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The Effects of Electrical Energy Generation

Elizabeth Schaeffer
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Electrical energy generation is a process that’s very relevant right now. With global warming
happening, and threatening to get worse, studying the effects on the environment is vital.
Learning how to minimize the costs and waste would help the public to make greener choices
towards a better future.
This paper explores those processes and the end results of each and will include aspects such as
costs and diagrams.

Wind Energy
How it works
Wind turbines use aerodynamics to
turn their blades, not just wind as is
commonly believed. Wind goes
over and under the blade, creating
pressure, instead of just pushing them. It works very similar to airplane wings ​— ​the difference
in pressure is what causes the rotor to turn.

When the blades turn, kinetic energy from the wind changes into mechanical energy. That energy
then moves to an electrical generator in the head of the turbine, converting into electrical current.
The current goes along underground cables until it meets a substation, and there it’s turned into a
higher voltage for the electrical grid that you know (i.e. the very large grids of towers and wires).
After this process, the electricity is free to travel to customers.

The amount of electricity made by a wind turbine

depends on wind speed and wind density. With low
winds, usually ranging between 12 and 14 km/h, the
blades will just start to move, and will reach full
capacity for generation at about 50 to 60 km/h. Any
speeds above 90 km/h force the turbine to be shut
off to avoid damage.

Economic effects
Wind energy prices are continuously declining as newer, better technology is being made. The
development of turbine components has lowered the original cost and is expected to make them
even more affordable. With new components and maintenance comes new jobs and more
opportunities for Canadians. It supports Canada’s ever growing trade industry, mainly electrical
and construction, and makes even more spots available for students fresh out of apprenticeships.
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Environmental effects
Wind turbines are grouped together in “farms.” Each farm is expected to last about 20-30 years,
and after it’s no longer effective can be either decommissioned or repowered. While repowering
is the more expensive option, as it includes continuously upgrading and replacing parts, it creates
less waste. The decommissioning process can go one of two ways; deconstruction for resale or
demolition. Reselling the items that make the turbines is the slower, more expensive option, but
it also means that very little waste will be created. The reusing of the items takes high priority in
that scenario. If the owner chooses demolition instead, that would mean scrapping everything;
selling leftover metal and disposing of the rest. If someone who owns a turbine farm is cautious
about the environment, then wind energy is relatively low waste. The government, however,
wouldn’t surprise me if they chose a lower cost over smaller landfills, so I’d say it isn’t as
fantastic as it’s advertised.

Social benefits
I’ve already mentioned the biggest social benefit, as making money is very helpful for
communities and residents of Ontario. Creating jobs is something that the wind industry has
majorly accomplished. CanWEA says, “For every direct job created in the wind energy industry,
there are spin-off jobs created in the value chain in areas like construction, transportation,
provision of aggregate, etc. Much of the raw materials used in construction of wind farms is
sourced locally, so the benefits are experienced at a regional level.” This sort of work keeps the
jobs local, and mainly creates work for people in ​our​ communities.

Hydroelectric
How it works
Hydroelectric energy generation works
very similarly to wind energy. Kinetic
energy is turned into mechanical energy,
this time with the force of water instead of
wind, and that energy is then turned into
electricity when electromagnets are forced
to interact with the coils of a generator. It
follows all the same patterns, going
through the electrical grid to eventually be
made useful.
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Economic effects
Hydroelectricity is very cheap to manufacture due to the little upkeep and maintenance it
requires. All you have to pay for is the installation and you’re golden. Maybe a few upgrades
here and there, but nothing like wind turbines. A hydroelectric facility is also expected to have a
life of about 50 - 100 years, making the money put into it stretch out over time. Its low costs
make hydroelectricity one of the most popular forms of electric generation ​— making up 63% of
Canada’s electric generation.

Environmental effects
Hydroelectric dams create no air pollutants. Besides, of course, the pollution from the factories
that it took to make the components of the dam. But in its long life, the dam itself will create no
pollution. Some information, however, is leading people to the conclusion that the dams can
disrupt eco-habitats. Certain types of fish (like salmon) will swim upstream during their
migration, but will find a hydroelectric facility in their way. Fish ladders help this process,
though the very presence of a dam can still change their
migration patterns. Hydropower can also affect dissolved
oxygen levels, hurting river habitats.

Social benefits
WaterPower Canada states that hydropower will create
“1,000,000 Canadian jobs potentially over the next twenty
years.” In a butterfly effect, more jobs create more jobs, and
so on. WaterPower Canada is also working hard to make
those jobs primarily for indigenous communities, as a way
to provide resources and stability for at-risk groups.

Solar
How it works
A solar panel generates electricity by
letting photons from the Sun push electrons
from their atoms. When the electrons are
forced out of the way, their movement
creates energy. While the face of the solar
panel conducts that process, metal plates
framing the panel collect the moving
electrons and let them enter the electric
grid. A device called an inverter that rests in the solar panel changes the electricity from direct
current to alternating current so it can be made functional for customers.
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Economic effects
Similar to hydropower, solar requires little maintenance. However, the initial cost to purchase
solar panels is quite high. The technology required to harness the power of the Sun does rack up
quite the bill, and with a life expectancy of only 25 years, you have to wonder whether the cost is
worth all of the benefits. Owning solar panels will lower your monthly hydro bill though, seeing
as you’re harvesting your own energy. The amount of energy generated relies solely on how
much sunlight you receive, however. The payout may not be what you expect. Whether the
money balances out or not is up to the potential buyer.

Environmental effects
While the process of turning light into energy
doesn’t create any waste, the process of
making the components will make pollution.
In fact, some of the vital components to
manufacturing a solar panel are toxic or
hazardous. Specifically, the process to make
photovoltaic systems are ​not ​eco-friendly —
and that’s the very component that converts
light to electricity. And, again, with a lifespan
of only 25 years, the panel will eventually
have to disposed of.

Social benefits
The social benefits of solar energy are about the same as any other. It creates jobs for trade
workers. But it also reduces the cost of monthly hydro bills, if you, yourself, own them. Paying
less for electricity per month is always a good thing, it just comes with the initial cost of
purchasing solar panels in the first place.

Nuclear
How it works
Nuclear power facilities use nuclear reactors to complete the process of nuclear fission. In this
case, that’s when neutrons come into contact with uranium atoms. The collision causes the atoms
to split, which creates heat energy. The nuclear reactor is necessary to slow down the neutrons,
making them more likely to collide. As the uranium atoms split, they release their neutrons as
well, creating a chain reaction. The heat given off from the nuclear reaction is used to boil water
until the point of steam, which is then used to spin a turbine and a generator, creating electricity.
The overall process, while being much more complicated, is similar to the other types of
generation that we’ve looked at so far.
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Economic effects
Nuclear energy generation is one of the cheapest options for electricity there is. In Ontario, the
only cheaper option is hydroelectric. The only issue is that there’s a heavy upfront cost. To build
a nuclear power plant is quite expensive. And, of course, the product has to be purchased to
actually produce electricity. The one financial benefit of nuclear is that a small amount packs
quite the punch. Comparing an equal amount of uranium and coal, the uranium will create
20 000 times more energy than the coal. Uranium isn’t a renewable energy source, though, so we
won’t always be
able to rely on it.

Environmental
effects
Greenhouse gases
aren’t emitted by
the actual splitting
of the uranium atoms. Like all previous forms of energy mentioned, greenhouse gas emissions
come from construction and demolition. However, with nuclear power there also comes pollution
from the mining of the uranium. Carbon
emissions from nuclear power sources sit at
about 16 grams of emissions per kilowatt hour.
Nuclear power isn’t doing much for the
environment.

Social benefits
While nuclear power is cheap, it also has a very
stable price. Uranium is common in Canada,
making the price predictable, leaving businesses and customers to reserve money for other uses.
And, since the market is primarily in Canada, customers can be sure that they’re keeping their
money domestic. It all stays in this country, stabilizing our economy over anyone else’s. And, of
course, with the mining kept to Canada, you can be assured that more jobs are being created in
the mining industry. While it has its environmental drawbacks, I have to say that nuclear power
has the most social benefits yet.
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Coal burning
How it works
After the mining of the coal, the coal is transported to a power plant, where it will be turned into
electricity. First, they grind the coal into something almost like dust. Then the coal is burned, and
the heat is used to boil water to the point of steam, in the same manner as nuclear power. The
steam is pressurized so it turns a
turbine connected to a generator,
sparking electricity to be harnessed.
The heat energy from the coal is
transformed into mechanical energy.

Economic effects
Coal has made quite a bit of money
for Canada. It contributes to our
gross domestic product a lot. But, the
government has decided that burning
coal for fuel isn’t the thing to do
anymore; it’s too bad on the environment. And, good on them, to be honest. They’ve chosen to
phase out coal burning energy by the year 2030, or even sooner, if they can manage it. So,
Canada won’t be benefiting off of coal energy for much longer, which means that ​you ​can feel
better about the energy that you pay for at home.

Environmental effects
Coal burning electricity is a greenhouse gas fiesta. You’ve got the pollution from the mining of
the coal, from the transportation of the coal, from the actual burning of the coal, and from the
construction and demolition of power plants. Like I just mentioned, the government is getting rid
of it entirely. That alone should be enough to convince you of the severity of the emissions.

Social benefits
The social benefits created from coal burning
are very few, and only really consist of
mining jobs out West. I mean, the government
even decided to phase out coal burning as a
method of creating energy. When a group of
old men who have money for brains decide
that the cost to the environment is just too
much for Canadians to be making money off
of anymore, you know it’s bad.
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