Energy Source Pros and Cons
Energy Source Pros
Coal Relatively inexpensive (low cost)
Relatively low capital investment
Abundant supply
Continuous power, good
utilisation. High load factor
Substantial existing infrastructure-
mature industry
Can be converted to a liquid or a
gas, which burn cleaner
Most of our electricity
Lots of jobs
Oil Abundant in supply
No new technology required
Moves vehicles faster and longer
than any other energy source
Easy to transport in liquid form
Substantial energy-one of the
highest energy densities
Easily produced and refined
Gas Delivery infrastructure already
exists
Burns quite efficiently
Can be used as an automotive fuel
Burns cleaner than gasoline or
diesel
No waste or residue to deal with
Natural gas industry employs 1.2
million people
Solar Renewable source of energy
Abundant in supply; the potential
of solar energy
Sustainable-we can never over-
consume
Environmentally Friendly-does not
cause pollution
Good availability; is available all
over the world
Reduces electricity costs
Cons
Is non-renewable, there is a finite
supply
The largest contributor to global
warming due to greenhouse gases(CO2)
High cost of transporting coal to
centralised power plants
Coal ash is a hazard and a disposal
problem
High levels of radiation at coal plants
Pollution, respiratory illnesses
Emits carbon dioxide (greenhouse
gases)
Non-renewable
Drilling can lead to spills-hazardous
both to mankind and pollution
Expensive
Disasters of oil drilling-works injured
Non-renewable fuel, supply cannot be
replaced for millennia
Emits carbon dioxide when burned
Explosive-dangerous
Concentrated sources require distance
transmission and transportation
Requires extensive pipelines to
transport over land; equipment
Significant environment risks associated
with fracking; eg. water pollution,
leaks lead to gas in water
Expensive to set up the solar panels
Intermittent; access to sunlight is
limited at certain times
Energy storage is expensive in
batteries; technology is expensive
Associated with pollution, some
manufacturing processes are associated
with greenhouse gas emissions
Requires spacious areas, for higher
power density
Solar cells effectiveness, air pollution
could cause problems
Hydro Renewable source of energy
Clean, does not cause pollution
Is a safe energy conversion
compared to nuclear energy and
fossil fuels
The energy output can be
regulated to adapt to the
consumption needs and storage
capacity
Durability, dams can produce
energy for decades
Reliable, very little fluctuations in
terms of the electric power
produced by the plants
Geothermal Environmentally friendly
compared to gas or oil furnaces
Not a significant source of
pollution
Efficient
A renewable source as long as the
Earth exists
No cost fluctuations determined
by gas and oil prices
Not weather dependent
Technology behind geothermal
energy will only continue to
improve in efficiency
Wind Does not cause pollution
The potential of wind power is
enormous, more energy produced
Wind turbines are incredible
space-efficient
The operational costs associated
with wind power are low
Good domestic potential, extra
savings for land owners
Renewable source of energy
Tidal Renewable energy source
Environmentally friendly, does not
emit any climate gases
Tidal currents are highly
predictable, making it easier to
construct the system
Effective at low speeds
High efficiency
Environmental impact, changing water
levels and flooding large areas-having a
strong impact on wildlife and the
ecosystem
Displaced people, construction of a
large dame often requires that entire
towns move out of the area
Expensive, a very important initial
investment
Accidents, past old dams often suffered
breaches which led to floods and
deaths
Droughts, electricity generation and
energy prices are directly related to
how much water is available
Electricity is still needed to operate
heat pumps
Geothermal energy using wells requires
an incredible usage of water
Discharge into the Earth could include
sulphur dioxide and silica
Damage to underground loops can be
difficult and costly to repair
Large scale geothermal power plants
are dangerous to the Earths surface
Wind reliability, changes in weather
Threat to wildlife, the edges of wind
turbines can actually be unsafe to
natural life
Noise and visual pollution
Expensive to set up the wind turbines
Risks the safety of people, severe
storms and high winds can cause
damage to the blades of wind turbine
Effect on environment, needs open
areas of land meaning clearing of lands
(cutting trees)
Expensive to build
Locations are often remote
Barrages may restrict access to open
water
Can change tidal level of surrounding
area
Disrupts regular tidal cycles
Reduces kinetic energy in the ocean
You are to use your table to present an argument for how YOU think Australia should manage its
energy requirements with the available energy sources listed above. Be sure you justify your
decision using the arguments you have found and ensure the reliability of your information using the
table below and providing a bibliography. (1 2 pages max)

Australia should manage its energy using renewable resources for a more efficient use of the Earths
resources and preserve them for future generations. Hydro energy resources and wind energy is
largely being developed and growing rapidly, and although Australias renewable resources has been
limited by higher transformation costs relative to other energy sources, they are more
environmentally friendly to those of non-renewable resources. Whereas, non-renewable energy
sources; coal, oil and gas have a bigger environmental impact on the world, for they emit
greenhouse gases and other forms of pollution. These fossil fuels will eventually run out because we
are using them much faster than they can be restored within the earth. Burning fossil fuels produces
photochemical pollution from nitrous oxides, and acid rain from sulphur dioxide. Burning fuels also
produce greenhouse gases including vast amounts of carbon dioxide that may be causing the
phenomenon of global warming that the planet is currently experiencing. Renewable energy sources
are generated from natural resources and can be naturally replenished, preserving our non-
renewable and limited resources.

Australias hydro energy resources lie within areas of highest rainfall and elevation, hydro energy
resources were developed early in Australia and are currently the largest source of renewable
electricity. Hydro energy is non-polluting and safe energy conversion, which is a reliable source of
energy as it has very little fluctuations in terms of the electric power produced by the hydro power
plants. Moreover, the energy output can be regulated to adapt to the consumer needs and storage
capacity, which reduces the extensive cost of the storing of energy in batteries. Hydroelectric power
is exceptionally dependable and stable energy, as there are no issues as far as the electric power
that is constantly produced by the plants, unless an alternate source is required.

Whilst, Australia has some of the best wind energy resources in the world with its wind energy
technology relatively mature, and wind power expanding rapidly. Wind energy is encouraged by
government policies, notably a renewable energy target for its potential of wind power is enormous,
and can create huge amounts of energy and non-polluting technique. Whereas, the operational
costs for the wind turbines are low and provide extra savings for those who are landowners are large
areas.

Geothermal energy is another renewable energy source that doesnt create a significant source of
pollution and is environmentally friendly. Australia has large but as yet inadequately defined and
quantified geothermal energy resources. These include hot-rock type geothermal resources
associated with buried high heat-producing granites as well as hot sedimentary aquifer-type
geothermal resources present in deep aquifers in a number of sedimentary basins. There are also no
cost fluctuations determined by gas and oil prices and geothermal energy is not dependent on the
weather. Whilst, the technology for geothermal energy is already developed to a resourceful
standard it still continues to improve in efficiency.

However, I think hydro and wind energy are the best renewable sources that are capable of
producing majority of Australias electricity. These two energy sources can produce large amounts of
energy without the environmental impact of pollution. Although, geothermal energy is also an
effective energy resource, but can cause pollution and environmental issues when dealing with the
injecting of the remaining water back into the Earth.
Web address: http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/energy/basics#heading-2
Title of page: Basics-Geoscience Australia
Who put the information
government
there?
Very
How reliable do you think the source of information is? Reliable Unreliable
reliable
Reason for reliability
The website is a government website, which are normally accurate
rating:
How current is the information? Current Recent Outdated
Is the site regularly updated? Weekly Monthly Yearly Never
What is the purpose of the site? Personal Public Political
Is there any evidence of bias in the information? Yes No
Outline any bias you
find:
Confidence in accuracy and reliability: Very Confident Not

http://www.solarschools.net/resources/stuff/non_renewable_energy.as
Web address:
px
Title of page: Non-renewable Energy
Who put the information
there?
Very
How reliable do you think the source of information is? Reliable Unreliable
reliable
Reason for reliability It seems to be accurate with the definitions and has a few statistics
rating: that support the views on the issues
How current is the information? Current Recent Outdated
Is the site regularly updated? Weekly Monthly Yearly Never
What is the purpose of the site? Personal Public Political
Is there any evidence of bias in the information? Yes No
Outline any bias you
find:
Confidence in accuracy and reliability: Very Confident Not