Go Greener Tips

Renewable energy is really the generation of power in useful forms from natural sources such as the sun (solar energy), wind (air currents), water (hydro, waves, currents etc.), biological (biomass) and the earth itself (geothermal). This is an inexhaustible supply and technologies are evolving to make use of these processes for conversion to usable energy.

One advantage unique to renewable energy but not fully appreciated is the phonemon of community renewable power project. Community renewables projects can be a great force for social cohesion, and they can create a wide range of social benefits that transcend the economics of a particular project. These advantages include decreased dependence on foreign natural gas and oil, a power infrastructure that is far less subject to large-scale disruption or terrorism because of its distributed and diverse nature, local control of generation facilities, creation of much needed high-quality jobs in rural areas, and a supplemental revenue stream for agricultural community members that allows them to maintain their rural lifestyle. These projects include projects as diverse as willow coppicing and gasifying the wood chip produced, using power plants built mostly on farms, to community anaerobic digesters processing the food and organic waste of a community feeding electric power into the local power grid and hot water via CHP schemes into their homes for low cost heating.

Wind power is an example of a power type which can take jobs and revenue to remote communities which have otherwise been declining. A large wind farm can create dozens of secure long term jobs.

The relative price of renewable fuels is now much lower, so the incentives are there to invest. Wind power is a typical example where investors are receiving good yields and are likely to do so for many years to come. The term alternative is used to contrast with fossil fuels according to some sources. Wind turbines can be situated on land or off-shore providing many more sites.

Wind energy is the fastest growing energy resource in the world and can economically produce scalable renewable power to meet growing energy demands. In the US, wind power could produce up to 25% of our nation’s energy needs and we think this is a good thing.

Biomass energy comes from plants and trees. Wood is the largest source of biomass energy. However this form of energy can be implemented badly, and if it is it can be inefficient and destructive. One example is if biomass is burnt but the forests are not replanted.

To power a large proportion of the United States by biomass, vast areas would need to be taken from food production and harvested annually to feed our energy cravings while food prices would still rise higher and higher.

Biodiesel use is small now, but its use in diesel engines and for heating is increasing. Biodiesel and bioethanol do produce carbon dioxide when they are combusted in a car engine. However, crops used to make it do re-absorb that carbon dioxide as they grow. This biofuel is competitive with regular diesel fuel within a local market. A market worldwide for this product of methane is developing very quickly. Europe is now the largest biodiesel market in the world.

Biodiesel and ethanol, for example, is being combined with gasoline for cleaner transportation fuel.

While we are on the subject of combining technologies to give useful results. Sunlight is being collected and is being combined with standard electric lighting to produce hybrid solar lighting, a new development in solar technology.

Geothermal Energy can be used much more than it has been to date. Geologically derived energy of this sort is produced by heat from sources below the Earth’s surface. For electricity generation, steam created by these underground heat sources is used to spin turbines. Geothermal energy uses hot water deep within the earth’s crust to spin turbines and produce power 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It produces few carbon emissions and can re-inject used-water back into the earth to be used again, making it fully sustainable.

Solar power is generated when utilities are in highest demand – in the middle of the day. In terms of the energy to make these solar cells, it is said that in about the same time it takes to pay them off – four to five years – the cells provide back the energy that was required to make them in the first place.

One place in which solar energy is being heavily used is Hong Kong. Solar energy is abundant in Hong Kong’s sunny climate, and easy to use. However, you can consider replacing your existing water heater with a new solar hot water heating system located on the rooftop of your building, even if not in a hot country. The reduction in available solar energy between equator and poles is not a great as most people seem to think. Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354 MW SEGS power plant in the Mojave Desert, but solar is still worthwhile in more temperate climates.

Finally, there is the potential for much more thermal electric energy to be captured, where the sun light is reflected and focused using a huge parabolic mirror. This reflected light energy can then be used to heat water to create steam which can be used to drive a turbine to produce electricity just like in a conventional power plant.

Steve Evans is a renewables writer and expert. Visit his other web sites. See the biogas digesters web site to find out much more about this fascinating and rapidly developing subject.

In his spare time Steve also writes for the dog breeds articles web site.

Author: Steve D Evans
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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