There are a large number of renewable or alternative energies that help protect the environment and take care of the planet, since they emit much less pollutants than others. In addition to this, they have the advantage of coming from renewable sources. However, there are also dirty energies that can come from renewable sources, such as nuclear energy. So, what are the energies that pollute?what are polluting or dirty energies? Keep reading this Green Ecologist article and we will explain it to you!
What is a polluting or dirty energy
Dirty energies are those energies that during their production, distribution and consumption process have some high environmental costs. Of all these costs, one of the most harmful and unsustainable for the environment is the emission of greenhouse gases, which increase the global process of climate change. Some of these gases are carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, or ozone.
These energies are usually obtained from the burning of fossil fuels, like coal, oil or gas, but not always, as is the case with nuclear power or large hydroelectric dams. Below we explain in more depth each of these energies.
Polluting energies: examples
Here are some examples of polluting or dirty energies:
Gas
The gas is considered dirty energy. However, it is a transitional energy and is the least polluting of the fossil fuels. Unlike other sources of CO2 emission such as coal or oil, gas is lower. However, its use continues to represent a great problem for the progress of renewable energies.
Natural gas also has a high environmental impact and high energy expenditure, since to store it, it is necessary to compress it and liquefy it at very low temperatures. Also I know they need large works and infrastructures when it comes to transporting it, they are capable of producing great alterations in the landscape and its biodiversity. Also, there are high risks of methane leakage. All of these factors make it dirty energy.
Coal and oil
Coal and oil are both most used fossil fuels on the planet and they are also the most polluting energies that exist. These emit a large amount of greenhouse gases, being the biggest culprits of the greenhouse effect and climate change and causing not only air pollution, but also land and water.
In addition, they are not renewable energies, that is, they come from limited sources and there will come a time when they are completely exhausted. Therefore, if we continue to use them at this rate, they will run out and we will have to look for new alternative forms.
Nuclear energy
Although nuclear energy is not such a dirty energy, it does contribute to global climate change. The radioactive waste that it produces and accidents in nuclear plants, mean that this energy cannot be considered an alternative to fossil fuels.
Another drawback of nuclear energy is that the plants work with elements that are very unstable and are extremely dangerous in the event of a leak. For example, some of the biggest natural and human disasters in the history of the planet, such as Chernobyl or Fukushima, have been caused by nuclear power plants.
Furthermore, nuclear energy has the disadvantage of storing waste and that the materials necessary to generate it, such as plutonium or uranium, are scarce.
Hydroelectric power
Hydropower is a clear example of energy that comes from renewable sources, but is also dirty. The hydroelectric dams:
- They alter ecosystems.
- They damage agricultural areas.
- They destroy cultural heritage.
- They displace communities where they settle.
Large hydroelectric plants decrease the quality of the water and affect the conditions of the flora and fauna of the area, forcing the species to migrate or preventing them from continuing with their life cycle. For example, large reservoirs prevent salmon from going up the river to spawn. In addition, they are also a source of greenhouse gas emissions, since the construction of their deposits emits tons of methane.
Difference between dirty energy and non-renewable energy
Technically, a polluting or dirty energy is not the same as non-renewable energy. Thus, there are energies that can come from renewable sources, such as some of those mentioned (nuclear and hydroelectric energy), which are considered polluting or dirty. While almost all energy that comes from non-renewable sources, such as fossil fuels, is classified as dirty energy.
The fact is that when we talk about dirty energy or non-renewable energy we are talking about two different concepts. The classification between renewable and non-renewable energies is something that has to do with the material that is used and the availability we have of it. However, that does not mean they are not polluting. On the other hand, clean or dirty energies tell us about the environmental impact that energies have on the planet.
If you want to read more articles similar to What are polluting or dirty energies, we recommend that you enter our category of non-renewable energies.
