What is the worst and best way to generate electricity?

Answer 1

The worst way to generate electricity are fossil fuels and nuclear energy because they produce air pollution, are finite and nuclear energy produce radioactive waste when damaged which is very difficult to recover. Most countries stop using nuclear energy since March 2011 except China.

Answer 2

There is no worst and best. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of some of the main ways to generate electricity.

Nuclear energy is one of the worst ways to generate electricity jn my opinion. Uranium is finite and it can't be recreated once it runs out. Although nuclear energy doesn't emit air pollution, needs to be carefully handled. If an accident occurs even if it's naturally done, it'll emit radioactive waste which can kill people and contaminate the land.

Fossil fuels is another bad way to generate electricity. Fossil fuels include coal, oil and natural gas. They are also finite because they take millions of years to form. Fossil fuels have a huge impact on the environment. They emit air pollution like carbon dioxide that leads to global warming and sulfur dioxide that forms acid clouds causing acid rain. Fossil fuels are the most common way to generate electricity.

Solar energy is a neutral way to generate electricity. They use a device called a solar panel. Solar energy strikes the panel producing electricity. Solar energy is renewable and doesn't emit air pollution. There are downsides to solar energy. Solar panels are fairly inefficient, so to power the house, the whole roof needs to covered with solar panels. They don't work at night and not as well when it's cloudy.

Wind energy is another neutral way to generate electricity. They uses wind turbines. An area of wind turbines is called a wind farm. Wind energy is renewable and doesn't emit air pollution. Windmills are very efficient. However there's still a few downsides to wind energy. Wind energy depends on the wind strength. If there is less wind, it's not as efficient and if there's no wind, there's no electricity. Windmills can kill birds that fly into them.

Hydroelectricity is a good way to generate electricity. Hydroelectricity involves a dam. When water flows through the dam, the turbine blade turns and the generator produces electricity. Hydroelectricity is renewable and doesn't emit air pollution. They are also very efficient. However, there's still a few downsides to hydroelectricity. It's very difficult to build the dam so there's a large capital investment. The countryside above the dam is flooded so there is loss of farming land and wild habitat. The flow of the river is reduced, affecting people and nature downstream.

Geothermal energy is a good way to generate electricity. Geothermal comes from Latin words, "geo" means earth and "thermal" means heat. So it means heat from the underground. Water is pumped through hot rocks and returns to the surface. The turbines then can generate electricity. Geothermal energy can directly heat buildings. Geothermal energy is very efficient and it doesn't emit air pollution. The places where this can be done are few and far between. Pumping water through the underground rocks can affect local aquifers. Eventually the system becomes less efficient.

Answer 3

Nuclear energy is the worst way to generate electricity while geothermal energy is the best way to generate electricity.

From the worst to best:

1.)Nuclear Energy

2.)Fossil Fuels

3.)Solar Energy

4.)Wind Energy

5.)Hydroelectric

6.)Geothermal Energy

Answer 4

The best and worst labels can be applied in many ways as there are a myriad of considerations to be made. Some options are:

• Fossil fuel energy is generally regarded as being bad as it creates green house gases and is limited resource. However in some locations it provides the only available high density energy source.
  
• Wind and solar are generally seen as good but require a manufacturing infrastructure which may have a significant carbon footprint. There is also a significant commitment of land. Some areas of the earth have periods of total darkness for significant periods during the year which requires and alternate or fallback source. Wind power is generally more consistent than solar but has meteorologic considerations and topographical requirements that may not be available in all locations.
  
• Tidal, hydroelectric and geothermal energy are very situation dependent as they require geological formations and structures not commonly available over the Earth's surface
  
• Nuclear power faces some of the same limits due to dependence on a limited resource. However if nuclear fuels other than uranium are considered, thorium for example, this drawback is largely removed.
• Biofuels are often cited as good options but production of raw materials can divert food sources, requires a significant carbon footprint for production and refinement and produces a low energy density fuel.
• Hydrogen, once produced, can be a clean fuel but its production requires processes with significant carbon footprint. In addition metallurgical problems (e.g. hydrogen blistering in transmission systems) creates significant hazards.

As a result there is no single good option. Only a strategic combination of several sources can minimize emissions and other environmental issues. A weighted comparison scale featuring:

• Total carbon footprint
  
• Total emissions package
  
• Availability of sources
  
• Transmission problems
  
• Cost
  
• Availability of technology
  
• Proposed use of power (transportation has different requirements than blast furnaces, as an example.)

would have to be developed and optimal local systems identified.