Sustainable Development
Electricity Generation Comparison
The comparison of energy sources is a complex issue.
Energy comes in various forms; as heat, as electricity, as renewable sources such as sun and wind, and as non-renewable sources such as fossil and nuclear fuels.
The results of any comparison depend on the country and even the locality within a country for which the comparison is being carried out.
Putting exact figures on costs and benefits is not realistic. Such quantitative measures depend on locality, year, time of year and even time of day. Any such figures need to be accompanied by a comprehensive set of statements about assumptions and conditions.
A qualitative comparison of advantages and dis-advantages of various energy sources is relatively simple but also depends upon locality.
Electricity is a means of providing a service such as heating water. There are other ways of providing the service supplied by electricity. Heating water may be done with gas or with sunlight. Heating a house may be done with electricity, gas, firewood or simply by good house design.
The following table gives a qualitative comparison of ways of generating electricity in South Australia. This comparison includes ways of generating electricity that are not being used in SA but which could conceivably be used in the future. For simplicity, the comparison does not include substitutes for electricity.
| |
COAL |
GAS |
NUCLEAR |
SOLAR |
WIND |
GEO |
| Renewable |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
limited |
| Greenhouse Gas Impact |
very high |
high |
medium |
low |
low |
low |
| Health impact |
high |
medium |
very high |
low |
low |
low |
| Consequences of accident |
low |
medium |
very high |
very low |
very low |
low |
| Made locally |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
no |
| Wastes |
large |
small |
very large |
small |
very small |
small |
| Air pollution |
high |
medium |
very high |
very low |
very low |
low |
| Land required |
very high |
high |
very high |
very low |
low |
low |
| Fuel costs |
medium |
high |
low |
zero |
zero |
zero |
| Capital cost |
low |
medium |
high |
very high |
high |
high |
| Running costs |
high |
high |
very high |
very low |
low |
medium |
| Financing costs |
medium |
medium |
very high |
very low |
low |
high |
| Peak power availability |
medium |
high |
very low |
very high |
medium |
high |
Greater technical detail can be found on this topic by searching through
the listed briefing papers and education resources at
http://www.ccsa.asn.au/nic/.
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