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Hey There! Welcome To Life Noggin!
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With temperatures rising, forests being destroyed and oceans polluted, we need a clean energy source that wont cause more damage to our fragile planet.
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As you probably know, there is a lot of debate on which energy source is the best.
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The perfect energy source would be efficient, safe, cheap, clean, and there'd be lots of it.
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So, using those criteria, let's take a look at some of the commonly used energy sources to see how they all stack up.
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The most recent data available from the US ENERGY ADMINISTRATION reports that of all the energy used around the globe in 2017, 33% came from petroleum, 27% from coal, 23% from natural gas. 13% from renewables and 4% from nuclear fission.
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Non-renewables like natural gas and coal release crazy amounts of greenhouse gases and pollutants, so in terms of cleanliness, they're out.
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Nuclear produces radioactive material, which we definitely don't want.
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After looking at renewables, hydroelectric and wind power are the cleanest sources of energy, producing very little to no emissions or impact on the environment.
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We also want an energy source that won't break the bank.
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Wind is in the lead here too, costing just $45 per megawatt-hour, with natural gas coming in at $87, coal $102, and nuclear $172.
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While rooftop solar panels aren't very cost-effective, energy from large-scale, utility panels now only costs about $60 per megawatt-hour.
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So, not bad!
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The sun is pretty much screaming at us with energy, so we have to figure something out.
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Energy source efficiency is commonly measured using something called heat rate, which factors in the amount of fuel needed to generate power.
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Since non-renewables like coal, petroleum, nuclear and natural gas are using finite resources, this efficiency is pretty important.
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Of those, natural gas is, by far, the least efficient, with petroleum, nuclear and coal all being pretty equal.
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When it comes to renewables, there unfortunately isn't one measurement that allows us to compare their efficiencies since their power comes from different sources.
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What about safety?
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Each energy source has its own hazards.
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Non-renewable plants have big risks like oil rig explosions or mine collapses, but renewables have their own dangers too.
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Solar workers are exposed to carcinogens.
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Biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel are highly reactive and combustible.
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Geothermal workers inhale deadly particles.
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And while wind turbines are subject to collapsing and natural events like lightning strikes and fires, it appears that wind is the safest.
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Then, there's the importance of availability.
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Natural gas, petroleum and coal will run out.
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And there isn't always wind, sun or rain.
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But, nuclear power industries are currently exploring whether extracting uranium from seawater could result in a virtually limitless supply of nuclear energy.
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There's also some promising tech on the horizon for the availability and longevity of renewables too.
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Lithium-ion batteries.
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They've got a long lifespan, can hold crazy amounts of energy, and their cost is dropping.
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So pairing these with renewable energy generators across the world could make clean energy even more tempting.
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It seems to me that wind energy is our best option.
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We'll just need to learn to live with those ugly wind turbines, which is a small price to pay, for you know, humans living longer.
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Would you be on board for a wind-powered world? Do you think solar is the way to go?
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Let us know in the comment section below, or tell us, what should we talk about next?
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Let's say we do have to get off this planet, how could we create our very own?
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Check out this video!
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We'd want it to be in the habitable zone. Meaning the planet should have an orbit the right distance from it's star, to insure optimal temperatures and most importantly, liquid water.
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As always, my name is Blocko! This has been Life Noggin!
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Don't forget to keep on thinking!