Environmental impact of the energy industry

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

World consumption of primary energy by energy type.[1]
Energy consumption per capita per country (2001). Red hues indicate increase, green hues decrease of consumption during the 1990s.[2]

The environmental impact of the energy industry is significant, as energy and natural resource consumption are closely related. Producing, transporting, or consuming energy all have an environmental impact.[3] Energy has been harnessed by human beings for millennia. Initially it was with the use of fire for light, heat, cooking and for safety, and its use can be traced back at least 1.9 million years.[4] In recent years there has been a trend towards the increased commercialization of various renewable energy sources. Scientific consensus on some of the main human activities that contribute to global warming are considered to be increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, causing a warming effect, global changes to land surface, such as deforestation, for a warming effect, increasing concentrations of aerosols, mainly for a cooling effect.[5]

Rapidly advancing technologies can potentially achieve a transition of energy generation, water and waste management, and food production towards better environmental and energy usage practices using methods of systems ecology and industrial ecology.[6][7]

Issues

Climate change

Global average surface temperature datasets from various scientific organizations show the progress and extent of global warming.
Main article:
Attribution of recent climate change
The warming influence (called radiative forcing) of long-lived greenhouse gases has nearly doubled in 40 years, with carbon dioxide and methane being the dominant drivers of global warming.[8]

The

anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, the majority of which comes from burning fossil fuels with deforestation and some agricultural practices being also major contributors.[9] A 2013 study showed that two thirds of the industrial greenhouse gas emissions are due to the fossil-fuel (and cement) production of just ninety companies around the world (between 1751 and 2010, with half emitted since 1986).[10][11]

Although there is a highly publicized

IPCC report Climate Change 2007: Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability predicts that climate change will cause shortages of food and water and increased risk of flooding that will affect billions of people, particularly those living in poverty.[12]

One measurement of greenhouse gas related and other

photovoltaic produces the fourth-lowest.[14]

Similarly, the same research study (ExternE, Externalities of Energy), undertaken from 1995 to 2005 found that the cost of producing electricity from coal or oil would double over its present value, and the cost of electricity production from gas would increase by 30% if external costs such as damage to the environment and to human health, from the

solar panels, and was thirty times lower than coal at €0.06/kWh, or 6 cents/kWh, with the energy sources of the lowest external environmental and health costs associated with it being wind power at €0.0009/kWh.[16]

Biofuel use

Further information:
Environmental impact of biofuels

Biofuel is defined as solid, liquid or gaseous fuel obtained from relatively recently lifeless or living biological material and is different from fossil fuels, which are derived from long-dead biological material. Various plants and plant-derived materials are used for biofuel manufacturing.

Bio-diesel

Main article:
Environmental effects of biodiesel
See also: Indirect land use change impacts of biofuels and Sustainable biofuel

High use of bio-diesel leads to

land use changes including deforestation.[17]

Firewood

Unsustainable firewood harvesting can lead to loss of biodiversity and erosion due to loss of forest cover. An example of this is a 40-year study done by the University of Leeds of African forests, which account for a third of the world's total tropical forest which demonstrates that Africa is a significant carbon sink. A climate change expert, Lee White states that "To get an idea of the value of the sink, the removal of nearly 5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by intact tropical forests is at issue.

According to the

U.N. the African continent is losing forest twice as fast as the rest of the world. "Once upon a time, Africa boasted seven million square kilometers of forest but a third of that has been lost, most of it to charcoal."[18]

Fossil fuel use

Global fossil carbon emission by fuel type, 1800–2007 AD.

The three

fossil fuels in primary energy production in the world.[19]

In 2013 the burning of fossil fuels produced around 32 billion

effects
.

Coal

This section is an excerpt from Health and environmental impact of the coal industry.[edit]
A coal surface mining site in Bihar, India
A mountaintop removal mining operation in the United States

The

fly ash,[21] bottom ash, and flue-gas desulfurization sludge, that contain mercury, uranium, thorium, arsenic, and other heavy metals. Coal is the largest contributor to the human-made increase of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere
.

There are severe health effects caused by burning coal.

terawatt hour of electricity generated by coal, around a thousand times more than nuclear or solar.[25]

In addition, there have been many coal
mining disasters, although work related coal deaths has declined substantially as safety measures have been enacted and underground mining has given up market share to surface mining.[citation needed] Underground mining hazards include suffocation, gas poisoning, roof collapse and gas explosions. Open cut hazards are principally mine wall failures and vehicle collisions.[26] Hundreds of people died in coal mine accidents in 2022.[27]

Petroleum

This section is an excerpt from Health and environmental impact of the petroleum industry.[edit]
Flaring of gas from offshore oil extraction platforms
A beach after an oil spill.
plastic waste
on a beach.

The

environmental impact of the petroleum industry is extensive and expansive due to petroleum
having many uses.
Crude oil and natural gas are primary energy and raw material sources that enable numerous aspects of modern daily life and the world economy
. Their supply has grown quickly over the last 150 years to meet the demands of the rapidly increasing
human population, creativity, knowledge, and consumerism.[28]

Substantial quantities of

extraction, refinement, and transportation
stages of oil and gas. Some industry by-products, such as
volatile organic compounds, nitrogen & sulfur compounds, and spilled oil can pollute the air, water and soil at levels that are harmful to life, when improperly managed.[29][30][31][32]
tailpipe emissions kill many people.[36]

Among all human activities, fossil fuel combustion is the largest contributor to the ongoing buildup of carbon in the Earth's biosphere.[37] The International Energy Agency and others report that oil & gas use comprises over 55% (18 billion tons) of the recorded 32.8 billion tons (BT) of CO2 released into the atmosphere from all energy sources in year 2017.[38][39] Coal use comprised most of the remaining 45%. Total emissions continue to rise nearly every year: from 1.7% to 33.1 BT in 2018.[40]

Through its operations, the petroleum industry directly contributed about 8% (2.7 BT) of the 32.8 BT in 2017.[38][41][42] Also, due to its intentional and other releases of natural gas, the industry directly contributed at least

anthropogenic and natural emissions of the potent warming gas.[42][44][45]

Along with fuels like

liquified natural gas, petroleum enables many consumer chemicals and products, such as fertilizers and plastics
. Most alternative technologies for energy generation, transportation, and storage can only be realized at this time because of its diverse usefulness.[46]

environmental sustainability.[47][48][49]

Gas

Further information: Environmental impact of fracking

Natural gas is often described as the cleanest fossil fuel, producing less carbon dioxide per joule delivered than either coal or oil,[50] and far fewer pollutants than other fossil fuels. However, in absolute terms, it does contribute substantially to global carbon emissions, and this contribution is projected to grow. According to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report,[51] in 2004 natural gas produced about 5,300 Mt/yr of CO2 emissions, while coal and oil produced 10,600 and 10,200 respectively (Figure 4.4); but by 2030, according to an updated version of the SRES B2 emissions scenario, natural gas would be the source of 11,000 Mt/yr, with coal and oil now 8,400 and 17,200 respectively. (Total global emissions for 2004 were estimated at over 27,200 Mt.)

In addition, natural gas itself is a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide when released into the atmosphere but is released in smaller amounts. The environmental impacts of Natural gas also vary substantially on their extraction processes, much natural gas is a byproduct of heavily polluting petroleum extraction and newer techniques for

many more negative environmental and health impacts that traditional natural gas extraction
.

Electricity generation

Main article: Environmental impact of electricity generation

The environmental impact of electricity generation is significant because modern society uses large amounts of electrical power. This power is normally

power plants
that convert some other kind of energy into electrical power. Each such system has advantages and disadvantages, but many of them pose environmental concerns.

[52]

Reservoirs

This section is an excerpt from Environmental impact of reservoirs.[edit]
The Wachusett Dam in Clinton, Massachusetts.

The environmental impact of reservoirs comes under ever-increasing scrutiny as the global demand for water and energy increases and the number and size of reservoirs increases.

hydroelectric power, increase the water supply for irrigation, provide recreational opportunities, and flood control. In 1960 the construction of Llyn Celyn and the flooding of Capel Celyn provoked political uproar which continues to this day. More recently, the construction of Three Gorges Dam and other similar projects throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America have generated considerable environmental and political debate. Currently, 48 percent of rivers and their hydro-ecological systems are affected by reservoirs and dams.[53]

Nuclear power

Main article: Environmental impact of nuclear power
Nuclear power activities involving the environment; mining, enrichment, generation and geological disposal.

The environmental impact of

nuclear accidents
.

The routine health risks and

greenhouse gas emissions from nuclear fission power are significantly smaller than those associated with coal, oil and gas. However, there is a "catastrophic risk" potential if containment fails,[54] which in nuclear reactors can be brought about by over-heated fuels melting and releasing large quantities of fission products into the environment. The most long-lived radioactive wastes, including spent nuclear fuel, must be contained and isolated from humans and the environment for hundreds of thousands of years. The public is sensitive to these risks and there has been considerable public opposition to nuclear power
. Despite this potential for disaster, normal fossil fuel related pollution is still considerably more harmful than any previous nuclear disaster.

The 1979

Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
still in effect.

Mitigation

Energy conservation

Main article: Energy conservation

Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased

energy consumption
and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources.

Energy conservation can result in increased

personal security, and human comfort.[55] Individuals and organizations that are direct consumers of energy choose to conserve energy to reduce energy costs and promote economic security. Industrial and commercial users can increase energy use efficiency to maximize profit
.

The increase of global energy use can also be slowed by tackling

human population growth, by using non-coercive measures such as better provision of family planning
services and by empowering (educating) women in developing countries.

An EU survey conducted on climate and energy consumption in 2022 found that 63% of people in the European Union want energy costs to be dependent on use, with the greatest consumers paying more. This is compared to 83% in China, 63% in the UK and 57% in the US.[56][57]

Energy policy

Main article: Energy policy

Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity (often governmental) has decided to address issues of

energy production, distribution and consumption. The attributes of energy policy may include legislation, international treaties, incentives to investment, guidelines for energy conservation, taxation
and other public policy techniques.

See also

References

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