Renewable Energy, Renewed Planet?
There are a numbers of questions that
surround the applicability of renewable energy such as whether we can reach
100% renewable energy, whether it will provide us with the energy we need to
meet demands or whether it will reduce the effects of or even better fix
environmental change!
With various countries announcing plans to
switch to 100% renewable energy, hope in the feasibility of renewable energy is
offered. Having said that, the vast majority of countries are doing little in the way
of increasing their use of renewable energy - which isn't very surprising! But, these contrasts have set off debates over our use of renewable energy, its barriers and the desirability of these forms of energy.
Resolving these debates is important and is something I seek to do in this blog as I explore the potential of
the various renewable technologies to address environmental change.
But first, a little look at renewable energy technologies would be helpful, I imagine, because when people think of renewable energy they often think of wind energy, or more specifically wind turbines, and solar energy or more specifically solar panels on houses! There are however many more renewable energy technologies out there and for this reason I will outline them now and explore debates surrounding them in my blog at a later date.
But first, a little look at renewable energy technologies would be helpful, I imagine, because when people think of renewable energy they often think of wind energy, or more specifically wind turbines, and solar energy or more specifically solar panels on houses! There are however many more renewable energy technologies out there and for this reason I will outline them now and explore debates surrounding them in my blog at a later date.
Solar power is the fastest growing energy
technology in the world and works even in northern climates such as the United
Kingdom! There are two types of solar power: solar photovoltaics (PV) which is
basically the solar panels you see on rooftops to generate electricity and
solar thermal which is panels that are designed to heat water systems.
Wind mills, wind turbines and wind pumps –
all of these can be used to generate renewable electricity. Wind power
equipment can be both small and large scale, onshore and offshore. The overall
reliability of wind turbines is high - over 97% - and so they propose a
promising energy source.
Biogas is the gas that, in the absence of
oxygen, is produced from the natural breakdown of organic waste or matter – so
plants, animal and food waste. This efficient use of waste can play a key role
in the reduction of greenhouse gases!
Biomass is the substances that have been
created from animal and vegetable matter. It can be used for heat, power
generation and other fuels such as biomethane and makes greenhouse gas
emissions savings.
Waste materials can be used to generate energy. Once all recyclable materials are removed the residual waste left can be utilised through various of technologies such as gasification, combustion and anaerobic digestion - processes that biogas uses.
Composting
Composting
Composting is the self heating,
decomposition and stabilization of biodegradable waste. It occurs in a
controlled setting to ensure the end product is sanitary and can therefore
ultimately be reused to aid agricultural, horticultural and ecological improvements.
Geothermal technologies make use of the
Earths natural radioactive decay to generate surface heating and
steam-generated power. Developments so far have enabled systems 5km deep to be
engineered and so further development in this area could result in systems that
are both a reliable and cost effective source of renewable energy.
Heat Pumps
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps take heat from a natural source and concentrate it in one location to generate energy from it for domestic heating or hot water. You can have ground, air and water source heat pumps.
Hydro power is created when the kinetic
(moving) energy of flowing water is converted into electricity.
Hydroelectricity is covered under the Governments Feed-in Tariff scheme and the
Renewables Obligation which offer incentives for using hydro technologies.
Wave and tidal energy make up marine
renewable energy sources. They are a massive source of power but are also
massively untapped and so if utilised they have the potential to become a
significant energy source.
Renewable transport fuels are a promising,
sustainable form of energy. They provide savings on carbon and are also
biodegradable meaning they don’t cause any pollution to soils or waterways and
consequently present a much less environmentally dangerous alternative to
fossil fuels. Renewable fuels include biomethane, biomethanol and biodisel.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
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