Renewable Energy
Global warming continues to present problems not just for developing countries but also to developed countries as natural calamities worsen, man-kind continuously abusing and depleting the environment’s many gifts and the world continuously becoming either warmer or colder in seasons which should not be possible. Eastwood (2011) stressed that many factors have been attributed as to how global warming continues to persist; one of them being the use of non-renewable energies, such as fossil fuel, which releases carbon enough to reduce the ozone layer. In turn of this massive emissions, it traps more ultraviolet rays inside the earth; causing the Earth to significantly warm up. While the effect of global warming had already made its mark, Johansen (2002) stressed that organizations and governments have slowly realized the importance of reducing carbon emissions that influences global warming. Solutions have been proposed to reduce carbon emissions and one of them is the use of alternative renewable energies as it would reduce carbon emissions and foster sustainable energy. The effectiveness of using renewable energies has met positive remarks over nations that had converted their energy supplies to this new solution. As of the present time, there are at least several varieties of alternative renewable energies available. Considerably cheaper, environment friendly and flexible to use, many supported the use of these alternative energy sources to aid in healing the environment. Out of the available renewable energies available in the market, solar power and wind power have been the most preferred and widely used forms of renewable energy not only because of its unlimited supply and history, but also for its capacity to reduce carbon emissions output and sustain electricity despite its limitations on availability and equipment capacity.
Solar power, as the name implies, is a form of renewable energy that comes directly or indirectly from the sun. Considered as the oldest form of energy used in the prehistoric era, Bradford (2006) denotes that solar energy is considered a mythical power that can be used to protect civilizations from onslaught and industrial use. Several scientists and experts in the period, such as Archimedes and Leonardo da Vinci, recounted the capacity of solar power to produce enough energy to sustain power. Da Vinci himself even managed to design the first form of solar technology as he designed a bowl mirror that can catch solar rays and convert it for industrial use. By the 19th century, inventors had come up with their own version of da Vinci’s bowl mirror that is capable of harnessing solar energy to generate electricity and store them into a photovoltaic cell: solar panels. Boxwell (2011) denotes that solar energy which has been converted in one solar panel can generate up to 14-18 volts of power, capable of recharging a regular automotive battery. In this end, it is highly plausible that solar panels could generate up to 230 watts of power depending on the location of the panel and the solar energy it can harness.
McKinney, Schoch and Yonavjak (2007) and Stier (2008) noted that solar power's effectiveness could be seen in its direct and passive capacity to produce electricity despite its varying heat resonance and cycle. Sunlight usually strikes at any given spot, directly or diffused, which would create two different ways to harness this clean energy source. Some solar panels or technologies that are capable of producing electricity through the power of the sun require direct sunlight, while others would need diffused sunlight. In this end, passive solar designs and technologies are created to ensure that despite the limitation of the sun's radiation to any given location; it can still get solar energy for use. Active solar technologies, similar to its passive counterpart, is also notable for its capacity to contain solar energy that can generate electricity enough to power a house with the use of water to generate heat. Dawson and Spannagle (2009) added that the efficiency of solar power would enable nations to sustainable energy independence and security once the capacity to harness these energies is done. Solar power technologies are also seen as best alternatives to sustain distributed generation applications, enabling lower transmission and distribution losses. While the prices of fully harnessing solar energy can be pricy, as well as the intermittent solar power capacity that can be harnessed within a day is questionable, solar power itself is still on the early stages of development which may still influence its price and energy capacity.
The capacity of solar energy to generate electricity has been recommended in various parts of the globe, including the United States, given the solar mapping done to each nation that can utilize solar energy. As noted by Miller and Spoolman (2011), Chiras (2010) and Goodall (2010), solar power could be considered one of the cheapest forms of electricity, making it also one of the cleanest. Harnessing such power is also regarded as one of the best reduction strategies when it comes to environmental risks that contribute to climate change. Utilizing solar panel farms and the power itself is also cheaper than other alternative energies considering that it would not require billions of dollars to create and sustain solar power, even in a domestic use. Solar panels used for solar energy are also easy to clean and cleaner to use as they do not produce waste, that can also contribute to additional pollution. Although there would be instances wherein the sun would be covered by clouds or around the night, solar energy can still be harness indirectly as solar panels are now capable for storing solar energy and harness it from the earth or from the wind.
Similar to its solar counterpart, wind energy is considered one of the oldest forms of alternative energies that had been used by civilizations for centuries. According to McDonald (2010) and Ackermann (2012) wind energy had been used to stir sailing ships and pump water for communities. In today’s technology, the wind’s kinetic energy enables it to spin a turbine which allows it to generate wind power. Through the use of wind turbines, the wind is capable of producing enough electricity that can power up towns while it continuously harvests wind for supply and energy generation. Wind power, as noted similar to its solar counterpart, is also considered a clean form of electricity. In addition to this, Gipe (2004) noted that while the wind follows the trend of seasonal and atmospheric patterns, wind power is efficient in its extent that the components required to create a wind turbine that could generate electricity would only require a few fees. It is notable that it can also be combined with other energy alternatives such as solar and geothermal power. Gipe also points out that wind turbines are less modular than that of solar panels, specifically the photovoltaic cells.
Wagner and Mathur (2013) and Ollhoff (2010) denotes that the effectiveness of wind energy as an alternative renewable energy is similar to that of solar power, its resource coming from natural flowing wind that is also clean in nature. Wind energy also produces fewer emissions, no longer relying on fossil fuels to power up wind turbines to convert electricity. Wind energy also do not produce atmospheric emissions that can create natural disasters such as acid rains or greenhouse emissions. Wind energy, similar to solar energy, is also available for any nation in need of energy, especially for nations that do not have access to fossil fuel or oil. Unlike other alternative energies, wind turbines used for wind energy storage and accumulation can be built in areas with lesser population to reduce instances of malfunction and accidents. Ranches and farms would benefit mostly from wind turbine farms as it would contribute to their local economies and farmers and ranchers can even ask for rent. Aside from this, Douglass (2005) notes that wind energy through wind turbines could generate electricity of up to 2.5 megawatts of power. Considerably Europe and the Middle East greatly benefits from wind power, especially those from coastal areas and in places where winds accumulate greatly in power and speed.
The capacity of both solar and wind power to generate electricity is undeniably one of the best alternatives to power production that can foster the recovery of the environment. While there may be instances that the supply of both solar and wind power will be hindered due to the availability of the resource in a given area or due to the weather conditions, technology ensures that these two renewable energies can continuously sustain electricity at any given moment. Solar power, while still in its developmental stages, could be used in any given instance with a few pieces of solar panels and still generate electricity despite the changing intensity of solar energy coming from the sun. With the limitation it has over the amount of time the sun can remain unhindered by clouds or distractions and its heat creation, passive solar power technologies can be applied to continue energy production. Wind energies, similar to its solar counterpart, is capable of producing high amounts of energy in its farms despite the changing patterns of the weather and seasons. Wind energy is also capable of becoming a powerful alternative to fossil fuel considering the amount of energy it has and the fact that even nations that do not receive much sunlight or oil can utilize this renewable energy source. Both energy sources, while experimental in some extent due to its varying patterns, would be a great influencing factor to reduce fossil fuel consumption and ultimately reduce carbon emissions creating global warming.
References
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Bradford, T. 2006. Solar Revolution: The Economic Transformation of the Global Energy Industry. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Chiras, D. 2010. Solar Electricity Basics: A Green Energy Guide. Canada: New Society Publishers.
Dawson, B., & Spannagle, M. 2009. The Complete Guide to Climate Change. Oxon: Oxford University Press.
Douglass, S. 2005. Identifying the Opportunities in Alternative Energy. New York: Wells-Fargo Bank.
Eastwood, E. 2011. Global Warming: What Else Can You Do About It? Bloomington: iUniverse.
Gipe, P. 2004. Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm and Business. White River Junction: Chelsea Green Publishing.
Goodall, C. 2010. Ten Technologies to Fix Energy and Climate. London: Profile Books.
Johansen, B. 2002. The Global Warming Desk Reference. Westport: Greenwood Publishing.
McDonald, L. 2010. Energy Resources. Pelham: Benchmark Education Company.
McKinney, M., Schoch, R., & Yonavjak, L. 2007. Environmental Science: Systems and Solutions. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. 2011. Living in the Environment. Belmont: Cengage Learning.
Ollhoff, J. 2010. Wind and Water. Edina: ABDO Publishing Company.
Stier, K. 2008. Primer: Solar Power. Retrieved October 9, 2012, from CNBC News: http://www.cnbc.com/id/24875678/Primer_Solar_Power
Wagner, H.-J., & Mathur, J. 2013. Introduction to Wind Energy Systems: Basics, Technology and Operation. New York: Springer.
