Introduction
Existence of the mankind has always been dependant on the energy it could produce. With the development of technology and technical progress, the value of energy has increased drastically as not only individual people demand energy for heating their houses, but the entire states are dependant upon their energetic capabilities (Spence, 187). Thus, the cost of energy and its environmental safety acquire additional importance. The current paper is aimed at considering and comparing traditional coal energy and the newly popular wind turbine energy in the context of their costs and environmental benefits (Hansen, 341).
Coal Energy
The use of coal as the basic fuel for energy-producing stations and plants, as well as for powering industrial facilities, has always been accepted in society. However, the environmental danger of coal energy production has also been evident. The recent increase in public awareness of environmental conditions has made it necessary to be more attentive to coal energy. The Clean Air Act of 1970 became the best proof of it (Spence, 187).
Plants and factories powered by coal are sources of considerable environmental pollutions by carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxides, sulfur oxide, etc. Moreover, coal energy fuel is to be bought at constantly increasing prices and means the constantly increasing expenses for plants and factories. Thus, the advantages of coal energy are the traditional operation of coal-powered facilities, higher capacity of coal energy, and a higher level of predictability of the energy output for a certain period of time. At the same time, the main drawback of coal energy is it’s dangerous for the environment, while high fuel costs and health damage it causes are also rather important (Spence, 187).
Wind Energy
As contrasted to coal energy, producing wind turbine energy is a cheaper and safer way to provide plants and factories with the necessary electricity and power capacities. In recent years, wind energy outputs have increase from 6 000 megawatts (MW) in 2003 to 8 000 MW in 2007 and are expected to grow to 16 000 MW by 2025 (Hansen, 341). Wind energy is based on wind turbine technology that has been developing drastically in recent years. The fuel for this technology is wind, and the higher the wind speeds in a certain area are, the more production capacities and energy outputs are. Besides, the fuel for wind turbines technology is free and depends only upon natural and meteorological conditions.
The environmental safety of wind energy is also obvious what makes it a rather attractive source of powering industrial facilities. Thus, wind energy has an absence of costs for fuel and higher environmental safety as its advantages. It also has fewer drawbacks, with almost the only being the inability to predict the energy output for a certain period of time and rely upon the wind turbines completely because industrial plants and factories demand the guaranteed capacities of energy for regular and effective operation (Hansen, 341).
Conclusion
To conclude, the two compared types of energy have their own advantages and drawbacks. The modern world demands more and more energy to be produced for the needs of industry and people’s day-to-day lives, and the cost of energy is increasingly important. Thus, the future of wind energy looks promising in the present world economic conditions, while coal energy, although rather effective, will reduce due to its environmental danger and huge costs on fuel and maintenance.
Works Cited
Hansen, Lena M. “Can Wind Be a “Firm” Resource? A North Carolina Case Study.” Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum 15.2 (2005): 341+.
Spence, David B. “Coal-Fired Power in a Restructured Electricity Market.” Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum 15.2 (2005): 187+.