There are a lot of renewable energies or alternatives 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 pollutant or dirty energies? Keep reading this ecology article and we explain it to you!
What is a pollutant or dirty energy
Dirty energies are those energies that during their process of production, distribution and consumption 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 climate change process. Some of these gases are carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, methane, chlorofluorocarbons or ozone.
These energies are usually obtained from the fossil fuel burningsuch as coal, oil or gas, but not always, as is the case of nuclear energy or large hydroelectric dams. Here are more in depth each of these energies.
Contaminating energies: examples
Here are some Examples of pollutant or dirty energies:
Gas
The gas It is considered dirty energy. However, it is a transition energy and is the least polluting of fossil fuels. Unlike other CO2 emission sources such as coal or oil, gas is lower. However, its use continues to represent a big problem for the progress of renewable energies.
Natural gas also involves a high environmental impact and a high energy expenditure, since to store it, it is necessary to compress and blend at very low temperatures. Besides, I know They need great works and infrastructure When transporting it, they are capable of producing great alterations in the landscape and in their biodiversity. Also, there are high risks of methane leakage. All these factors make it a 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 Greater guilty of the greenhouse effect and climate change and causing not only air pollution, but also of Earth 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 be exhausted and we will have to look for new alternative forms.
Nuclear power
Although nuclear energy is not such dirty energy, it does contribute to global climate change. The radioactive waste That produces and accidents in nuclear plants, make this energy cannot be considered an alternative to fossil fuels.
Another inconvenience of nuclear energy is that the plants work with elements that are very unstable and are extremely dangerous In case of escape. For example, some of the greatest natural and human disasters in the history of the planet, such as Chernobil or Fukushima, have been caused by nuclear power plants.
In addition, nuclear energy as with the disadvantage of waste storage and that the materials necessary to generate it, such as plutonium or uranium, are scarce.
Hydroelectric energy
Hydroelectric energy is a clear example of an energy that comes from renewable sources, but are also dirty. The Hydroelectric dams:
- They alter ecosystems.
- They damage agricultural areas.
- They destroy cultural heritage.
- They move communities where they settle.
Large hydroelectric plants decrease water quality and affect the conditions of the Flora and the fauna of the areaforcing species to migrate or prevent them from continuing their life cycle. For example, the big reservoirs prevent salmon to overcome the river to spawn. In addition, they are also a source of greenhouse gases emission, since the construction of their deposits emits tons of methane.
Difference between dirty energy and non -renewable energy
Technically, one pollutant 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 pollutants or dirty. While almost all energies that come from non -renewable sources, such as fossil fuels, are classified as dirty energies.
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 energies is non -renewable is something that has to do with the subject that is used and the availability we have of it. However, that It does not mean that they are not polluting. On the other hand, clean or dirty energies tell us about the environmental impact of energies is the planet.
If you want to read more articles similar to What are pollutant or dirty energieswe recommend that you enter our category of non -renewable energy.
