The majority of the world’s energy source comes from fossil fuels. These are non-renewable and harmful to the environment, which makes them unsustainable. Unless we switch to better alternatives, most parts of the world will eventually run out of electric supply.
Fortunately, renewable energy exists, and we are finally using more of it.
What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy is energy that comes from inexhaustible resources. These naturally and continuously replenish. However, just like non-renewable energy, these are limited in terms of the available amount of energy that flows per unit of time.
There are plenty of available renewable energy resources. Here are the major types:
Types of renewable energy
Biomass Energy
Biomass is energy that comes from living things or things that once lived. Some examples are plants, animal manure, and wood processing residues. Energy is then extracted from these biomass materials in different ways: burning, conversion to gas or liquid fuel, bacterial decay, and fermentation.
Biomass energy is among the most flexible and traditional sources of renewable energy. Aside from producing electricity, it is used for cooking, heating, and fueling transportation.
Wind Energy
Wind energy, or wind power, relies on wind to generate electricity. The entire process involves wind turbines and an electric generator. When the wind flows over a turbine’s blades, the blades turn and power the electric generator. This produces mechanical power, which is used to perform activities like powering water systems and harvesting crops, or is converted to electricity.
Wind energy is becoming a more common source of energy. In fact, the United States set a record in their annual additions of wind turbine capacity in 2020, which increases their total wind turbine capacity to 118 gigawatts.
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity, or hydropower, generates electricity through the energy that comes from flowing water. When the moving water runs through the turbine, the electricity generator’s turbine spins. This leads to a magnetic field and generates an electric current.
Apart from charging your phone, hydroelectricity can power homes and different industries like agriculture.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal, which comes from the Greek words “geo” or earth and “therme” or heat, relies on heat from the earth’s core for electricity. This heat originates from when the earth was first formed billions of years ago, including the radioactive decay of materials, and is stored within rocks and fluids underneath.
To extract the heat, steam and hot water from the underground are pumped onto the earth’s surface through drilled wells. These wells must be around 2 miles deep. Once these reach the surface, the heat pressure drops and turns hot water into steam. This steam then causes the turbine to spin and powers the generator to produce electricity
Apart from electricity, geothermal energy is used for many purposes like heating and cooling.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is energy that comes from the blazing hot sun. When the sun strikes the surface of the planet, it transmits photons or cells that carry energy. These cells are then captured by solar technologies like solar panels, which convert them to electricity.
Solar energy is one of the most accessible renewable energy we have today. In fact, many people are switching to a more sustainable lifestyle by using solar panels to power their homes.
What are the benefits of renewable energy to the environment?
Renewable energy is not only convenient to use, but it also brings plenty of benefits to the environment.
It is more reliable
Our planet has mostly relied on fossil fuels for electricity. Unfortunately, they are exhaustible and are therefore unreliable. By switching to renewable energy, we are maximizing our available and more reliable alternative energy resources.
It combats climate change
Renewable energy resources have little to zero carbon emissions. Unlike fossil fuels, these do not require the process of burning, which produces dangerous amounts of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
By using renewable energy, we can help combat climate change and make the planet more habitable for future generations.
It decreases air pollution
Burning fossil fuels for energy has significantly increased air pollution over the years. For instance, the use of coal has been linked to health problems like heart attacks, neurological damage, and even premature death. By switching to renewable energy, we are helping decrease air pollution and making the earth a safer place to live in.
Renewable energy and the future
Renewable energy is and will be a vital source of electricity in the future. Since the majority of our planet’s energy currently comes from fossil fuels, these will eventually run out. By maximizing renewable energy, we will be more reliant on limitless energy sources and protect the environment at the same time.
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