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1) UNIT-1 # Impact & Environmental Degradation

The document discusses the differences between non-renewable and renewable energy resources, highlighting the environmental impacts of both. It details how non-renewable resources like fossil fuels contribute to pollution and climate change, while renewable sources, although cleaner, still pose ecological challenges. The document emphasizes the need for a shift to renewable energy and the implementation of mitigation strategies to reduce environmental degradation.

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Saumya Singh
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23 views9 pages

1) UNIT-1 # Impact & Environmental Degradation

The document discusses the differences between non-renewable and renewable energy resources, highlighting the environmental impacts of both. It details how non-renewable resources like fossil fuels contribute to pollution and climate change, while renewable sources, although cleaner, still pose ecological challenges. The document emphasizes the need for a shift to renewable energy and the implementation of mitigation strategies to reduce environmental degradation.

Uploaded by

Saumya Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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❖ The non-renewable energy resources, such as fossil fuels and nuclear

materials, are extracted from the earth and can be depleted in near
future. These resources have been the most used type of energy in the
modern era.
Renewable Energy Resources
❖ The renewable energy resources, such as wind, water, solar,
geothermal, ocean, biomass etc., come from sources that regenerate
as fast as they are consumed and are continuously available.
❖ The energy sources which can be renewed by nature again and
again, and their supply is not affected by the rate of their consumption
are called renewable energy resources.
❖ These are environment friendly and have potential to replace non-
renewable energy resources. These are also known as inexhaustible
sources of energy.
❖ Renewable energy resources are available in unlimited amount in
nature and can be renewed over relatively shorter period of time. Most
of the renewable sources of energy are fairly non- polluting and
considered as clean.
Impact of Energy Systems on the Environment
Some major environmental issues are as follows:
❖ Non-renewable resources such as coal and petroleum cause more harm
to the environment when compared to renewable resources in the form
of air and water pollution, the generation of toxic wastes, etc.
❖ Coal gives out sulfur as emissions that harm the trees. The process of
coal mining results in the production of acid mine drainage, whereby
heavy metals dissolve and infiltrate into the ground and surface
water. The process may entail the displacement of vast quantities of
topsoil, ultimately resulting in erosion, habitat degradation, and pollution.
❖ Oil production and usage result in releasing the poisonous carbon oxides
into the air. An oil spill refers to the release of petroleum into a vast
water body, resulting in significant economic and ecological issues. The
presence of oil on the ocean’s surface hinders the penetration of sunlight
and decreases the level of dissolved oxygen, thereby endangering various
forms of aquatic life. Additionally, crude oil damages the insulating and
waterproofing abilities of feathers and fur, which can cause oil-covered
marine animals and birds to suffer from hypothermia and perish.
Impact of Energy Systems on the Environment (Continuation)
❖ Even renewable resources are not completely eco-friendly. The generation
of energy from the wind, the sun, tides, etc., also creates harmful
environmental impacts and affects biodiversity to a significant level.
❖ The exhausts from natural gas release nitrogen and even methane
oxides, which affect people and animals that use water from the affected
water bodies. The burning of fossil fuels results in the emission of
significant quantities of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the
atmosphere. These gases have the ability to trap heat in the atmosphere,
which ultimately leads to global warming.
❖ Biomass also results in the generation of harmful gases. Ash created on
burning biomass is another unwanted waste that causes disposal issues
due to its lead and cadmium content.
❖ Manufacturing photovoltaic (PV) cells produce toxic chemicals.
❖ Although hydropower does not cause air or water pollution, it severely
impacts the fish population. It causes the relocation of the people and
animals living near the dam sites. Moreover, it changes the water
temperature.
Environmental Degradation due to Energy Production and
Utilization
Energy production and use can cause environmental degradation in a
number of ways, including::
1. Air Pollution
❖ Fossil Fuels: Burning coal, oil, and natural gas emits harmful
pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), particulate
matter, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to
smog and respiratory problems.
❖ Greenhouse Gases: Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) are
released, contributing to global warming and climate change.
2. Water Pollution
❖ Thermal Pollution: Power plants release heated water into nearby
water bodies, disrupting aquatic ecosystems.
❖ Oil Spills: During extraction, transport, and refining of oil, accidental
spills contaminate water bodies.
Environmental Degradation due to Energy Production and Utilization (Continutation)

❖ Chemical Discharges: Wastewater from energy plants contains heavy


metals, radioactive materials, and other toxins that harm aquatic life.
3. Land Degradation
❖ Mining Activities: Coal and uranium mining cause deforestation,
soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity.
❖ Infrastructure Development: Large-scale energy projects like
hydroelectric dams and wind farms disrupt ecosystems and lead to
habitat loss.
4. Deforestation
❖ Bioenergy: Clearing forests for biofuel production or wood-based
energy depletes natural carbon sinks, reducing the earth’s ability to
absorb CO₂.
5. Climate Change
❖ The excessive release of greenhouse gases from fossil fuel
combustion intensifies the greenhouse effect, leading to global
warming, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events.
Environmental Degradation due to Energy Production and Utilization (Continutation)

6. Solid Waste Generation


❖ Coal Ash: Coal-fired power plants produce ash containing toxic
elements like mercury, arsenic, and lead.
❖ Nuclear Waste: Nuclear reactors generate radioactive waste that
requires long-term management and poses risks of contamination.
7. Ecosystem Disruption
❖ Hydropower: Dams alter river ecosystems, displace communities,
and affect fish migration patterns.
❖ Wind and Solar: Large-scale wind and solar farms occupy vast areas
of land, potentially disrupting local wildlife.
8. Health Impacts
❖ Pollution from energy production leads to respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases in humans.
❖ Exposure to radiation from nuclear energy or mining operations poses
serious health risks.
How to Reduce the Impact of Energy Systems on the Environmental Degradation
Mitigation Strategies
❖ Shift to Renewable Energy: Emphasize solar, wind, and
hydroelectric energy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
❖ Energy Efficiency: Promote technologies that maximize energy use
while minimizing waste. Example: Energy Star Rating, Energy
Conservation Building Codes (ECBC)
❖ Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Develop methods to capture
and store CO₂ emissions.
❖ Policy and Regulation: Implement strict environmental laws to limit
emissions and promote sustainable energy practices. Example: Energy
Conservation Act 2001
❑ By addressing these challenges, energy systems can become more sustainable, reducing environmental
degradation while meeting the world’s energy needs.
❑ Through the development of ‘green’ or ‘clean’ technology that refers to the new technologies which aim
to conserve, monitor or reduce the negative impact of technology on the environment and the
consumption of resources. Despite the negative impact of technology on environment, a recent rise in
global concern for climate change has led to the development of new environmental technology aiming to
help solve some of the biggest environmental concerns that the society face as a through a shift towards a
more sustainable, low-carbon economy.
How to Reduce the Impact of Energy Systems on the Environmental Degradation
(Filler Lines @ Scientific Writing) @ Discussion
❖ As all energy resources have an impact on the environment. There is no
such thing as a ‘clean’ source of energy. The consolation is that
renewable resources cause lesser environmental impacts than non-
renewable resources of energy. Research is still on for the development of
resources that are long-lasting and have minimal environmental impacts.
❖ Environmental impacts are an inherent part of electricity production and
energy use. Electricity generated from renewable energy sources has a
smaller environmental footprint than power from fossil-fuel sources,
which is arguably the major impetus for moving away from fossil fuels to
renewables.
❖ However, although the types and magnitude of environmental effects
differ substantially from fossil-fuel sources and from one renewable
source to another, using renewables does not avoid impacts entirely. An
understanding of the relative environmental impacts of the various
electric power sources is essential to the development of a sound energy
policy.

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