Renewable Energy – Sources That Never Get Exhausted
Fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal used worldwide as a primary energy sources. As they are used much faster than they are renewable, they are called non-renewable sources.
Sources of non-renewable energy represents approximately 90% of the energy used today. These sources have been exhausted. Since they are known to have an effect on air quality, causing problems of human and environmental health, the emphasis is on renewable energy sources as the new frontier of energy. Renewable energy sources include solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal and ocean. These energy sources will never run out and is environmentally friendly because they do not contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Solar energy is the source most readily available renewable energy. We have used solar energy for billions of years. The prehistoric people have exaggerated their potential to ignite fires. Today, solar panels absorb the sun’s energy to produce heat for cooking and heating, and electrical needs. This absorption of heat is stored for later use is an indirect conversion of energy. Currently, utilities are trying to use photovoltaic technology to convert sunlight directly into electricity.
Hydro Energy is based on energy produced by running water. The waves are the result of the interaction of wind with the sea surface. This interaction allows the transfer of energy that can be exploited for power generation using turbine generators. Although hydropower is clean, you can do damage to the environment. Hydropower plants can alter the flow of the sea, and thereby harm the plants and animals.
Wind energy or kinetic energy, are derived from the airflow. It has been used for centuries for sailing, grinding grain and irrigation. Today, wind turbines convert wind energy into mechanical energy or to charge the batteries. Wind turbines capture the wind and kinetic energy by capturing the wind in the leaves. The leaves turn a generator to produce electrical energy. Unfortunately, the collection of available wind energy day without wind. Even if it is a clean form of energy which had a negative impact on populations of wild birds, and some believe that machines large wind power are not attractive to watch.
Biomass energy from wood, garbage, food crops, manure, grass and crops, agricultural waste and forest residues. It comes mainly from the refuse. This renewable energy is not new. It has been used over 100 years in the form of firewood, delivered 90% of energy needs at the time. When biomass is burned, it produces heat or electricity. It can also be converted into methane gas, which is the main component of natural gas. It represents 3% of energy in the United States. Although biomass can pollute the air and greenhouse gas emissions, it is not so much pollution from fossil fuels.
Geothermal energy is basically the terrestrial heat. It is drawn from hot dry rocks, magma, water from hot springs and geysers of hot water. These are underground within the earth. Some are deep in the Earth’s surface and is closer to the surface. Today, this type of energy used to heat water in swimming pools and spas and for heating buildings in the greenhouse. It can also be used to generate electricity using a geothermal plant. At these plants the hot water moves through turbines connected to a generator.
Ocean energy produced from ocean waves or temperature differences in the water. Wave power is the kinetic energy from water transport. The tidal energy is to capture the tidal waves in reservoirs upstream dams. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion uses differences in water temperatures from surface to greater depths of water as a source of energy. To do this work, there must be a temperature difference of 38 degrees Fahrenheit.
As you can see, there are different sources of renewable energy available to us as an alternative to fossil fuels. There are several advantages to them among the most popular is that they will not be reduced supply, which means they are still there. Renewable energy is not new. They have been used in any manner for many years. Unfortunately, the low prices of fossil fuels, renewable energy, retarded growth and popularity in the United States. But a growing awareness of human and environmental concerns and a need to find non-depletable sources of energy will keep it as a pillar of the future.
Category: Hydro Energy
