Energy, Technology, and Environmental Impact: A Comprehensive Guide

Posted on May 17, 2024 in Geology

Energy

Energy is a property of any body or material system that allows it to be transformed by changing its position or state, as well as act on other systems, originating from other transformation processes.

Forms of Energy:

  • Kinetic Energy: Energy possessed by a moving body.
  • Potential Energy: Energy associated with the position of a body relative to a reference point.
  • Thermal Energy: Energy due to the vibratory motion of molecules within matter.
  • Radiant Energy: Energy associated with electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light, microwaves).
  • Nuclear Energy: Energy associated with the processes of fusion (union of atomic nuclei) or fission (splitting of atomic nuclei) that take place within atoms.
  • Chemical Energy: Energy associated with chemical reactions (e.g., combustion) and stored in the bonds that hold atoms and molecules together.
  • Electrical Energy: Energy associated with electric charges in motion.

Properties of Energy:

  1. The total energy of an isolated system is conserved.
  2. Energy can be transmitted (transferred) from one body or material system to another.
  3. Energy can be transformed from one form to another.

Sources of Energy

Energy sources can be classified as renewable or non-renewable.

Renewable Energy Sources:

Renewable energy sources do not deplete over time as they are naturally replenished. Examples include:

  • Solar Energy
  • Wind Energy
  • Hydropower
  • Geothermal Energy
  • Biomass Energy
  • Tidal Energy

Non-Renewable Energy Sources:

Non-renewable energy sources are finite and will eventually be depleted. Examples include:

  • Fossil Fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
  • Nuclear Energy

Energy Generation

Electrical Energy Generation

  1. Chemical Transformations: When two different metals are immersed in a solution and connected by a wire, a chemical reaction occurs, resulting in a continuous flow of electric current.
  2. Electromagnetic Induction: Spinning a generator utilizes the electromagnetic phenomenon where a conductor moving within a magnetic field induces an electric current in the conductor. This produces alternating current (AC) as long as the movement is maintained.
  3. Photovoltaic Effect: Collecting sunlight in a photovoltaic panel utilizes semiconductor materials that have the property of releasing electrons when light impinges on them, generating electricity.

Other Energy Sources

  • Hydraulic Power: Obtained from the flow of water in rivers. A large body of water located at a height possesses potential energy. When this mass of water is allowed to fall to a lower level, it develops kinetic energy equal to the initial potential energy.
  • Combustion Heat: Energy produced from the combustion of coal, fuel oil, or gas in a boiler designed for this purpose.
  • Nuclear Fission Power Plants: Nuclear plants use the energy released in nuclear fission to produce electricity.
  • Wind Power: Based on the utilization of wind as the primary energy source for electricity production.
  • Solar Power: Installations that harness solar radiation to produce electrical energy. There are two main forms:
    • Thermal Solar Plants: Use the heat from solar radiation to heat water and generate steam, which can then drive a turbine.
    • Photovoltaic Power: Solar energy is directly converted into electricity using photovoltaic cells.
  • Tidal Power: An inexhaustible but underutilized energy source that harnesses the power of tides, waves, and temperature differences between ocean layers. However, it has drawbacks such as potential alteration of marine life, visual impact on the coast, and the cost of building dams and levees.
  • Biomass Energy: Biomass is transformed through thermochemical and biochemical processes into fuels used to generate steam in thermal combustion plants.
  • Geothermal Energy: Energy derived from the heat within the Earth’s crust. It is manifested by the temperature difference observed when drilling to a certain depth.

Technology and the Environment

Technology

Technology is defined as the sum of knowledge and techniques that individuals use to solve problems.

Environment

The environment encompasses the set of natural, social, economic, and cultural factors that interact with individuals and the communities in which they live.

Environmental Impact

Environmental impact refers to the alteration that an action or activity produces on the environment. Technological activity often has a strong impact on the environment due to the extraction of resources, both renewable and non-renewable, and the generation of waste.

Sustainable Development

The economic system based on maximum production, consumption, unlimited exploitation of resources, and profit as the sole criterion of economic progress is unsustainable. Sustainable development aims to:

  • Meet the needs of the present generation, encouraging economic activity that provides the necessary well-being for the entire world population.
  • Meet future needs while minimizing the negative effects of economic activity, both in terms of resource consumption and waste generation.

Features of Sustainable Development:

  • Finding ways for economic activity to improve the quality of life for all.
  • Using resources efficiently and responsibly.
  • Promoting maximum recycling and waste reduction.
  • Investing in renewable energy and sustainable technologies.
  • Restoring damaged ecosystems.

Pollution

Pollution is defined as the presence of harmful elements to living organisms in an amount greater than the environment’s capacity to reduce and absorb them. It can be classified according to the medium in which it occurs:

  • Air pollution
  • Water pollution
  • Soil contamination

Air Pollution

Causes of Air Pollution:

  • Natural: Occurring without human intervention (e.g., volcanic eruptions, forest fires).
  • Artificial: Caused by human activities (e.g., industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust).

Effects of Air Pollution:

  • Local: Direct effects of pollutants, such as smog, causing respiratory irritation, eye and throat problems, and other health issues.
  • Regional: Acid rain, affecting a wider area. Oxides of sulfur and nitrogen released from vehicles, factories, and power plants combine with water vapor in the atmosphere to form acids, which then fall to the ground as precipitation.
  • Climate Change: Caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to an increase in Earth’s average temperature.

Measures to Reduce Air Pollution:

  • Reduce pollution from vehicles by using catalytic converters and promoting the use of public transportation.
  • Control emissions from industries and power stations through regulations and technological advancements.

Water Pollution

Causes of Water Pollution:

  • Natural: Pollen, leaves, dirt, etc.
  • Artificial: Human activities, such as urban, agricultural, and industrial discharges.

Effects of Water Pollution:

The effects of water pollution are varied and depend on the contaminant. They can include:

  • Increase or decrease in water temperature
  • Turbidity (cloudiness of water)
  • pH variation
  • Salinization (increased salt content)
  • Increased hardness

Soil Contamination

Causes of Soil Contamination:

  • Natural: Concentration and toxicity of certain metallic elements present in some minerals and rocks.
  • Artificial: Human activities, such as industrial waste disposal, agricultural practices, and mining.

Effects of Soil Contamination:

  • Accumulation of heavy metals in the food chain, posing risks to human and animal health.
  • Pesticides can affect non-target species, such as birds and other wildlife.
  • Pesticides and fertilizers can be washed away by rainwater and reach rivers, causing water pollution.

Waste

Types of Waste:

  • Urban Solid Waste: Generated by activities in urban centers and their surrounding areas.
  • Medical Waste: Generated in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
  • Industrial Waste: Includes a wide range of materials, some of which are similar to urban waste.
  • Radioactive Waste: Cannot be eliminated and must be stored safely.
  • Agricultural, Forestry, and Livestock Waste: Their abundance and dispersion make them difficult to control and treat.

Effects of Waste:

  • Unpleasant odors
  • Landscape degradation
  • Health hazards
  • Contamination of soil, surface water, and groundwater

Waste Management

Waste management encompasses all the activities involved in handling waste from its generation to its final disposal. It includes the following stages:

Prevention:

The best waste is the waste that is not generated. Preventing waste generation should be the first and most important priority of any advanced and ambitious environmental policy.

Reuse:

Repeated use of an object or substance for the same initial purpose, avoiding the consumption of new raw materials and reducing waste generation.

Recycling:

Using the materials contained in waste for subsequent use in other applications.

Valorization:

There are two types of valorization:

  • Energy Valorization: Incineration of waste to harness the energy contained in it.
  • Organic Matter Valorization: Transformation of organic waste into compost for use as fertilizer.

Elimination:

This is less among the possible ecological, fefiere your deposit is in a landfill.