There are several different types of renewable energy sources that people use to power their homes and businesses. These options are commonly used as an alternative to traditional power sources. These choices include wind power, solar power, biofuels, and hydropower. A look at some of the pros and cons of each option reveals the potential benefits and drawbacks for each.
The first choice, wind power, is the oldest form of energy. It is commonly used for wind-powered generators to provide electricity to homes. The majority of this type of power comes from using turbines in a field to generate kinetic energy. Once this energy is converted into mechanical energy, the turbine is used to generate mechanical force for various processes within the generator. These processes are generally the opposite of what occurs with conventional energy sources such as coal or petroleum.
As stated before, wind energy is a renewable energy source that is largely geologically based. This means that it is created from the wind, which is the result of air moving over land. Geographically, this type of energy is found more naturally in certain places around the world. For example, places that have constant winds of at least 11 miles per hour are more likely to produce wind energy than areas that experience only light winds.
The second option, solar power, is one of the most popular choices among renewable energy sources. In this case, photovoltaic cells are used to capture energy from the sun and convert it into other types of energy. This process is commonly referred to as “solar thermal power.” This type of power plant uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight in order to heat water or other liquids that need heating. Wind turbines may be used in conjunction with solar thermal power plants.
The final two alternative renewable energy sources on this list are geothermal or hydroelectric turbines. These types of turbines use heat from underneath the ground to pump fluids that move through pipes to produce electricity. Geothermal turbines are most often used in larger applications such as irrigation systems or geothermal hot water systems.
Hydroelectric turbines are produced by using the water that is stored underground in rivers and streams to move the turbines. The electricity produced by a hydroelectric turbine is directly used by heating water in a boiler or other device and using the heat to generate electricity. There are many disadvantages to geothermal energy. Most notably, it is not a renewable resource and must be mined from deep within the Earth.
One of the biggest questions surrounding using renewable energy sources is what impact it will have on the environment. Most experts agree that the negative effects would be very small and transitory as long as the energy plan is implemented in an efficient manner. There will need to be major changes in the way we produce energy if the world is to avoid serious climate change, but even with these changes, many experts believe that it will still be much better to rely on clean and efficient fossil fuel energy rather than relying on geothermal energy, which is far from a green energy. By using geothermal energy and alternative fossil fuel sources instead, the Earth’s temperature can remain stable which will help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The types of renewable energy on this list are all great resources that have low to zero carbon emissions. If you want to make a positive change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, you should definitely consider investing in some of these resources. Fossil fuels like coal and natural gas are already in high demand around the world and will only continue to increase in value. Wind and solar energy are also good resources for your home. You can build up a home solar system for much less money than it costs to purchase an installed system, and your electric bill will be considerably lower. The time is now to switch to clean and efficient sources of renewable energy.