subject: Understanding the Renewable Energy Sources [print this page] Understanding the Renewable Energy Sources
World is getting hotter and hotter. Average temperature is rising gradually which in turn melts down all the snow and rising the sea level. Thermal energy is ruling the energy sector for last one hundred years. This has lead to depletion of coal reserves. If we continue to use the current reserves, they will last for next 100 years. Then what will be the situation then?
Best things in the world are FREE. Now we understood the power of nature, still we are hanging on coal for power generation. The time has come to harness the power from renewable energy sources. The fact is that renewable energy is unlimited and more over it is free. We shall discuss various forms of renewable energy sources and how electricity is produced by them.
The ultimate sources renewable energy The Sun, The Earth & Planetary motion
Sun
When solar radiation is coming from the Sun, some portion is reflected back to space. The other portion of solar radiations absorbed into earth being utilized in four ways. Direct sun light can be used for generation of electricity using solar panels and Ocean thermal energy. The latent heat potential energy can be utilized as hydro power. Wind energy is due to the kinetic energy, and finally the photo-synthesis process is giving the Bio-fuels.
Earth
Geo-thermal energy is due to heating of earth core. This heat can be harnessed and can be used instead of thermal power.
Planetary motion
Tides in ocean are caused due to planetary motion and hence we can use this tidal energy to produce electricity.
With the above explanation, we can list out all the renewable energy sources as follows
Solar energy
Ocean thermal energy
Hydro power
Wind power
Bio-fuels
Geo-thermal energy
Tidal power
If we use the above energy instead of coal, we could have saved our reserves for our next generation. Better late than never, even now we can think of this change even now and use these clean technologies in power sector.
