Introduction
The various disadvantages of relying on non-reliable sources of energy such as coal, oil and natural gas have made identification and exploitation of renewable energy sources popular. Non-renewable sources of the world are depleting, and their use has occasioned more harm to the environment than good, notably the greenhouse effect. This essay reviews the renewable energy sources and their advantages.
Renewable Energy Types
Renewable energy sources are infinite resources that are continuously replenished hence cannot be depleted. Renewable energy involves such things as plants an biomass, geothermal energy, sunlight, wind, ocean energy in form of tides and gases such as hydrogen (Renewable Energy World 2013).
The sun is the commonest source of renewable energy, which is commonly referred to as solar energy. Solar energy is harnessed using solar panels and stored electrically. It is used for various domestic and commercial applications, including heating, lighting, electricity generation, running machinery in industries and solar cooling among other applications (Renewable Energy World 2013). The sun energy is also used directly (without any processing) for heating and lighting in homes and industries.
Solar energy is also responsible for plant growth, which are an important source of renewable energy, known as bioenergy. Biomass, which comes from plant organic matter, is used to generate electricity, a variety of chemicals as well as biofuels for industrial and domestic use.
Wind energy is used to drive wind turbines which in turn generate electricity. Such energy is renewable and can be used in various domestic and commercial applications, including heating, lighting and operating machinery. Hydropower, on the other hand, entails harnessing of the water energy to produce hydroelectric energy for commercial and domestic use (Stover 2011).
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source which is independent of the sun. Geothermal energy harnesses the heat found within the Earth. The Earth’s internal heat is used to produce electricity, in addition to domestic and commercial cooling and heating of buildings (Renewable Energy World 2013).
Another important source of renewable energy is the ocean. Ocean energy is derived from the power of tides, waves and the sun. The sun’s and moon’s gravitational pull on earth leads to tides which have large amounts of energy, which are harnessed for various human uses. The action of tides and wind drives waves whose energy can be used to produce energy. Moreover, the sun’s heating effect on the ocean causes temperature difference which comprises energy ((Renewable Energy World 2013).
Hydrogen is another source of renewable energy. The element is abundant on earth and is found in organic matter and water, where it exists as a compound with other elements. It is separated and processed into electricity or used as commercial and/or domestic fuel.
Advantages of Renewable Energy
Besides the fact that renewable energy does not deplete, it is friendly to the environment. Renewable energy techniques are clean and have minimal negative impacts on the environment. They are therefore a good solution to environmental crises such as global warming and water, land and air pollution (Jones and Bouamane 2012). Renewable energy options confer energy security for humankind since they are finite and will not run out. This implies that future generations will have reliable, sustainable and environmentally-friendly energy resources. Moreover, exploitation of renewable energy, such as bioenergy and geothermal energy entails labor and technical know-how. This is creates employment and bolster economy.
Conclusion
All in all, renewable energy sources are the best way to go, owing to their friendliness to the environment, and the fact that they are sustainable. The world should invest in renewable energy to solve energy problems and the associated environmental crises.
Works Cited
Renewable Energy World. Types of Renewable Energy. Renewable Energy World, 20 Nov. 2013.
Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
Stover, Dawn. The Myth of Renewable Energy. The Bulleting, 22 Nov. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
Jones, Geoffrey and Bouamane, Loubna. Power from Sunshine: A Business History of Solar Energy. Harvard Business School, 25 May 2012. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
