Introduction
Renewable energy is actually the energy, which comes from the resources that are continually replenished. These resources include wind, rain, sunlight, geothermal heat, waves, and tides. Renewable sources of energy contribute approximately 16% of the global final energy. The country used to experience series of energy crises due to its dependence on the foreign oil. The lawmakers thus created the federal subsidies in early 1970s to both develop and promote these sources of energy. Currently, United States relies heavily on natural gas, oil, and coal. Fossils fuels as sources of energy are non-renewable. The energy crisis throughout the world is a discouraging challenge. Renewable energy is an alternative. For that reason, this research paper investigates the merits and demerits of various types of renewable sources of energy.
Solar energy
It is worth noting that we directly or indirectly derive most renewable energy from the sun. This means that this energy applies energy from sun inform of radiation to generate electricity or for heat. Since ancient times, human beings have been harnessing solar energy by using a variety of ever evolving technologies. Presently, the solar energy technology only contributes 0.02% of the total supply of energy. Nevertheless, with the modern advancement in technology, this percentage is increasing. Solar energy technologies include solar photovoltaic, solar heating, artificial photosynthesis, solar thermal electricity, and solar architecture (Trainer 2007).
The solar technologies are characterized as either active solar or passive solar depending on how they capture, convert, as well as distribute solar energy. Active solar techniques include use of solar thermal collectors and photovoltaic panels to harness this energy. On the other hand, passive solar techniques include selecting materials that have light dispersing properties or favorable thermal mass, orienting a building to sun, and designing spaces, which naturally circulate air.
Advantages of solar energy
The development of inexhaustible and affordable solar energy technologies has huge and longer term benefits. As mentioned, energy crisis is one of the challenges that the entire world faces. Solar as a source of energy has various advantages. For one, this is the cheapest source of energy. Sun is absolutely free and what a consumer needs is only the solar technologies to convert this energy to electricity and heat. The other advantage is that this energy is not harmful to the environment. Unlike the other sources of energy such as fossil fuels, production of solar energy causes no harm to our environment (Haugen and Musser 2012).
In addition, this source of energy is extremely cost effective. In modern times, there have been technological advancements in the solar energy hence this has made this source cost effective. Moreover, most systems of solar energy have a longer lifespan of even thirty to forty years. The other advantage of these systems is that they normally carry full warranty for over 20 years. It is interesting to note that solar energy can be used anywhere. This is the most source of energy in developing countries. It is also commonly used in remote areas where there is no electricity. Last but not least, this source of energy keeps the prices of fossil fuels low hence this prevents monopolization by the companies producing fossil fuels.
Disadvantages of solar energy
Despite the discussed benefits, solar energy has some drawbacks. First, the supply of solar power is not constant. This supply varies from time to time. For instance, photovoltaic cells do not function when there is darkness. This power is also less effective during cloudy days. Additionally, it is not possible to generate high quantities of power like in the case of fossil fuels under this source.
Wind power
This is the other renewable source of energy. In modern times, wind power only supplies about 2% of the global electricity demand. For example, in Denmark, this source of energy accounts for one-fifth of electricity production. It is estimated that if the current growth rates goes on, by the year 2050 wind will meet quarter of electricity needs throughout the world. The environmental impact of wind farms is minimal given that they are sensitively planned.
Wind power simply means conversion of the wind energy into form of energy that is useful such as wind pumps that are used for drainage or water pumping, wind turbines that generate electrical power, windmills that are used to generate mechanical power, or sails used to propel ships. In developed countries, large wind farms have hundreds of wind turbines that are actually connected to electric power transmission networks. Offshore wind is stronger and steadier than on the land (Laughton and Watt Committee on Energy 2003).
Advantages of wind power
Wind power as a source of energy has a number of advantages. For one, wind power can essentially be captured efficiently. This is because wind is free and with the advancement in the modern technology it is possible to capture this wind without difficulty. The other merit of wind power is that the production of energy does not pollute the environment. In generating energy from the wind, there are no greenhouse gases that are released to the environment. This production also does not release other pollutants.
Besides, wind power relies on wind which we cannot exhaust. In terms of space, production of energy through wind is effective. The wind turbines that are used only take a small plot of land. In addition to this, the land below these turbines can be used in other purposes such as food production. It is also an efficient source of energy in remote areas where there is no electricity. Wind turbines can also be used by a vast range of businesses and individuals as they are available in a variety of sizes. Thus, this means that wind power can be used by all the people irrespective of their social classes.
Disadvantages of wind power
There are a number of demerits of wind power. First, wind turbines do not generate same electricity amount at all the time. This is caused by strength of wind not being constant as it fluctuates from zero to the storm force. Moreover, wind turbines make noise, which may be unfit to human beings. In terms of production, wind farms produce low energy. While running at its full speed, the turbine that is largest can just generate electricity to power only 475 homes. As a result, areas that are densely populated require huge wind farms. Finally, wind is unpredictable. Therefore, the amount of energy that is produced is not constant (Beinecke 2009).
Geothermal energy
This form of energy taps earth’s internal heat for various uses. These include production of electric power, and the cooling and heating of buildings. Thus, this is heat from earth. Resources of this form of energy range from hot rock that is found few miles beneath the surface of the earth to shallow ground. Geothermal energy is thus used to generate geothermal electricity. The technologies that are used include flash steam power plants, dry steam plants, and the binary cycle plants. The estimates of electricity generating potential vary from 35 GW to 2,000 GW.
Advantages of geothermal energy
One of the main advantages of geothermal energy is that it is renewable. Because it comes from the interior of the earth, it is a renewable resource meaning that we can reuse it many times. The other benefit of this energy source is that it is clean. It is categorized under the clean energy sources on earth as during electricity production; there is no fossil fuel that is burnt hence carbon dioxide is reduced in the air (Weiss and Bonvillian 2009). Finally, this source of energy produces high heat source. Since the energy comes from the interior of the earth, it is very powerful and this is what makes geothermal plants generate a lot of electricity.
Disadvantages of geothermal energy
Not all the areas all suitable for this energy. There must be a good spot that has a continuous and substantial heat amount for this energy to be generated. Thus, geothermal heat source is the main consideration before building a geothermal plant. The other disadvantage is that this source of energy requires huge startup costs. A lot of capital is required when a nation wants to build a plant. Furthermore, drilling and testing if a given area is suitable requires a lot of cash.
Facts
The supplies of conventional and cheap oil and gas are decreasing whereas the demands for energy in the entire globe continue increasing. We cannot continue relying on fossil fuels. For that reason, the authorities in various nations must encourage production of energy through renewable sources that are more advantageous than the traditional sources.
Renewable energy projects are vital in the contemporary society since they come with economic benefits hence this improves these regions. As a result, governments should encourage the development of this energy since it helps to reduce poverty. Moreover, the benefits of renewable sources of energy outweigh their demerits hence these projects should be spearheaded.
For the renewable energy sources that still have to make vital inroads into energy market, deregulation offers both new opportunities and challenges. It is really coming at a time that is critical for the renewables.
References
Trainer, F. E. (2007). Renewable energy cannot sustain a consumer society. Dordrecht: Springer.
Weiss, C., & Bonvillian, W. (2009). Structuring an energy technology revolution. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
Beinecke, F. (2009). Clean Energy Common Sense: An American Call to Action on Global Climate Change. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Pub. Group.
Haugen, D. M., & Musser, S. (2012). Renewable energy. Detroit: Greenhaven Press.
Laughton, M. A., & Watt Committee on Energy. (2003). Renewable energy sources. London: Published on behalf of the Watt Committee on Energy by Elsevier Applied Science.
