Advantages and Disadvantages of wood as a source of energy

Burning wood. Image credit villagenews.com

Advantages

• Renewable energy sources.
• Cheap or free in rural areas.
• Easily accessible where forests or woodlands/crops/animals exist.
• Tsotso stoves conserve live trees.
• Technology very cheap and readily available.
• Ash can be used as fertilizer.
• Multi-functional energy sources.

Disadvantages

• Over-exploitation of forests has serious environmental effects such as deforestation, destruction of ecosystems and animal habitats, accelerated soil erosion among others.
• Air pollution occurs from burning of the energy sources.
• Use can destroy forests or homes through accidental fires.

To access more topics go to the O Level Geography Notes page