25
Mar, 2021

Green Energy and Its Advantages

Did you know that renewable energy sources account for 25% of the world’s electricity consumption? Although we still have a long way to go, fortunately, understanding the benefits of these forms of energy is growing. For instance, clean energy production is increasing every year, especially in the area of solar energy.

 

WHAT ARE RENEWABLE ENERGIES?

Renewable energy, also called green energy, ecological energy or clean energy, is energy from natural sources, which is inexhaustible and can be used permanently. Solar energy, for example, is considered green, in part because the sun is expected to power humanity for the next four billion years.

Although all forms of energy impact the environment, specific renewable energy sources – unlike fossil fuels – are characterized by the fact that they do not produce greenhouse gases or other polluting emissions. As a result, they are the most sustainable forms of energy in existence today, and they are prime candidates for efficiently combating climate change.

 

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON FORMS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY?

You undoubtedly know that there are different types of renewable energy, but the most common forms of energy today for human development are the following:

 

1) Wind Energy

Referring to the term “Aeolus,” god of the winds in Greek mythology, this is the renewable energy obtained using the kinetic energy generated by the wind on the air turbines.

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2) Geothermal Energy

This comes from the Greek geo (earth) and thermos (heat). It is the energy generated thanks to the use of natural heat from the interior of the earth. There are three types of geothermal reservoirs: hot water, dry, and geysers.

3) Hydraulic Energy

Hydropower, also called hydroelectricity or hydropower, converts the energy generated by the force of currents and waterfalls into electricity.

4) Seawater Energy.

This is a form of energy obtained by using the tides, where electricity can be generated thanks to the use of a dynamo. A variant of this form of energy is wave energy, which uses the waves of the sea.

5) Solar Energy.

Solar energy is one of the most competitive forms of renewable energy because it captures electromagnetic radiation from the sun through various collectors. The most popular are solar panels or solar cells, but there are also heliostats and solar collectors.

 

ADVANTAGES OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES

 

1) Renewable Energies Are Inexhaustible Sources of Energy

Unlike fossil fuels or nuclear power, renewable energies come from finite natural resources and are permanently available.

2) Green Energies Treat the Environment Respectfully

Clean energy does not emit greenhouse gases or other polluting gases that promote climate change. Therefore, they are the essential allies for sustainably obtaining energy.

3) Renewable Energy Sources Avoid Dependence on Outside Sources

Since they are obtained by using natural resources and can be found everywhere on the planet, they have enabled countries to develop their technologies, such as solar panels or panels and wind turbines. Thus, they develop the economy of the region, making it much more autonomous.

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4) Green Energy Sources Are Easy To Decommission

Unlike nuclear power plants, there is no need to monitor their waste the moment their operation ends. There is practically zero emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) and other pollutants contributing to climate change.

5) Renewable Energies Are More Favourable To the Labour Structure of Nations

They are more beneficial because they create five times more jobs than conventional energy sources. Indirect job creation (in agriculture, by expanding irrigation systems, livestock and poultry, with the installation of electrified stables, in commerce and services).

 

What do you think about green energy? Let us know in the comments below!

5
Oct, 2020

What Are the Cleanest Sources of Energy?

With the environmental impact and sustainability of our current energy consumption becoming more of a focal point, more and more countries are taking steps to invest heavily in cleaner and more readily available means to power our lives.

Questions are constantly being asked and alternatives to fossil fuel are constantly being developed and refined. Out of all the options we have, which renewable energy source is the most sustainable and environmentally responsible? In this article, we’ll go through some of the energy sources that are dominating the conversation in an attempt to answer that question. Starting with…

Solar Energy

One of, if not the most recognized sources of renewable energy, solar energy provides usable with negligible environmental impact. Most photovoltaic systems date back to the mid-1970s, which is when the search for an alternative to fossil fuels actually began.

Solar power is one of the most widely used renewable energy sources, with countries like the UK calculating that it provides around 4% of the nation’s electricity.

Hydro Power

The second in the big-3 of renewable energy sources, hydropower produces no pollution, is flexible enough to work on both small and large scales, and can be implemented in any area that has access to waterways, which makes it ideal for almost any country.

China is currently the world’s largest hydroelectric power producer, with a total production capacity that surpasses the United States, Brazil and Canada combined.

Wind Energy

The last of the most widespread renewable energy production methods, wind power is slowing gaining more traction and could soon be used to power whole cities. The disadvantage of wind power as compared to its better-known counterparts is the fact that wind turbines cost quite a bit more to maintain, and it is only viable in areas with large amounts of strong wind activity.

Denmark is the world leader in wind-power usage, with 28% of the nation’s energy coming from this source.

Geothermal Energy

Most commonly used in Scandinavian countries, who are known for their many geysers, geothermal power plants convert heat into electricity for use in towns and cities. Unlike coal or gas plants, which burn fossil fuels to create electricity, geothermal power plants use natural heat from beneath the earth.

A clean and renewable source of energy, geothermal electricity has attracted a lot of attention in recent years from countries concerned about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy renewability.

Tidal Energy & Wave Energy

Like most other renewable energy sources, tidal power plants aim to harness the power from a natural source and convert it into electricity. In this case, we are working with the movement of tides. There are currently two different types of tidal energy in use: tidal stream and tidal range energy.

While sharing some similarities with tidal energy, wave energy is considered an emerging technology that involves capturing energy from the motion of waves and using this energy to generate electricity. However, further refinement is required for the method to gain widespread appeal, since it is still considered unpredictable and difficult to harness.

Nuclear Energy

Although nuclear energy is controversial and often associated with weapons and the disasters at Chernobyl, and more recently Fukushima, it remains one of the world’s cleanest and most affordable sources of energy. Nuclear power is one of the world’s most popular sources of energy. In France, as an example, around 75% of the country’s entire electricity is created by nuclear power stations. In the United States, nuclear power contributed around 20% of electricity. Some of the advantages of nuclear energy include low emissions and an extremely limited impact on air quality, as well as low costs. Despite nuclear energy’s benefits, it remains a controversial source of power due to issues storing nuclear waste.

So there you have it, a breakdown of some of the most common and cleanest sources of renewable energy currently in use. Can you think of any others? Share your views in the comments below.