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Alternative Energy – The Pros and Cons of Wind Turbines
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) met in Paris in 2015 to develop a global framework for greenhouse gas mitigation and alternative energy financing. The Paris Agreement was adopted on December 12, 2015, and opened for signatures at UN Headquarters on Earth Day, April 22, 2016.
Some countries have been noted for their leadership in alternative energy development, including Denmark, which produces and sells 140% of its electricity. Other countries have followed suit, and some are even exporting surplus electricity to neighboring countries.
Renewable energy sources
There are numerous renewable energy sources available today. Wind, sun, water, biomass, and geothermal energy are all examples.
Each can be used for a variety of purposes, from cooking to lighting. The cost of solar power has been falling, but more affordable panels can now power entire neighborhoods.
But how do these sources compare to the fossil fuels we use today? This article will examine each of them in detail. The pros and cons of each can be clearly seen.
While renewables are abundant, they may not be economical for all applications. Solar photovoltaic systems, for example, produce electricity without a need for steam-generating equipment. In order to meet demand, renewable energy sources must be applied to large-scale electricity storage systems.
Renewables are an essential part of the global energy mix, but they require more infrastructure than traditional power sources. And it is important to remember that many renewable energy sources can be subsidized.
Inexhaustible, green, and renewable energy resources are vital to energy transition and global warming. These sources do not produce pollution and are naturally replenished. These energy sources help combat global warming and promote economic viability.
To make the transition to renewable energy sources more sustainable, we need to promote them. Listed below are five types of renewable energy sources. Hydroelectric power: This is a good alternative energy source that utilizes large areas of water to generate electricity.
The water movement in these locations causes the turbines and generators to spin, resulting in more energy being produced.
Renewable natural gas
Using renewable natural gas as an alternative energy source is a viable way to complement current energy sources like composting, animal feed, and soil fertilizers. However, renewable natural gas projects are also more expensive than traditional energy sources and do not necessarily contribute to climate goals.
This WRI paper outlines common approaches, evaluation metrics, and considerations for renewable natural gas projects. Read on to learn more.
In this paper, we look at the pros and cons of renewable natural gas as an alternative energy source.
Although renewable natural gas is an acceptable alternative energy source, its use may distract from other critical decarbonization strategies. Renewable natural gas derived from waste has the potential to displace as much as four to seven percent of current natural gas consumption in the United States.
Additionally, biomethane can also provide waste management benefits. This means renewable natural gas could be an effective alternative energy source, while still posing a significant climate risk.
Biogas has been around for decades, but in the U.S., we're lagging behind Europe. The European continent alone contains over seventeen thousand biogas plants and more than two-thirds of the world's biogas electricity capacity.
The country of Denmark, for example, has over 160 biogas systems, and with a population of five million people, renewable natural gas provided 18 percent of the country's summer gas needs. Danish bioenergy firms estimate that renewable natural gas will replace fossil-derived natural gas in 20 years.
Wood
While burning wood for electricity releases less energy than burning fossil fuels, it does release a significant amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The forests take years to recover from the emissions and absorb pollution while growing.
This means that wood energy is not a good choice for developing countries where the climate is already warming up and oil and gas supplies are becoming scarce. However, in some places, alternative energy with wood is already a viable option. Read on to learn about the benefits of using wood for energy.
Woody biomass has been used by people for centuries to cook food, heat homes, and produce steam. As new technology has been developed, clean ways to harness wood's energy have been developed.
Today, woody biomass is a local renewable energy resource that can be easily obtained and produced. This article will look at two of the main types of wood biomass. Woody biomass can also be harvested from power lines and storms.
It can be used to generate electricity for heating homes and businesses.
Biomass energy can be produced from many different sources, including agricultural residues, lumber mill sawdust, and municipal and industrial waste. Agricultural residues, such as manure and sugar, can also be used as fuel.
In addition to biomass, methane can be produced from landfill fumes. Agricultural crop residues can be used to create alcohol. All of these products can be used to power generators or heat homes.
Wind
There are two main types of wind turbines: vertical and horizontal. Horizontal axis turbines have long, thin blades that resemble airplane propellers. Vertical axis turbines have shorter, wider blades, similar to those used in electric mixers.
The difference between these two types is the amount of wind power they can produce. The higher the wind speed, the more power each turbine can produce. Horizontal-axis turbines are typically more expensive and require more land space than vertical-axis turbines.
While both types of wind power have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, there are many similarities between them. In theory, wind power can generate up to 20 percent of the world's electricity. The problem is that the amount of energy it can produce is different in different locations.
For example, if you live in the Midwest, you might generate 20 percent more power than the next town over. Nevertheless, the costs of wind power are comparable to other types of energy.
In addition to the high price of wind power, it is not reliable. While it is not available in all places, it does produce intermittent power. It requires some system reserve capacity to compensate for the variability of wind generation.
Wind power can't be used by itself, so the grid needs to be designed to support this variable energy source. The best option for your power needs is to combine wind energy with conventional hydroelectricity. The two energy sources complement each other well.
Solar
Among the many sources of alternative energy, solar power is one of the first to come to mind. While it does have tremendous potential, solar power is far from being a reliable source of electricity, generating less than one percent of the world's electricity.
To make the most of solar power, however, you need a large surface area to collect the energy that the sun offers. Another drawback is that solar power is inefficient and expensive.
The process of converting solar energy into usable electrical current can be divided into two different methods. Direct solar refers to the process of converting sunlight directly into usable energy, while indirect solar uses multiple processes.
A direct solar system is most commonly used for solar panels, while indirect systems use solar collectors to convert the energy from sunlight. Indirect solar is an excellent choice for small buildings. But if you have a large roof and a big yard, passive solar is also a viable option.
Among the uses for solar power are household energy supply, commercial/industrial, and home/indoor. Industrial uses are some of the largest in the last 30 years.
Solar energy is used in oil and gas production, telecommunications, highway safety equipment, and other industrial sectors. Lighted highway signs and solar-powered telephones rely on the sun's energy for their functionality, instead of diesel generators or buried cable connections.
Offshore wind
Offshore wind as an alternative energy source is a growing trend across the world. The United Kingdom leads the way, with more than ten gigawatts of installed capacity.
China and Germany are rapidly catching up, and by 2022, China's installed capacity will be larger than the UK and Germany combined.
The UK's commitment to renewable energy has helped the industry grow in the UK. The North Sea is the perfect location for offshore wind farms, and the UK government is considering ways to harness its abundance.
Offshore wind projects can provide massive amounts of renewable energy to load centers. Massachusetts has committed to generating nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, which is the equivalent of 30 percent of the state's electricity needs.
Currently, the state has five projects under contract with total capacities of 4.3 gigawatts. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has announced plans to create a $750 million clean energy investment fund to promote offshore wind projects.
This fund will aim to reduce strict price caps on electricity projects.
Federal investments in offshore wind should focus on creating a domestic supply chain. To ensure that offshore wind projects are profitable, the federal government should invest in helping states build regional economic hubs for the industry.
Investing in a national offshore wind supply chain is vital to achieving the goals of both renewable energy and climate action. And, if it works, the Biden administration should be proud of its efforts. It is clear that offshore wind is the future of energy, and it can boost the economy and create jobs for millions.
Sources:
https://www.energyinformative.org/solar-energy-pros-and-cons/
https://www.ibtimes.sg/offshore-wind-power-key-achieving-renewable-energy–government-investment36165
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/the-role-of-federal-investment-in-offshore-winds-future
https://www.eei.org/issuesandpolicy/renewableenergy/Documents/Summary_OffshoreWind.pdf
