumption and resources, it is necessary to examine current trends in fossil fuel usage as well as the possibilities that exist with alternative fuel options. Each of these alternatives has its pros and cons, and in order to exploit the benefits of each and minimize the negative effects, they must be employed in a way that accounts for both best uses and limitations. Each alternative can be used exclusively, but true benefit will only come through the integration of alternative energy technologies and comprehensive energy planning.

It has been well established that the world's oil resources will not last forever. Some scientists believe that humans have reached a point called "peak oil," where oil production will no longer be able to keep up with consumption, driving prices higher and causing the complete depletion of Earth's oil resources within the next few decades. Others argue that peak oil has not yet been reached and that enough oil reserves remain in the ground to power civilization for many more centuries. Whichever argument proves correct, the fact that fossil fuels impose other harms upon the planet must not be overlooked. The energy industry itself is tied to the fossil fuel model. If fossil fuels are indeed becoming less and less available, then the transition to alternative energy sources becomes a very necessary and prudent course of action. The earlier humans begin to recognize that a transition is not only necessary but also potentially economically sustainable, the easier that transition will be when it occurs.

In many countries there are currently government subsidies for alternative fuel production. In the U.S., ethanol production from corn has been subsidized since 1978. These subsidies are based on oil price targets of $20 per barrel of crude oil and outdated cost analyses of the ethanol production process, and are therefore under scrutiny from many parties relative to their cost versus benefit (Tyner, 2007). Other countries have begun to adopt clean energy technologies outright — France and the Netherlands have done so with nuclear energy and wind power, respectively, with many other countries planning to follow their lead. The necessary framework exists for alternative fuels to become more feasible, but that framework needs to be reinforced with realistic government and private sector encouragement. Entire economies were built around the oil industry, and so entire economies can be built from alternative energy sources if the proper transition is navigated with attention paid to more than just profits and current ease of energy access. The alternative energy revolution is approaching, and many different technologies will be utilized to address a very global problem.

Conclusion and Recommendations

It can easily be seen through simple cost-benefit analysis that there are many different alternative energy technologies currently available. While not every technology was explored here, the most popular and feasible types of energy production remain relatively well-established. Some are less sustainable or renewable than others, while some are far more expensive at present. In order to successfully implement any energy policy or structure, it is essential to understand that these alternative energy options work best when deployed together to magnify their collective benefits and reduce their environmental and economic costs. Different technologies are advantageous for different environments and energy consumption goals.

The best way to approach this issue is to understand that each of these pieces plays a part in completing a comprehensive energy solution. The most cost-effective technologies are currently those that incorporate fossil fuel technologies alongside new technologies such as battery systems and hydrogen fuel cells, as these most likely represent the front line in a transition away from fossil fuel energy. Eventually, the need for environmental and social sustainability will outweigh the current costs of fuels like ethanol and oil, and solar and nuclear power will become the most popular alternatives, barring any new technological developments in fusion or other power sources.

The best approach to alternative energy technologies is to recognize their individual strengths and weaknesses and use all of them in unison to create effective and efficient energy infrastructures for the future. The recommendation here is that any group looking to adopt cleaner, more sustainable modes of energy production and consumption should focus on community sustainability and diversification of energy sources. Only through community reliance and the shared benefits and costs of different technologies can alternative energy adoption be truly effective and successful. Each piece of the alternative energy puzzle plays a vital and unique role in solving the world's energy and fossil fuel consumption problems.

References

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