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Renewable Energy Sources - A Brief Summary
Author: Mike
These renewable energy sources have demonstrated to be of great aid in cutting down the amount of toxins, which are by-products of the consumption of energy. These sources also preserve most of the natural resources that people use as resources of energy. For example, after a solar panel converts the sun's rays into energy, the sun will still shine for someone else to use. What are the most popular sources of renewable energy? Here's a list to give you some basic information:
1. Solar Energy - Harnessing the sun's powerful energy is definitely not something new. Capturing the radiant light and heat from the sun has been practiced since ancient times. Since the rapid evolution of technology, we are now able to trap the sun's rays into solar cells. Since the 1950's solar cell technology has been advancing and has come quite a long way. The process turns the heat coming from the sun into electricity. Photovoltaic cells mounted on rooftops are used to heat water using the sun's rays. The water goes into a storage tank where the power is stored, ready for use. But you don't need all these scientific processes to be able to benefit from solar power. All you really have to do is open the windows and blinds on a nice sunny day to let the sunshine in.
To date, the main disadvantage of using this source is that it is limited. You cannot use it obviously on nighttime and during days when it is raining or even on cloudy days. This has been acted upon through solar power stations. But these are too expensive so there aren't too many of these stations around the globe.
2. Wind Energy - Another ancient source of power, wind energy has been harnessed by sailors, farmers and architects for many years, even documented as far back as 5,000 years ago. The energy coming from the wind supercharges the blades of the wind turbines. As this happens, electricity is produced through the use of an electrical generator. In the old days, windmills were created so that mechanical machinery could perform physical labor. This includes the pumping of water and crushing of grains that were essential in planting and farming.
Now there are large scale wind farms that produce electrical currents. The end products are then distributed to national electrical grids and small turbines owned by individuals to distribute electricity to far flung areas and homes. There are many advantages of this kind of power. The main one, of course, is that this doesn't produce any by-products that can be harmful to the environment. And we will never run out of this source of renewable energy. One of the main disadvantages of wind power is that it's never a constant speed or direction, so wind turbines have to be able to move with the direction of the wind.
3. Geothermal - Geothermal energy is energy obtained by tapping heat from the earth itself. Holes are drilled in certain regions, and the magma and radioactive decay that can be found underneath produce steam. This steam is purified and used to drive turbines. These turbines then become the power source for electric generators.
The downside to geothermal energy is the fact that it is expensive to build, and to ensure that no harmful by-products are going to be produced in the process, geothermal plants must be created accordingly. On the other hand, because the earth's crust continuously decays replenishing the heat, it is still a renewable source of energy.
4. Hydroelectricity - The use of hydroelectric power or even hydroelectricity dates back to Ancient Greece and China where they installed waterwheels in rapidly flowing rivers to turn millstones and other equipment. Hydroelectric plants today still use the same basic principles as the historical waterwheel, but with some variations. The difference is that we use the force of the water to push the turbine which in turn powers a generator thus generating electricity. The idea here is to make use of the kinetic energy of water. To make sure that there is a steady flow of power being produced, a dam has to be built to retain the water. If there is a need for more power, the gates of the dam are opened so water can be released.
There are issues with the use of hydroelectricity. Some claim that it poses a problem for fish and aquatic plants on both sides of the dam. Because the flow of water has been altered, the nutrient rich silt which helps crops grow could be affected.
5. Bio-Fuels - Bio-fuels are also a green energy source. They have been around for a very long time however just lately, people are beginning to take notice.During photosynthesis, plants grow and produce biomass. Also known as bio matter, biomass can be used directly as fuel or to produce bio-fuels. Agriculturally produced biomass fuels, such as bio-diesel, ethanol can be burned in internal combustion engines or boilers. Typically bio-fuel is burned to release its stored chemical energy. Liquid bio-fuel which is the one used in cars is a natural and renewable domestic fuel that can only be used for diesel engines. This can be made from vegetable oils mostly soy and corn. In fact diesel engines were originally created to run on vegetable oil! The nice thing about bio-fuels is that they contains no petroleum, and they are nontoxic and biodegradable.
By fueling up with bio-fuel, you decrease the pollutants in the air because it does not emit anything. Right now, it is the only fuel approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), passed every Heath-Effects Test of the Clean Air Act and meets the requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
Just by reading through the available alternative energy sources, you will be amazed at how nature works wonders. It is our responsibility to care for the environment around us and keep it clean for generations ahead of us.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/renewable-energy-sources-a-brief-summary-887640.html
About the Author
Whatever your beliefs, today we are now aware of the effects of global warming. In the US, only 7% of green energy sources are used nationally. Fortunately, it's not too late and we can still change the outcome, which is why many are pushing for renewable energy sources to become more prevalent in today's society. To find out how you can start using renewable energy, visit our website
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Most all energy comes from the sun, it is just you must wait a long time for the sun made resources to build up, like the fossil fuels from dinosaur times. So when we burn fossil fuels they are depleted faster than created. We do continue to find them from exploration. Wind and hydroelectric is also from the sun.
The orbit of Earth and the moon and sun contribute to tides. Energy can be extracted here.
The remainder of the energy comes from minerals, either heat drawn from beneath the earth’s surface, or some highly refined minerals react and heat up (uranium). There is only so much heat that can be drawn from the earth too, a geothermal power plant essentially cools the earth, it takes a short period of time for it to heat back up, but it limits how big the power plant can be. Also, uranium is very dilute in Earth and requires processing much rock, about the same volume needed for an equivalent sized coal power plant. Processing uranium into plutonium agruably can make the nuclear fuel cycle essentially an indefinite supply of energy, but requires some maturity in the human race not yet demonstrated (da bomb).
It does not matter if you are electric or gasoline, both are energy forms that could either be renewable or non-renewable, ask your utility, the grudgingly give out this info.
Please conserve, I will do my part, you do yours.
Welcome! Are you considering the Philippines in your project?
We are working on projects like yours, particularly the environment and philippine biodiversity and its conservation. Please contact me @yahoo.com
I don’t buy into McCain’s claim at all, McCain has absolutely no solid history of supporting truly clean energy sources. I agree with all of the sources that you have selected pointing to the fact that John S. McCain does not really care about the environment except to get votes. It is clearly the trend for politicians to say that they care about the environment in order to win, if any politician runs on a policy that completely ignores the environment they will surely lose. McCain’s positions are for show and are only because this is an election year.
There is one thing that I disagree with that you said, it is that bio-energy is a clean energy source. Bio energy is only a clean energy source when it comes from our waste products, such as vegetable oil from restaurants or biological waste generated from food or other sources. If we go and take corn and turn that into fuel, we are reducing the amount of food available to the world as well was creating more pollutants such as fertilizer and pesticides in order to grow enough corn to feed our fuel needs as well as the world. If you make the calculation for the conversion of all of the corn we produce in the United States into ethanol, we would only be able to cover 1/5 of our needs for transportation, this does not even cover for our needs in electricity generation.
The calculation:
13000000000 bushels of corn produced every year
2.85gal ethanol per bushel
37050000000 gallons of ethanol a year
210435275000 motor gasoline used in the United states each year
37050000000/210435275000 = .17 -> 17% of transportation needs met
this is under the false assumption that ethanol is just as efficient or even more efficient than gasoline.
Clearly the answer is C. But this is actually a trick question. The point you are trying to make is that we have to take into account the environmental impact of the new energy source since infrastructure development affects the environment adversely in most cases.
Am a researcher in renewable energy, climate change and environment. Am looking for partners to work with.?
Am a consultant in the field of renewable energy, climate change and environment. I am interested in partnering with organisations in europe America and Asian region to synergise our expert knowledge and benefits the developing countries particularly Africa. Key areas of partnering is in proposal development, implementations of projects, exchange visits for experience building among others. Please could you give the contacts for such people/organisations.
If McCain cares about the environment, why does he oppose renewable energy?
McCain consistently has voted consistently against government support of solar, wind, geothermal, bioenergy, ocean and any other clean energy, with the exception of being strongly for nuclear power.
McCain believes that clean energy like solar and wind are ineffective against climate change. McCain has many times expressed his sincere belief that only nuclear power can reduce greenhouse gases.
McCain refuses to support any carbon cap and trade legislation unless it contains massive nuclear subsidies – more than any other senators are willing to support.
On environmental legislation, McCain voted with James ‘Oil Man Global Warming is a Hoax’ Inhofe 42 out of 44 times, and with Barbara Boxer (most environmentally conscious senator) 1 out of 50 times.
http://www.matternetwork.com/2008/9/mccains-50-votes-against-clean.cfm
McCain has also missed 8 straight votes on extending the renewable energy tax credit, and would have voted against it had he attended.
http://climateprogress.org/2008/09/20/the-greenwasher-from-arizona-has-a-record-as-dirty-as-the-denier-from-oklahoma/
How can we believe that McCain is concerned about the environment as he claims:
“I have a long record of that support of alternate energy. I come from a state where we have sunshine 360 days a year…. I’ve always been for all of those and I have not missed any crucial vote.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwFIbxY8wtw
When his voting record is exactly the opposite of his claims? Do you buy into McCain’s claim that he cares about the environment? Why or why not?
Renewable Energy, Non Renewable Energy, and the environment?
How does it help out the environment if we conserve energy?
Doesn’t most energy come from the wind, water, and sun?
I’m assuming since there is a thing as Renewable Energy there is such a thing as Non Renewable Energy, which I am also guessing has to do with the use of Finite Resources, but could someone elaborate on that for me, like specifically what is non renewable energy and how is it created/used?
Sorry if I am asking stupid questions but I’m just a kid.
How do renewable energy resources affect our environment?
Plz give a detailed answer or a link to a website
Thanx
Which statement about renewable energy sources provides an advantage to both the economy and the environment?
A. When a hydoelectric dam is built, thousands of acres of nearby land are flooded.
B. The production of solar energy does not pollute the air and will require the manufacture and installation of new equipment.
C. Biomass is readily available and can produce emissions similar to that of coal.
D. Landfills are ofter owned and operated by business people who sell the methane to utility companies.