1.2.2-Comparing Energy Resources

• Comparison Criteria

  • Environmental Impact
  • Reliability
  • Cost
  • Sustainability
• Fossil Fuels

  • High energy density
  • Well-established infrastructure
  • Significant greenhouse gas emissions
  • Contributes to air pollution and climate change
  • Risk of oil spills and environmental degradation from mining
• Renewable Resources

  • Lower greenhouse gas emissions during operation
  • Reduces reliance on finite resources
  • Generally has a smaller environmental footprint
  • Some can have local environmental impacts
• Nuclear Energy

  • Low greenhouse gas emissions
  • High energy density
  • Risk of radioactive contamination
  • Issues with radioactive waste disposal
  • Potential for catastrophic accidents
• Reliability of Fossil Fuels

  Generally very reliable and consistent. Energy production can be controlled to meet demand.
• Reliability of Renewable Resources

  Solar: Intermittent; Wind: Intermittent; Hydroelectric: Generally reliable; Geothermal: Reliable; Biomass: Generally reliable but influenced by availability.
• Reliability of Nuclear Energy

  Highly reliable and consistent. Provides a steady base-load of energy.
• Cost of Fossil Fuels

  Initial Cost: Relatively low; Operational Cost: Can be high; External Costs: High due to environmental damage.
• Cost of Renewable Resources

  Initial Cost: Can be high; Operational Cost: Generally low; Cost Trends: Prices decreasing.
• Cost of Nuclear Energy

  Initial Cost: Very high; Operational Cost: Moderate; External Costs: High due to waste disposal.
• Sustainability of Fossil Fuels

  Not sustainable in the long term; major contributor to climate change.
• Sustainability of Renewable Resources


  Generally sustainable if managed properly; inexhaustible in human timescales.
• Sustainability of Nuclear Energy


  Can be sustainable in terms of fuel use and emissions; issues with radioactive waste need to be addressed.
• Fossil Fuels provide high energy output and reliability but have significant environmental and sustainability drawbacks.
• Renewable Resources offer low environmental impact and can be sustainable but may have variable reliability and higher initial costs.
• Nuclear Energy provides a reliable and low-emission energy source but comes with high initial costs and waste management challenges.
• Comparative Summary Table

  • Environmental Impact
  • Reliability
  • Cost
  • Sustainability
• Comparative Summary for Fossil Fuels

  • High (emissions, pollution)
  • Very reliable
  • Low initial, high external costs
  • Not sustainable
• Comparative Summary for Renewable Resources

  • Low (generally) with some local impacts
  • Variable (intermittent)
  • High initial, low operational costs
  • Generally sustainable
• Comparative Summary for Nuclear Energy

  • Low (emissions) but high waste risk
  • Highly reliable
  • High initial, moderate operational costs
  • Potentially sustainable, but waste issues