Coal power is currently a major source for producing Australia’s electricity needs. This was stated by (Origin Energy, 2015), that recorded 73% of electricity is generated through coal power stations. With the current issues of global warming it is expected that Australia looks at alternative sources for the growing electricity needs. However, with current economic issues, coal is the cheapest energy source option. In order to move from coal fired power stations it is suggested, renewable sources like wind, solar and geothermal power stations should source Australia’s energy. What energy type is most sustainable, environmentally safe and economical for the production of Australia’s electricity requirements?
Coal energy currently produces electricity …show more content…
Furthermore, this was emphaised by the US Energy Information Administration, who discovered worldwide, coal reserves will last for 300 years. That makes it an affordable energy source long-term for Australia. Meanwhile, even though coal is cheap miners are at a high risk to develop pneumoconiosis, black lung, caused by breathing in coal dust (Hadjiliadis, 2013). A report by the American, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health stated due to pneumoconiosis in the US from 2000-2009, 10,000 miners died Castleden et al., 2011). However, with improving methods on coal methods of coal mining and cleaning have reduced harmful effects. As stated in the Medical Journal of Australia (Castleden et al., 2011) due to monitoring and regulations introduced there has been a fallen number in coal workers pneumoconiosis. Even through changes to technology gases are still being released by coal stations. According to (Englart, 2015) the Hazelwood coal power station, Victoria, Australia is one of the most polluting coal power stations in the world. Furthermore, (Milman, 2015) from the Guardian Australia, stated that yearly, the Hazelwood station, emits 15.5 million tonnes of greenhouse …show more content…
Furthermore the (Centre for International Economics, 2006) stated that in Australia geothermal energy has the potential to generate electricity until 2456. This shows that geothermal energy are a sustainable energy source for Australia’s future. Even though the prospects for geothermal power plants may be good, they are expensive to set up. Geothermal power plants are expensive and require large reservoir’s to be dug out in the ground. This is a consequence of minimal access to facilities and equipment worldwide (Kukreja, n/a). Energy Informative, environmental engineer (Maehlum, 2013) discussed that in order to drill a reservoir for a one megawatt plant costs $2 -7 million. Geothermal plants do not require any fossil fuels as they extract heat from under the ground, making it a renewable energy source. As the process of extracting heat from under the earth through wells occurs the weather has no effect on it unlike solar and wind power. Evidence by (Spinks, 2015) show that on average the capacity of energy to generate power is much higher in geothermal plants when compared to solar and wind. Geothermal have a high 90 to 95% while wind and solar have 20 to 40%. Therefore, geothermal power plants can work throughout year and any time during the day. As a result of geothermal plants drilling deep into the ground cause toxic
Coal energy currently produces electricity …show more content…
Furthermore, this was emphaised by the US Energy Information Administration, who discovered worldwide, coal reserves will last for 300 years. That makes it an affordable energy source long-term for Australia. Meanwhile, even though coal is cheap miners are at a high risk to develop pneumoconiosis, black lung, caused by breathing in coal dust (Hadjiliadis, 2013). A report by the American, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health stated due to pneumoconiosis in the US from 2000-2009, 10,000 miners died Castleden et al., 2011). However, with improving methods on coal methods of coal mining and cleaning have reduced harmful effects. As stated in the Medical Journal of Australia (Castleden et al., 2011) due to monitoring and regulations introduced there has been a fallen number in coal workers pneumoconiosis. Even through changes to technology gases are still being released by coal stations. According to (Englart, 2015) the Hazelwood coal power station, Victoria, Australia is one of the most polluting coal power stations in the world. Furthermore, (Milman, 2015) from the Guardian Australia, stated that yearly, the Hazelwood station, emits 15.5 million tonnes of greenhouse …show more content…
Furthermore the (Centre for International Economics, 2006) stated that in Australia geothermal energy has the potential to generate electricity until 2456. This shows that geothermal energy are a sustainable energy source for Australia’s future. Even though the prospects for geothermal power plants may be good, they are expensive to set up. Geothermal power plants are expensive and require large reservoir’s to be dug out in the ground. This is a consequence of minimal access to facilities and equipment worldwide (Kukreja, n/a). Energy Informative, environmental engineer (Maehlum, 2013) discussed that in order to drill a reservoir for a one megawatt plant costs $2 -7 million. Geothermal plants do not require any fossil fuels as they extract heat from under the ground, making it a renewable energy source. As the process of extracting heat from under the earth through wells occurs the weather has no effect on it unlike solar and wind power. Evidence by (Spinks, 2015) show that on average the capacity of energy to generate power is much higher in geothermal plants when compared to solar and wind. Geothermal have a high 90 to 95% while wind and solar have 20 to 40%. Therefore, geothermal power plants can work throughout year and any time during the day. As a result of geothermal plants drilling deep into the ground cause toxic