Pros and cons of [alternative] energy sources?

Question

What are pros and cons for each of these energy sources:

Ethanol, Electricity, Natural Gas, P-Series, BioDiesel, Hydrogen, Propane, Methanol

??

Answer 1

The main con to all other types of energy is related to our infrastructure.  Our nation is an oil consuming nation.  For example, the Hydrogen powered car is here, but it's not practical since there are very few places to get hydrogen to fill up your Hydrogen car.  We need investment in the infrastructure to support other energy means (distribution) in order for an other fuel source to be practical to use in our cars.  You can find out more at http://www.GoElectricNow.com.  I hope this helped.

Answer 2

I currently run Bio Fuel (straight vegetable) in a 1999 Dodge 3500 truck. But all Cummins engines were modified from the factory to run on BioD since around 1992 without any modification.

Most vehicles are already equipped to run on Alternative Energy. In fact you’re probably even driving one right now and didn’t even know it. Go to www agua-luna com for a list of this vehicles

Ethanol doesn’t go bad like petroleum it’s just Alcohol. It’s what preserves your wine and gets better as the years go by.

Ethanol is a much cleaner fuel than petrol (gasoline):



It is a renewable fuel made from plants

It is not a fossil-fuel: manufacturing it and burning it does not increase the greenhouse effect

It provides high octane at low cost as an alternative to harmful fuel additives

Ethanol blends can be used in all petrol engines without modifications

Ethanol is biodegradable without harmful effects on the environment

It significantly reduces harmful exhaust emissions

Ethanol's high oxygen content reduces carbon monoxide levels more than any other oxygenate: by 25-30%, according to the US EPA

Ethanol blends dramatically reduce emissions of hydrocarbons, a major contributor to the depletion of the ozone layer

High-level ethanol blends reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 20%

Ethanol can reduce net carbon dioxide emissions by up to 100% on a full life-cycle basis

High-level ethanol blends can reduce emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) by 30% or more (VOCs are major sources of ground-level ozone formation)

As an octane enhancer, ethanol can cut emissions of cancer-causing benzene and butadiene by more than 50%



Sulphur dioxide and Particulate Matter (PM) emissions are significantly decreased with ethanol.

Lastly and my favorite.. It can be made at home.

It will cost about $1.10 to $1.20/gal to make the alcohol from various feed-stocks like corn, barley, potatoes, or Jerusalem artichokes. You will also have by-products which you can sell or use as animal feed, reducing the total cost down to about $.95/gal.

Biofuel is recognized by both the US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy as an alternative fuel, and qualifies for mandated programs under the Clean Air Act Amendments and the Environmental Protection Act of 1992 (EPAct).

USDA Clears Air with Biofuel: Buses and other diesel-burning vehicles run cleaner if they mix biofuel with regular diesel fuel, said the US Department of Agriculture at a biofuel fuel seminar at a USDA research center.

Conversely most major automotive manufacturers (Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, etc) recommend the use of bio fuels, and nearly every car manufacturer in the world approves ethanol blends in their warranty coverage.

In fact your probably even driving an ethanol car and didn't even know it.

The trick is finding fuel.

I've been producing biofuel for about 3 years now, it's not extremely difficult. Basically you need general household ingredients, a processor (or still for ethanol) and some used oil. Blend it, let separate, screen and use. I complied a guide a while back to help walk you threw the process step by step, just email me or check out..

www agua-luna com

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World... Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY... All With Just One Click of A Mouse...For more info Visit:  

www AGUA-LUNA com

Stop Global Warming!!!

Answer 3

Solar energy, and advance hydrogen fuel cells are the way of the future.  It is the hope of scientist that one day, solar panels will be so efficient, they'll be able to capture every band of light that the sun emits, as of today, they only capture out 2 bands I believe.  Another problem with solar energy, solar panels are far to expensive as of yet.  In the near future, it is hoped that they will be much more practical.  As for hydrogen fuel cells, they hope that they'll be able to develop a fuel cell that runs off of pure H2O(water).  Today's, fuel cell runs off of pure H2(hydrogen) and, emits water vapor and oxygen into the atmosphere. Hydrogen takes a lot more energy to manufacture than  pure water.

Ethanol is a good thought, but it does raise food prices, which puts ranchers buying feed in a very difficult spot.  Also, they say it takes more energy to grow the corn, harvest it, ship it to a refinery, refine it, and then ship it to filling station, than the actual ethanol produces itself. And it still produces air pollution.

Answer 4

For cars we don't need any of those the solution is in the air.

Yes air powered cars.

MDI is releasing an air powered car in 2009

Google MDI air car

Save the world

Save your self

THINK ABOUT IT

THINK GREEN

Answer 5

First thing to note is that the question needs to be stated in a more specific context for more directed answers.  Still, I'll try and answer the question for some of these fuels:

Ethanol: Comes from corn.

Pros: Comes from a domestically grown resource, helping end dependence on foreign oil.

Cons: Corn that was marked for export and food can be earmarked for Ethanol instead.  For 2008/2009, this is promising to cause very large shortages in poorer countries around the world because of how much corn the US normally exports.  Ends up being more expensive per mile than regular gas.

Electricity: Comes from a variety of power plants (coal, nuclear, etc.)

Pros: Various methods have differing pros (such as: nuclear doesn't produce same amount of greenhouse gases as coal plants, coal plants don't produce radioactive waste, etc.).  

Cons: The cons are the opposite of the pros.  So, coal power plants produce large amounts of greenhouse gases.  Nuclear power plants produce radioactive waste that must be stored safely while it deteriorates.  Cars can't go as far on a full charge as with a full tank of gas.  Also, special recharge stations may be required.

Natural gas: Comes from a variety of sources

Pros: Lighter than air, so will rise instead of forming explosive pockets during a leak.  It is clean burning.  Better for the air than regular gas.

Cons:  Hard to find pumping stations.  Gives less than half the range compared to regular gas cars.

BioDiesel: Made from vegetable/seed/plant oil.

Pros: Much better than regular diesel for environment.

Cons: Costs more than regular diesel.

Hydrogen: From a variety of sources.

Pros: Decreased greenhouse gases, less dependence on foreign oil

Cons: Extremely inefficient, high fuel cell cost, bad performance in freezing conditions, low service life, no large scale hydrogen distribution system around the country.

Methanol: Must be produced

Pros: Similar to ethanol (better compression, octane rating than gasoline).

Cons: Extremely corrosive, worse mpg than ethanol, producing methanol results in net increase of carbon dioxide.

Hope this helps.

P-Series: Must be produced.

Pros: No need to mix with gasoline, 70% renewable per year, less toxic by-products.

Cons: Restricted availability, requires a "flex fuel" vehicle (FFV).

Answer 6

Solar Energy - Our sun is the greatest source of energy we know about it today, it comes to us freely and is efficient. It is very possible that solar power can replace traditional electricity sources in many places, especially where there is abundant sunshine. Unfortunately not all places are ideal for solar power. In the areas at high latitude there is not enough sunlight in a day to produce efficient energy, and the same for places where it rains a lot.

Wind Energy - Wind is very efficient at producing electricity. Obviously you need a lot of wind, like along coast lines and at high altitudes. Wind power could replace up to 20% of our total electric consumption in the foreseeable future. Wind is a clean source of energy with none of the harmful byproducts like carbon dioxide. However the huge blades of the windmills do pose a danger to birds and you need a lot of room to build a sufficient number of windmills.

Hydroelectric Energy - This type of power is mainly sourced from dams. The production of electricity from the water movement is clean and it does not produce waste material. However, the ideal type of places to build this is very limited and it is very expensive to build the dams.

Tidal Energy - Tidal energy work much in the same way as hydroelectric energy, but on a smaller scale, and it uses the natural tides of the ocean. There are several drawbacks though. Because of the sometimes violent and unpredictable nature of the ocean, they can not be constructed in many places. So far only about 9 places have been identified to build this kind of power plants. And these power plants can have a negative impact on migratory birds and also fisheries.

Biomass - Biomass can be used to produce an alcohol that is comparable to coal and can be used to replace our gasoline needs. The biomass may consist of fermented animal waste, agricultural crops, grains and other natural products. However, using the resulting fuel still produces greenhouse gases.

Other forms of energy such as fusion, geothermal and nuclear power can power the world, but they all have some negative impact on the environment.

It seems all forms of alternative energy have some drawbacks, but they all are better options to replace our current dependency on coal and oil.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Some-Pros-And-...

Answer 7

everything in life is trade offs. you eat to much you get fat,you spend more then you earn, you call deep in debt. you get it.

nuke is the cleanest,but you have residue. low risk.

food to make energy .cost or food goes up. world  has a hungry problem.

to change over as quick the greenies want,don't take in consideration of cost to the driver of buy and selling is car.

no one ever tells you the cost ,when will it be ready.

all they worry about 50 years in the future. which may or may not be a fact.

Answer 8

Growing crops to turn into ethanol brings food prices up since land/crops that were meant for food are now used to make fuel.

Electricity still needs to come from somewhere.

Answer 9

It makes no difference except hydrogen. The amount of hp produced will produce the same CO2.....