The first of thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Instead, energy only changes form when it is transferred from one object to another ( Khan Academy, 2018) . For example, when a person exercises, they are transforming the chemical energy that they get from the food they eat into thermal and kinetic energy. The second law of thermodynamics states that when energy changes from one form to another, the entropy of a closed energy system increases ( Khan Academy, 2018) . For example, in hot water move faster than those in cold water. If the two are mixed, the hot molecules will slow down while the cold ones will speed up until the water is lukewarm and all molecules are moving at the same speed. This increases the overall entropy of the universe because now all the molecules cannot be told apart by their speed, and it also reduces the amount of usable energy in the system. The first law of thermodynamics is used to determine which energy sources are sustainable since energy cannot be created from anything so it has to come from somewhere. This is the reason why chemical energy from the decomposition of uranium or kinetic energy from wind and water turbines can be transformed into usable electric energy. The second law of thermodynamics deals with energy transfers within a system. Since entropy always increases, it is impossible to construct a perpetual energy machine. This law helps in the construction of sustainable and stable energy systems such as in hydropower plants, wind turbines or solar panels. Fossil fuels are the most used source of energy in the world and they include crude oil and its byproducts, natural gas, and coal (Ramos, 2018). Fossil fuels have several advantages and that is why they are still widely used, and they include the following; fossil fuels are readily available in many parts of the world and the cost of turning them into energy is relatively low. These fuels have high energy input and the systems needed to process and utilize them such as cookers, diesel, and petroleum engines, are readily available (Ramos, 2018). The fossil fuel industry creates jobs for many people who engage in mining, refining, transporting, and selling their products. The by-products of fossil fuel are often useful in other areas for instance, tar and asphalt are used to tarmac roads, and plastics are also byproducts that are used as utensils, furniture, and packaging. The disadvantages of fossil fuels include that they are finite resources which means that they can be deleted. These energy sources also pose an environmental risk by emitting the greatest percentage of greenhouse gases especially carbon dioxide which causes global warming (Ramos, 2018). This impact is why many governments and environmental bodies are advocating a shift to clean energy. They can also damage ecosystems when oil spills and damage entire ecosystems. Smog produced from fossil fuel combustion is also a danger to human health. Nuclear energy is produced from the decomposition of uranium in a highly controlled environment. Its advantages are that it emits little greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and it could thus be an alternative to fossil fuels. It has relatively low operating costs and it can generate a lot of power making it suitable for use in industrial areas. The technology needed to operate nuclear power plants is already known and perfected so this energy source is market-ready ( Walker, 2012) . However, nuclear energy can have catastrophic effects if the right precautions are not taken. Its disadvantages include that nuclear energy has a high initial construction cost due to the need to set up complex radiation containment systems and procedures. This energy source also poses high risks in case of an accident which makes it a target for terrorists ( Walker, 2012). Solar energy is generated by transforming sunlight into usable electric energy. Its advantages include that it is a renewable source of energy since the sun rises daily. Solar energy does not emit greenhouse gases which makes it environmentally sustainable. Due to decreasing cost of producing materials used to make solar energy systems, the incorporation of energy storage, and smart software solutions used on solar panels, this energy source has become reliable and cheap ( Walker, 2012) . Solar energy is also easy to install which little or no maintenance costs while Solar panel systems have a long lifespan of up to 25 years. The disadvantages are that solar energy is dependent on the intensity of sunlight so it may be difficult to harness and thus unreliable in areas with low winter sunlight. The initial investment is expensive especially when one wants to include a power storage system ( Walker, 2012) . Wind power has been proposed as a viable alternative source of clean energy as it is generated from harnessing kinetic energy generated when the wind turns windmills. The advantages of using wind power are that it emits no greenhouse gases making it environment friendly. It also has no fuel costs, does not disrupt ecosystems, and emits relatively high energy capacity. The disadvantages of wind power include that it has high initial investment costs and subsequent maintenance costs. This energy source is solely dependent on the wind so the energy output depends on wind speed. This means that it cannot be used in places with low wind intensity or during calm seasons. Wind power has an impact on the landscape and also emits noise as the turbines turn (“ Pros and cons of different energy sources”, 2017) . Hydropower is generated when a dam is constructed along a river and the accumulated water is used to turn turbines which generate electricity. The advantages of using hydropower are that it has no greenhouse emissions that impact the climate. It also produces a high capacity of energy which is suitable for industrial use (“ Pros and cons of different energy sources”, 2017) . It is easy to regulate energy output depending on demand with hydropower because the intensity depends on how much water is released from the dam. Hydropower is reliable, stable, and has a long lifespan. The disadvantages of hydropower include the high initial economic investment needed to set up power plants. These energy sources affect the landscape due to the encroachment of land to build dams. It also impacts river ecosystems for instance when salmons are prevented from swimming upriver to breed by high dam walls (“ Pros and cons of different energy sources”, 2017) . Extreme weather such as droughts and floods can affect power generation by causing insufficient water to run turbines and destroying the plant's infrastructure respectively. Algae is a competitive fuel source as it is renewable since a new crop can be cultivated every few weeks. The oil extracted from the algae can be used to make biofuel that can replace fossil fuel. Therefore every machine that uses fossil fuel can still be operated using this biofuel thus eliminating the need to make new engine systems for the new oil ( U.S Department of Energy, 2012) . The infrastructure used to process and refine fossil fuel can be used on algae oil which eliminates the need for high initial investment on power plants. Algae as an energy source can also help to reduce reliance on foreign oil which can help in the sustenance of the local economy ( U.S Department of Energy, 2012) . Therefore algae are competitive because it is cheap, reliable, renewable and market ready. Algae like any other plant use carbon dioxide to grow so it is a carbon-neutral energy source. This is because it can be used to reduce carbon pollution in the atmosphere. Algae farms can be set up near industrial areas that emit a lot of carbon dioxide so they can clean up the air and reduce the greenhouse effect (U.S. Department of Energy, 2012). While all energy sources apart from fossil fuels conform to the global movement towards cleaner energy and the reduction of greenhouse emissions, they all have too many disadvantages as compared to biofuel from microalgae. These energy sources do not have a solution for the existing carbon emission problem like algae do. Algae is a more reliable source of energy because we already have the infrastructure to make and use its fuel and with the added benefit of using up the excess carbon dioxide in the air, it is sustainable. Algae is not limited by climate, landscape, or seasons like wind, water, and solar energy meaning that it can be used worldwide.
References
Khan Academy. (2018). The laws of thermodynamics. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/energy-and-enzymes/the-laws-of-thermodynamics/a/the-laws-of-thermodynamics
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Pros and cons of different energy sources. (2017, August 24). Vattenfall Retrieved from https://corporate.vattenfall.com/about-energy/pros-and-cons-of-energy-sources/
Ramos, J. (2018, May 8). Fossil Fuel Pros And Cons | Science Trends. Retrieved from https://sciencetrends.com/fossil-fuel-pros-cons-true-advantage-oil-gas/
U.S Department of Energy. (2012, September 5). Energy 101 | Algae-to-Fuels [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxyvVkeW7Nk
Walker, J. (2012, April 11). Four Major Energy Sources: Their Pros and Cons. U.S Green Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved from http://usgreenchamber.com/types-of-clean-energy-sources/
