So what are the Alternatives?
Renewables
There are many ways to produce power without having to use fossil fuels. Renewable energy is regarded as the safest way forward, because it uses resources that are readily available, does not damage the Earth and does not cause pollution.
Renewable energy includes using wind (to power wind turbines) water (the energy in moving water is converted into power) and the sun (solar panels can convert the energy from the sun’s rays into electricity).
For more information see our section on Renewable Energy
Nuclear
The British Government is seriously considering using nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. Nuclear energy does not give off the greenhouse gases which lead to global warming.
In simple terms, nuclear energy is produced when, uranium rods are bombarded with neutrons (this process is called fission) in large reactors. They are heated to extremely high temperatures which is then used to heat water to create steam. The steam turns turbines and then generators that produce electricity.
While nuclear power is cheap, reliable, produces lots of energy and doesn’t contribute to the greenhouse effect, it can be a dangerous way to form energy.
The biggest problem is that although not much waste is produced, it is very, very dangerous. It must be sealed up and buried for many years to allow the radioactivity to die away. There is bound to be big arguments over where this waste is buried and whether its radioactivity can seep into the ground, A lot of money has to be spent on safety, because if it does go wrong, a nuclear accident can be a major disaster.