Page 50 - Grasp English C1 (Student Book)

4 Energy

It is common knowledge that the way we obtain our energy these days is unsustainable. Our supplies of
fossil fuels are finite, and yet around three quarters of our energy comes from coal, oil and natural gas.
1 . But what will this energy mix look like?

Nuclear power may provide the bulk of our future energy supply. 2 .
Nuclear power doesn’t come without challenges, however. Power plants need to be safe and reliable, and the
disposal of radioactive waste is an ongoing issue. Nuclear power is currently created through the process of
fusion; however, nuclear fission – a process that utilises hydrogen, lithium and boron – promises an even greater
supply of clean energy with less radioactive waste, although research is still in its infancy.

Other renewable sources of energy, such as wind, hydroelectric and solar power, currently contribute a small
but growing proportion of the world’s supply of energy. 3 . For
example, Iceland relies heavily on geothermal power, Norway on HEP and Denmark on wind power because
the necessary natural resources are abundant. Another renewable energy supply growing in importance is
biomass. A variety of plant sources including sugarcane, algae and corn can produce ethanol to fuel vehicles.
4 . Another renewable innovation currently undergoing
research and development, is fuel cells. 5 . We are likely to
see more vehicles running on fuel cells in the future.

As well as these big players, some surprising, innovative, small scale energy enterprises have set up. The company
Pavegen is harnessing human kinetic energy from people walking on specially designed pavements.
6 .

In short, the world is not short of ideas for producing energy. Research into new ways of generating
power is ongoing. 7 . Perhaps in the future, we will see our
energy mix becoming more diverse, and more enterprises setting up to contribute on a local scale.

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