subject: The Fight For Renewable Power [print this page] It is very important that we consider renewable energy as the energy source of the future. The price of fossil fuels will become dearer and its availability will become scarcer. This is for certain. Fossil fuels are finite resources and they will not last forever. Therefore, we need to research and invest in a solution that will last the test of time. This solution must be kind to the environment too or we won't even have a home to live in. Fossil fuels leave large amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere after burning and this lead to climate change. The sooner we cut our dependency to fossil fuels in favour of renewable sources the better it will be for us and our planet.
Governments need to make the search for alternative fuel sources their primary objective. This is the only way that we can minimise the negative effects fossil fuels will have in our lives in the coming years. Our scientists need to create new innovative ways of harnessing the renewable energy resources that are all around us, so that we have an effective and accessible solution for everyone.
Much time, effort and money has been ploughed into the renewable energy industry in the search for solutions. Huge grants are available to scientists all around the globe. When we think of renewable energy vs fossil fuels we think of the new vs the old. Renewable energy conjurs up images of cutting edge technology and innovation. This contrasts highly with the fact that renewable energy is as old a phenomenon as the Earth itself. Yes, the technologies used to harness the sun and winds energy are scientifically very advanced, but using these as energy sources is by no means a new discovery. People have been using renewable energy for many years.
Most primitively, the first humans relied solely on the energy their bodies produced as a result of their calorie intake from the food that they ate. As evolution progressed, humans discovered ways of exploiting energy potential from tools and implements to overcome physical human limitations, and later, from animals as agrarian energy demands expanded and the human race flourished. One of the first identifications of the use and potential of wind power was through the invention of the sail by the Egyptians in 3200 BC. This led to the advancement of transport and travel and ultimately facilitated the age of discovery.
The harnessing of wind power was advanced by the creation of wind mills in the 1st century. One of the first records we have of a wind mill was the wind wheel developed by the Greek Engineer Heron of Alexandria. The advantages of wind power were very clear even at this early stage of development and wind mills quickly grew in popularity across the world. This popularity continues to this day. Wind turbines can be seen across every country and wind energy is one of the fastest growing energy resources on the planet. We have truly come a long way over the years.
