In the past years, the earth has been under an increasingly high pressure of heat due to human activities that are contributing to the density of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere, burning fossil fuels being the main one. To reduce these emissions, more efficient and reliable energy sources such as solar energy should be used. This essay aims to compare burning fossil fuels and solar power as energy sources, highlight the effect of burning fossil fuels on the environment and how that may lead to climate change, as well as discuss how solar energy can be used as an alternative energy source that would result in the same outcome.
Earth’s temperature is increasing by the effect of global warming that has been caused by both natural effects and human activities. The increase of density of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere creates a hole in the ozone layer, which then increases the earth’s temperature by passing sun photons through the ozone hole and block it from being released back to the space. Fossil fuel combustion is one of the main human activity issues that led to increasing greenhouse gases on the atmosphere, which was caused by burning organic material such as oil and coal to convert it into electrical energy (NASA, 2011). About three quarters of the electricity in the UK is sourced from power stations functioned by fossil fuels (Mclntosh, 2014). Figure 1 shows the process of converting chemical energy that is stored in coal into electrical energy. Stage 1 is where coal heats the water and transfers the water into steam, then the water vapor is transferred into movement in the turbine on stage 2. In stage 3 the energy that was made from the action of water vapor in the turbine where electrical energy is produced and transferred to stage 4 of the process, which is when the electrical energy is sent to houses in the UK (Mclntosh, 2014).
Solar energy is considered one of the most essential solutions for reducing the number of greenhouse gases in earth’s atmosphere. It works by absorbing and converting the sun’s photons from thermal energy into electrical sustainable energy. It absorbs solar radiation by the crystal electron bonds that link between Silicon atoms, where the light is attached, and electrons bonds are excited to higher levels and move around the crystal freely hence generating the current (Locke, 2008). This process occurs in the solar cells, combining solar cells together from a solar panel. PV system is where solar panels and solar cells take place to work on converting light radiation into electrical energy (University of Central Florida, 2007). Solar energy is one of the most functional technologies that end with the same product that burning fossil fuel does, but without leaving any harm to the environment.
Comparing burning fossil fuel and solar energy has resulted that both sources of energy provide the same outcome which is electrical energy. Evidence shows that there are huge differences in the effects on the environment between the two sources of energy. Fossil fuel increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which it is the most abundant greenhouse gas in earth’s atmosphere (NASA, 2011). Referring to figure 2, research done on extracting the maximum energy developed that the solar panel can store and be used as an energy source. A study conducted in Khouribga city, Morocco (Nfaoui and El-Hami, 2018) shows that the average electrical energy flowing in solar panels between 1st May and 22nd August, provided 1m2 7.2kWh and reached the maximum capacity of 8.3kWh on the 21st of June. The energy provided in panels depends on seasonality and sun exposure as shown in figure 2, storage capacity is increased in the summer and decreased in winter mainly due to weather conditions (Nfaoui and El-Hami, 2018). Figure 2 provides powerful evidence that shows how solar panels provide large amounts of energy without the need of burning fossil fuels and polluting the environment.
In conclusion, solar power is highly effective in producing energy and is a great way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Studies show that it can be as effective as the use of fossil fuels as an energy source without it being harmful or polluting to the environment. It is time for us to be smarter about our natural resources and think of implementing other ways, such as solar energy for energy source, rather than using fossil fuels and establish a negative impact on our environment by bringing an end to the crisis of fossil fuel burning.
Reference list
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Mclntosh, N. (2014). BBC – GCSE Bitesize: Conventional power stations. [online] BBC. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway/energy_resources/generating_electricityrev4.shtml [Accessed 8 Dec. 2018].
NASA (2011). Effects of Changing the Carbon Cycle. [online] NASA earth observatory. Available at: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/CarbonCycle/page5.php [Accessed 8 Dec. 2018].
NASA (n.d.). A blanket around the Earth. [online] Global Climate Change Vital Signs of the Planet. Available at: https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/ [Accessed 8 Dec. 2018].
Nfaoui, M. and El-Hami, K. (2018). Extracting the maximum energy from solar panels. [online] pp.536-545. Available at: https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S2352484717301725?token=D4B489C5437B7DF7DA9B983A1384D3D8F94E5DED1B555176726D027436910E2E875CACAAEE93A1726174FED227DD2680 [Accessed 8 Dec. 2018].
Samimi, A., Zarinabadi, S. and Samimi, M. (2012). Solar Energy Application on Environmental Protection. International Journal of Science and Engineering Investigations, [online] 1(8), pp.21-22. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amir_Samimi3/publication/267687770_Solar_Energy_Application_on_Environmental_Protection/links/5547332d0cf234bdb21dc040/Solar-Energy-Application-on-Environmental-Protection.pdf [Accessed 8 Dec. 2018].
University of Central Florida (2007). How a PV System Works. [online] FLORIDA SOLAR ENERGY CENTER. Available at: http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/solar_electricity/basics/how_pv_system_works.htm [Accessed 8 Dec. 2018].