Engineering Research Paper on Sustainable Energy Report

Global warming is perhaps the biggest problem facing humanity in the current times (Thakur, n.d). Debates over the cause of global warming have centered on the idea that global warming is not caused by human activities since the natural forces have much more carbon footprint than human activities. The argument here therefore is that human activities have indeed little, if nothing, to do with global warming (Wang & Chameides, 2007). The truth however is the very fact human activities have everything to do with global warming. Among the causes of global warming are:

a.       Burning of fossil fuel from factories, cars and production of electricity, which has increased the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (Wang & Chameides, 2007).

b.       The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has identified the emission of anthropogenic greenhouse gases as among the major malefactor for global warming (Thakur, n.d; National Geographic, n.d; Jian-Bin et al., 2012)

The increase in the amount of greenhouse gases has adverse effects on the atmosphere and scientists predict that the current effects are nothing compared to the future effects of global warming (National Geographic, n.d.). The effects of global warming on humans include

a.       Currently there is unprecedented increase in temperatures and a change in the normal climatic patterns (Thakur, n.d).

b.      There is also the current increased loss of sea ice, fastened sea rise level and prolonged and extreme heat waves (NASA, n.d).

c.       In the future the increase in temperature will result in melting of glaciers, with adverse effect on seasonal cycle causing drought and flooding.

d.      The rarity of water and if present it will be contaminated (Thakur, n.d)

e.       The destruction of the ozone layer which will increase our exposure to the sun’s radiation increasing cases of cancer especially in Europe and North America (Thakur, n.d).

Given the threat of climate change and the need for sustainable energy and economic development, there is need for development and adoption of sustainable non-polluting sources of energy that include solar energy, wind energy, green power, hydropower, ocean energy, hydrogen and Fuel cells. These energy sources are important for a number of reasons:

a.       Fossil fuels are not only great contributors to climate change, they are also finite sources of energy predicted to be depleted in the near future.

b.      Energy remains as the most critical factor for economic development and global prosperity, thus the need for reliable, clean and affordable sources of energy (UN, 2010).

c.       Sustainable energy is economically sound, and is predicted to save the world thereabouts of $180 billion a year (UN, 2010).

d.      Sustainable energy will ensure energy for many generations, since unlike fossil fuel, it does not run out.

e.       Sustainable energy is also additionally important in job creation.

Solar panels

Wind turbine

Nuclear power

a.       The energy comes free of any cost

b.      Does not cause pollution

c.       It is possible to use panels even in the most remote areas where it can be expensive to connect electricity (Goffman, 2008).

d.      Solar energy cannot be depleted

b.      The sun is not available at night and the access to the sun is reduced with cloudy weather and storms (Goffman, 2008).

c.       Power from solar panels and stations apart from being expensive to harness and build, does not also produce as much energy and conventional power stations.

d.      Batteries charged by the panels are expensive to buy, large and heavy to move and also need replacement.

a.       Technology to create power plant is readily available

b.      Produces enough energy for industrial and domestic use

c.       Does not release smoke unlike fossil fuel (Burgess, 2014).

d.      Cost effective as it produces more kilowatts than coal for less

e.       The waste materials can be reprocessed and used in the reactors (Burgess, 2014).

a.       Accidents in the reactors can have devastating effects on the environment, humans and ecology as was seen in Chernobyl (Burgess, 2014)

b.      Exposure to radioactive material causes cancer and other health complications.

c.       Uranium deposits are bound to be depleted soon and it is therefore not an infinite source of energy as solar and wind (Burgess, 2014).

d.      The reactors generate close to 30 tons of nuclear waste, which is dangerous.

e.       Any accidents or mishandling can release dangerous doses of the material, hazardous to more than 12,000 generations

b.      Reduced greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere

c.       Promotes the economy by using local material for turbine construction

d.      Research is in progress to store wind energy during times of excesses to be used when the wind is low.

b.      Onshore wind power has been indicated as having visual impact (The Guardian, 2012).

c.       Wind power generation has been known to kill birds from the turning turbines

Emirates such as Dubai have predicted depletion in their oil reserves, it is therefore important to turn to this clean and renewable source of energy

UAE has a large carbon footprint and the need to reduce it by use of solar panels.

Lowers electricity bills

The emirates’ oil deposits are bound to get depleted

Solid waste management is still a problem in UAE, will they be able to hand nuclear waste (Alderman, 2010)

The UAE has the largest consumption of energy in the world, and the need for sustainable energy to substitute fossil fuel (Shadbolt, 2014).

It may not provide enough energy to supply the power hungry UAE.