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Jong Heon Park

English 101
Argument Essay
11 November 2015
Energy Source
As we enter into the 21st century, mankind has discovered numerous sources of energy to
satisfy the needs of the population. We need energy to run our car, generate electricity, heat
houses, or even fly airplane. With the standard of living constantly increasing and industry
becoming larger and larger, the demand for energy has seen a sharp increase. Most of where
Western civilization has gotten to today is thanks to energy generated by coal and fossil fules, but
it is not inexhaustible, and will cease to become a resource. Although conservation of the fossil
fuels is a reasonable policy, it will not stop the process of depletion. Because of a vested interest
in fossil fuels and no panacea to the energy problem, we have resorted to using an amalgamation
of energy sources to suit the demand. The use of combined energy sources is the most plausible
solution for the future.
There are numerous energy sources that provide us energy but the most widespread are
fossil fules, hydroelectric, solar, geothermal, nuclear, wind, biomass, ocean thermal electric
current, and tidal. They all share a similar method in generating power; the spinning of a turbine
creates energy which is converted into power. Coal power station converts the chemical energy
into electrical energy that can be used. First the coal is ground to a fine powder and blown into
the boiler, where it is burned; converting its chemical energy into heat energy. Similarly, Hydroelectricity uses the power of falling or flowing water to generate electricity, using the water from
rivers and streams of water, even waterfalls. Power can also be generated from the Sun, using

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solar-powered photovoltaic (PV) panels. These panels convert the Sun's rays into electricity by
exciting electrons in silicon cells using the photons of light from the sun. Geothermal power,
which is not as popular as the other sources of electricity, are still used fairly. Geothermal power
plants use steam produced from reservoirs of hot water found a few miles or more below the
Earth's surface to produce electricity. The steam rotates a turbine that activates a generator, which
produces electricity. Generating electricity from the wind is also popular method. By using a
large wind turbine with propellers, connected to a generator to generate electricity. The
advantage of these power sources is that they are all renewable.
Although it has high productivity compared to others, Nuclear power is inconvenient and
risky and is not a renewable energy source. In a nuclear plant, water is the main link in the
process that converts fission energy to electrical energy. Boiling water reactors heat the water
surrounding the nuclear fuel directly into steam in the reactor vessel. Pipes carry steam directly
to the turbine, which drives the electric generator to produce electricity. Additionally, biomass is
a great option in generating energy. There are several methods to create electricity from
biomass. The most simple method is to burn biomass directly, heat water to steam, and sending it
through a steam turbine, which then generates electricity. The other method requires gasification
of biomass, which takes dry biomass, such as agriculture waste, and with the absence of oxygen
and high temperatures produces synthesis gas (CO + H2), also known as pyrolysis of biomass.
Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) generates electricity by using the temperature
difference between cooler deep and warmer shallow or surface ocean waters to run a heat engine
and produce useful work. Lastly, tidal energy is produced through the large underwater turbines,
placed in areas with high tidal activities, designed to capture the kinetic motion of the ebbing and
surging of ocean tides in order to produce electricity.

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Primary energy sources take many forms, including nuclear energy, fossil energy like oil,
coal, natural gas, and renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydro power. These primary
sources are converted to electricity, a secondary energy source, which flows through power lines
and other transmission infrastructure. Renewable energy is the energy that comes from natural
resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain,
tides, waves and geothermal heat. Using renewable energy gives us many benefits in economy
and also it is environment friendly since it does not generate waste. Unfortunately, these power
sources combined still do not meet the global demand for power. Geothermal plants in USA
produce about 3 gigawatt a year, regular hydroelectric plant produces 2 giga watt(GW). And
entire world produces 1.85 GW solar energy per year. While a single nuclear plant can produce
from 3GW to 8GW per year by itself, it is not likely to be a major source of world energy
consumption because of the public`s concerns on possible dangers associated with unleashing the
power of the atom. If renewable energies are too weak to supply our demand and nuclear is too
dangerous, what should we use in the future where oil and coal are depleted? There is no crystal
solution to this question, but mankind will continue to find new ways to create energy.
The total world energy demand is for about 400 quadrillion British Thermal Unit each
year. 1 BTU is equal to the energy generated by a match. Oil, coal, and natural gas supply nearly
88% of the worlds energy needs, or about 350 quadrillion BTUs, and oil alone is the source of
about 41% of the worlds total energy supplies, or about 164 quadrillion BTUs. In contrast, coal
provides 24% of the worlds energy, or 96 quadrillion BTUs, and natural gas provides the
remaining 22%, or 88 quadrillion BTUs. The problem would never be solved if we approach by
asking What can substitute that 350 quadrillion BTU right now? Although oil and coal will be
depleted for sure, it is not going to deplete next month or year. The conversion of our main

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source of electricity will happen slowly, and as our technology advances and we find different
sources we can extract our power from, the consumption of coal will decrease or at least stay the
same. It is true that world`s population is growing fastly, as well as the technology. Lastly, it is
very important for the developed nations, who can afford to change their energy source, to use
more renewable energy and let the developing nations to use coal and fuel. As of now, there is no
clear solution or energy source that can replace coal/fossil. But that does not mean we will not
have the solution in 2115. Which means our solution is to conserve our oil and coal and slow
down the phase of coal/oil extraction until we find our real solution in a near future.

Work Cites

McLamb, Eric. "Fossil Fuels vs. Renewable Energy Resources." Ecology. 6 Sept. 2011.
Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ecology.com/2011/09/06/fossil-fuels-renewable-energyresources/>.
Sim, KiBo. "Current State of Nucler Plant." Atomstory. 20 Aug. 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.ecology.com/2011/09/06/fossil-fuels-renewable-energy-resources/>.
Jung, Hyung Suk. "PowerPlant Construction Report." Electimes. 28 June 2014. Web. 11
Nov. 2015. <http://www.electimes.com/home/news/main/viewmain.jsp?news_uid=114454>.
"Power Source Disclosure." Power Source Disclosure. California Energy Commission.
Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
Chul Hong, Kwon, Ji Hae, Bae. Bo Young, Yun. National Korean Energy Resource Research:
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