Abstract
The widespread proliferation of other then fossil based energy production methods is a development, which inevitable comes in the next future. It is proven that the photovoltaic conversion or the use of heat of Sun radiation, the water energy, the utilization of the wind, the biomass production, the use of geothermal energy can all produce big amounts of energy for human use. In addition, the nuclear energy from fission is a technology, which has already long history and is widely used. However, these all, like the fossil energy sources, have great impacts on the environment. Nevertheless, the comparison of the environmental effects of these alternative energy sources is not easy. The effects are of considerable different natures and their spatial and the time distributions vary on large scales. The present work overviews the principles and the methodological prerequisites of performing a comparative analysis of the environmental effects for the non-fossil energy production methods. After establishing the basic principles for comparison, we shall go through all the non-fossil energy sources and analyze the most important environmental impacts of each energy production method. In conclusion, the comparison of the environmental effects will be discussed.
Highlights
The widespread proliferation of other fossil based energy production methods is a development, which inevitable comes in the future
It is proven that the photovoltaic conversion or the use of heat of Sun radiation, the water energy, the utilization of the wind, the biomass production, the use of geothermal energy can all produce big amounts of energy for human use
After establishing the basic principles for comparison, we shall go through all the non-fossil energy sources and analyze the most important environmental impacts of each energy production method
Summary
Such a strong correlation does not change in a short time. The population of the World will grow to ∼ 8–9 billion around the year 2050. Such effects are the influences on landscape, landscape degradation and landscape changes; the effect of changes in natural resources; environmental consequences of covering big territories; changes of the major elements of the scenery; consequences of the decrease of soil fertility; change of the habitat of the species around the energy producing facility; distribution of advantages and disadvantages for the different sections of the society; social effects of energy production, job market and legal effects Some of these problems are difficult to be quantified.
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