There are several main types of renewable energy. Put simply, it is energy production which makes use of non-renewable resources. Utilizing and obtaining renewable energy also creates less harmful gases and pollutant emissions which will contribute to climate change. The following article will take a look at a few of the main types of renewable energy. This will hopefully give you a better understanding of the types and the benefits that they offer.
One of the first types of renewable energy is solar energy. With this resource, there are both positive and negative environmental impacts. While using solar power can have a very positive environmental impact, solar energy is not practical on a large scale. Also, solar energy systems require a great deal of sunlight in order to work and so areas that receive a lot of sunlight are not likely to be able to utilize solar energy.
Another type of renewable energy source is biomass. Admittedly, biomass is not as plentiful as fossil fuels but it can be used to create a very large number of energy-producing items. Some of these include electricity and fuel.
One other option is the hydroelectric power. This is perhaps the most abundant form of renewable energy. In most cases, tidal and mountain movements will produce sufficient quantities of hydropower. In addition, certain areas will actually need to use ocean wave power instead of wind power because of tidal ranges which are often too great. While some environmental groups criticize the impact of hydroelectric power, others view it as a more environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels.
One other option for an energy producing renewable sources is the use of hydrogen and gas. Hydrogen is obtained from water through electrolysis. When it is combined with oxygen in the water it produces water vapor, which in turn moves turbines to produce electricity. The biggest drawback to using hydrogen is that it will only produce a small amount of electricity. Solar panels on the other hand can collect enough energy from the sun to completely run a home.
The third option, hydroelectricity, is perhaps the most controversial of the three. Critics argue that hydropower has a negative environmental impact. In addition, hydropower plants release toxic chemicals into the atmosphere when they are being used. However, there are those who see this as an unavoidable fact of life due to global warming.
Ocean energy has the potential to provide much more than any one renewable energy source can provide. Ocean energy is used to pump freshwater into ocean aquifers which in turn provides a constant source of freshwater for communities in the western portion of the country. Ocean power has the potential to help reduce the effects of climate change but there are still questions as to whether or not it is the best alternative for the future. One drawback to ocean energy is that it can be costly to install. Also, while it is a renewable energy source it is not viable in some areas.
These are the three main types of renewable energy that exist today. Using these types of renewable energy can significantly reduce the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Alternative sources of energy such as wind, water and geothermal power can also dramatically reduce the production of carbon dioxide, but they are not as widespread as the other two sources.
Solar power is a great example of a sustainable energy source as it can be used in a number of different ways. It can be used to heat our homes, drive our cars and even generate electricity for all our electronic devices. This type of renewable energy sources can save us money because they do not deplete the resources that we use every day. The only downside is that there is a very large price to pay if we want to use sunlight to generate electricity. We need to find ways to make our homes more efficient so that we can use less sunlight. Solar panels can be a big part of this plan.
Biomass can be an excellent source of renewable energy. It is a naturally occurring fuel source with enormous potential for becoming mainstream. In addition to being the most abundant fossil fuel in the Earth, biomass also has the potential to be a very valuable commodity in the future. However, biomass is currently being burned at a very high rate around the world; in addition to this, it is one of the most dangerous forms of fossil fuel pollution. Many people are concerned about the large amounts of carbon dioxide that are being released into the atmosphere by biomass burning.
A very powerful way to use biomass fuels and reduce the impact that carbon dioxide has on our environment is to burn our existing wood pulp and to turn these materials into pellets for our own heating and cooling systems. This provides a very efficient and clean form of renewable energy. By utilizing biomass fuels, we can significantly reduce our dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels such as coal and oil and we can also reduce our reliance on nuclear energy. Although our current methods of burning wood pulp and turning plants into pellets are inefficient and dangerous, using these types of methods together with solar energy is an excellent long-term solution to our current problems. In addition, we can also greatly reduce our carbon footprint while we simultaneously saving our environment.