• Question: Could it be possible to make synthetic energy?

    Asked by Actinium Chenery to Connor, Jillian, Lidunka, Sarah, Steven on 17 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Steven Thomson

      Steven Thomson answered on 17 Jun 2015:

      The great thing about energy is that it can never be created or destroyed, only changed from one form into another. From that point of view, there’s no distinction between ‘synthetic’ and ‘natural’ energy – all energy is ultimately the same, just stored in different forms.

      If you mean making energy in the form of electricity by using means other than the burning of fossil fuels, then yes, it’s possible! Reactions such as nuclear fission (splitting up atoms) and fusion (fusing together atoms) give off energy, and this can be harnessed and used in power plants. It’s still a natural process (it’s also what gives the Sun its energy), but it’s a far less polluting process than drilling for oil or gas.

    • Photo: Lidunka Vocadlo

      Lidunka Vocadlo answered on 17 Jun 2015:

      @Actinium Chenery Also there are people out there making hydrogen based fuels which produce no carbon emissions. The idea is that special fuel cells convert hydrogen to electricity and pure water. It’s on the way…..

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