Discuss the Costs and Benefits of one or Two Alternative Sources of Energy. Costs and Benefits of Using Biogas

Discuss the costs and benefits of one or two alternative sources of energy.

Costs and Benefits of Using Biogas

The world’s dependence on fossil fuels is hugely costly and unsustainable. Traveling by petrol-powered cars or planes produces toxic gases which does actual harm to people’s health. Thanks to the scientific development, nowadays alternative energies are being explored and some have already come into being. Exemplified by biogas, this essay will outline the main features of this kind of alternative energy, followed by the merits and costs of using biogas in today’s society. It will conclude that biogas brings about more benefits than costs.

Biogas is a clean and sustainable energy source. It is produced by the breakdown of organic matter, for example, agricultural products or wastes, liquid manure, sewage or food waste, in the absence of oxygen. It is also a renewable energy, which can be burnt to generate electricity and heat for homes or businesses.

The benefits of using biogas are numerable. First of all, it is apparently that unlimited fossil fuel use is the pollution caused. Petrol powered cars emit various waste gases and dusts, and these greenhouse gases are greatly contributing to the global warming, whereas using biogas powered vehicles can reduce carbon dioxide emission to a large extent. However, fossil fuel combustion is only one cause of carbon emission. As most biological waste decomposition releases methane into the atmosphere, soil and water, moving these materials to a centralised plant is also a better way to devour wastes and garner renewable energy. More importantly, producing biogas can not only promotes the use of salvaged pieces, but also industry by-products (e.g. wood pellets), which therefore creates more employment opportunities in most countries.

Despite all these merits, using biogas also brings some problems. One of the biggest concern is the high initial investment. The process of biogas production is complicated, but the technologies available today is not that advanced. Since the start-up costs would be considerable, most individuals and governments are reluctant to invest in this sector, which makes it impossible to enable large scale production. Aside from that, biogas production is restricted by regions where raw materials are in plentiful supply. Building plants in large cities and transporting biological wastes from rural areas is also impractical; therefore, simplifying the whole process and making it low cost are what we should focus now.