Conservation Of Energy

   Geothermal energy

What is Geothermal Energy?

·       Heat from the earth can be used as an energy source in many ways, from large and complex power stations to small and relatively simple pumping systems. This heat energy, known as geothermal energy. Below Earth's crust, there is a layer of hot and molten rock, called magma. Heat is continually produced in this layer, mostly from the decay of naturally radioactive materials such as uranium and potassium. The areas with the highest underground temperatures are in regions with active or geologically young volcanoes. These "hot spots" occur at tectonic plate boundaries or at places where the crust is thin enough to let the heat through.

·       The most common way of capturing the energy from geothermal sources is to tap into naturally occurring "hydro-thermal convection" systems, where cooler water seeps into Earth's crust, is heated up, and then rises to the surface. Once this heated water is forced to the surface, it is a relatively simple matter to capture that steam and use it to drive electric generators.

·       Geothermal springs can also be used directly for heating purposes. Geothermal hot water is used to heat buildings, raise plants in greenhouses, dry out fish and crops, de-ice roads, and improve oil recovery, aid in industrial processes like pasteurizing milk, and heat spas and water at fish farms.

Geothermal Energy and Conservation

•      The future of geothermal energy depends on three factors: it’s demand, supply and it’s competitiveness among other renewable resources in terms of cost, availability, reliability etc.. Demand for geothermal energy is going to increase and increase with the increase in the population and extinction of other non-renewable sources. Moreover, today government also support the resources which are cleaner and do not spoil the environment.

•      Supply of geothermal energy is limited and confined to certain areas only. The entire resource of geothermal energy is fairly bigger than that of coal, oil and gas. Geothermal energy can be made more widely available if the methods and technologies used to extract it are improved. Geothermal energy is still not explored fully. Several miles below the earth surface is hot, dry rock being heated by the molten magma directly below it.

   Nuclear energy

What is Nuclear Energy?

Nuclear energy is the energy in the nucleus, or core, of an atom. Atoms are tiny units that make up all matter in the universe. Nuclear energy can be used to create electricity, but it must first be released from the atom. In nuclear fission, atoms are split to release the energy. Nuclear energy is harnessed  by nuclear fission and nuclear fusion:

Nuclear Fission-

Nuclear fission is a reaction in which a large nuclei breaks apart into two smaller nuclei, releasing a great deal of energy.

Nuclei can fission on their own spontaneously, but only certain nuclei, like uranium-235 and plutonium-239, can sustain a fission chain reaction. This is because these nuclei release neutrons when they break apart, and these neutrons can slam into other nuclei, causing them to also break apart and release more neutrons

Nuclear Fusion-

•  Nuclear fusion occurs when the nuclei of two or more light atoms, like hydrogen, combine to create one big nucleus, like that of a helium atom. This process also results in the conversion of mass into energy.

In order for nuclear fusion to occur, protons and neutrons must be exposed to temperatures approaching 100 million degrees Celsius (180 million degrees Fahrenheit) which, to put things in perspective, is even hotter than the sun.

Nuclear Energy and Conservation

Nuclear energy is a powerful force. Attempts have been made to find other constructive ways of harnessing it. Nuclear power is an important source of energy in many countries. 442 nuclear reactors are now operating worldwide with a total capacity of 300,000 MW. Two and a half times this number will be added by 2030 and four times as many by 2050, says the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the bastion of the global nuclear community.

Higher oil and gas prices make alternatives such as nuclear power more attractive and are expected to lead to growth in nuclear generating capacity worldwide. Improvements in reactor design enhance safety, increase efficiency, and reduce costs, making nuclear generation an economically attractive source of energy. Many countries, including the UK, have recently affirmed their intention to continue their use of nuclear energy for electricity generation, and although this decision has been condemned by anti-nuclear pressure groups, all the indications are that nuclear power will continue to be an important source of energy for us for a long time to come.

That's the beauty of nuclear power, aside from the spent fuel rods, there's really no other waste products produced from it. So it doesn't really matter how much power is used or not used. Nuclear power works via reaction, once the plant starts producing power, it almost never stops until the fuel rods are spent and need to be replaced. It's not like coal or oil powered plant that uses more or less fuel based on demand.