Henry M
Eco Friendly Energy Sources
If you are looking for an eco friendly energy source, you've come to the right place. Read on for information about solar power, Geothermal energy, and biomass power plants. You may also want to consider solar power, wind energy, or geothermal energy.
But which energy source is best? You can use all of these methods or any combination of them, and save the environment at the same time. These are the most eco friendly sources of energy.
Renewable energy sources
The use of renewable energy has been increasingly considered a viable option to meet the growing global demand for clean, sustainable electricity.
Although renewable energy used to be considered expensive, the current state of the industry is considered to be cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
According to data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in June 2020, new renewable capacity will be cheaper than fossil fuels and will even undercut the operating costs of coal-fired power plants.
One of the major challenges of the 21st century is addressing the world's energy crisis. Although perfect solutions are unlikely, sustainable energy is a vital component of the energy mix.
Hydropower, geothermal and solar energy are among the most common sources of renewable energy. Hydropower uses falling water in rivers to create electricity.
Hydropower needs a great deal of water and a lot of force. Until recently, hydropower was the most common form of renewable electricity, but now the wind is becoming a mainstream source of energy. Biomass is also a renewable source of electricity.
The levelised cost of electricity depends on the size and efficiency of renewable energy systems. In most cases, renewable energy sources are less expensive than fossil fuels, but they require backup capacity and grid connections.
Wind and solar energy are both intermittent, so they require backup capacity. Hence, they may increase the delivered price. However, government encouragement is necessary to make this kind of energy sustainable.
However, it is important to note that some countries may have carbon emission charges.
However, there is no universal solution for the transition to sustainable energy. Not all renewable energy solutions are suitable for all situations, as their effectiveness and efficiency depend on climate and geography.
Also, the way in which energy is distributed is vital. In wind farms, for example, optimum windy regions are the Midwest, Texas region and offshore. For this reason, renewable energy sources need to be properly distributed to achieve maximum efficiency. But it is also important to recognize that the transition to sustainable energy will take a considerable time.
Geothermal energy
The benefits of geothermal energy are obvious. Not only is it eco friendly, it also produces cleaner energy than conventional sources. A geothermal system uses the earth's heat to provide hot water and heat your home.
However, this method isn't available everywhere. It's only available in prime locations, which are often far from urban areas. However, geothermal systems are a great way to save money on utility bills without sacrificing comfort.
A geothermal energy system produces very little pollution and produces no byproducts. Geothermal energy systems work by drilling boreholes into hot bedrock. This allows steam to build up in the boreholes, which drives turbines to generate electricity.
But geothermal energy systems have some drawbacks, which make them less popular than solar or wind power. However, advocates argue that geothermal energy is a great way to generate a large amount of zero-carbon electricity.
Geothermal energy is also very eco-friendly because it doesn't require fuel or transportation. It can also generate electricity and heat and can be used for heating or cooling.
Moreover, geothermal energy is a renewable source of energy, so it will keep on producing energy as long as the Earth exists. The environmental benefits of geothermal energy are so numerous that they have even been touted as the best alternative to fossil fuels.
In addition to being eco-friendly, geothermal energy has a low impact on air quality and doesn't require constant conservation or trapping.
In addition, geothermal energy projects have also widened employment opportunities and created new jobs in rural areas. For example, the New Power Complex in Imperial Valley, United States, created 323 jobs in the region, including 57 for maintenance and administration.
This is a fantastic result for the environment and one that should be encouraged further.
Biomass power plants
If you are looking for a way to produce green energy, biomass power plants may be the answer. Although biomass comes from a variety of sources, the southeastern United States is the best source of this resource.
It contains over 40 million acres of pine plantations, a fraction of the state's total forestland. These pine plantations provide the bulk of biomass needed for the wood-based and paper industries.
Compared to fossil fuels, biomass has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It releases less than one tenth of the carbon released by fossil fuels, and the residuum it stores is nearly zero. Unlike fossil fuels, biomass releases carbon that is balanced by its growth.
Another benefit is that clearing forest results in a carbon penalty that can take decades to recover. However, biomass can be grown on previously cleared land, a sustainable energy option for the planet.
In the U.S., the biggest percentage of biomass used for electricity production comes from the transportation and industrial sectors.
NREL research focuses on biorefineries to convert biomass into a range of valuable products. Biofuels are produced as a by-product of the process, while biopower technologies are used to convert renewable biomass fuels into heat or electricity.
Additionally, biomass can be converted into other products, such as chemicals.
Although biomass is a low-cost source of renewable energy, it has the potential to reduce greenhouse gases by up to twenty percent.
The European Union (EU) has classified biomass as renewable energy, allowing the UK government to ignore the carbon dioxide production at Drax. Consequently, they can assume that the carbon dioxide will be mopped up by trees on the other side of the ocean.
Biomass burning has played an important role in reducing emissions across the EU. By 2020, the EU is set to exceed its twenty percent target for greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar power
Solar power is a renewable source of energy that can be used to generate electricity. Since the sun shines all around the world, it makes every country a potential energy producer.
This form of energy can also increase a country's independence and energy security. Solar and wind energy can be used on individual homes, instead of being reliant on a centralized electrical grid. This reduces a country's dependence on foreign oil and other fossil fuels.
With subsidies and incentives for the development of solar PV, the industry has experienced significant growth. In 2017, there were approximately 580 gigawatt-watt-watt-hour (GWe) of solar PV installed worldwide.
Of this amount, China alone accounted for 205 GWe. Those are impressive numbers and give hope for the future of clean energy. But, before we can start installing solar PV, we need to understand its capabilities.
Solar energy systems do not emit air pollutants or greenhouse gases. Most solar panels have only minimal environmental impact, if any, besides the manufacturing process. Wind turbines are another environmentally friendly energy source.
They can be as tall as skyscrapers and almost as wide. They work by harnessing the wind's energy to rotate the blades of an electric generator. The manufacturing cost of photovoltaic cells has dropped by about 5% over the past year.
In addition to providing electricity, solar power also has the potential to heat water. For example, solar panels are commonly used in domestic hot water units. They also have the potential to provide electricity for thousands of homes.
And, solar farms are becoming increasingly popular. They can be installed on rooftops or on bodies of water and use wastewater facilities without any environmental concerns. Researchers are working on more ways to harness solar energy. The future looks bright for solar power.
Hydroelectric power
When you think of hydroelectric power as an eco friendly energy source, you probably envision a natural river or clear lake. Water is free and dense, and it naturally flows downhill.
The energy contained in water varies with the flow rate and the ‘head' of falling water. Whether a hydroelectric station is a dam or a run-of-river project, the energy contained in the water is directly proportional to its flow rate and ‘head'.
Small-scale hydroelectric projects use small diversion weirs to create electricity, while larger projects employ large dams to smooth fluctuations in water level.
Developing countries have found the benefits of hydroelectric power. Most hydroelectric facilities were built decades ago in lakes and streams.
These dams blocked the natural flow of water and created a pool at the top. The water then flows downhill through one or more pipes.
When this water flows through the pipes, the water spins a turbine, which runs a generator. As a result, the power produced is renewable, clean, and cheap.
However, Chinese hydroelectric projects have been plagued by problems with improper planning. Because two-thirds of China's electricity needs are in the eastern coastal regions, the West has had to import coal to provide power to the region.
This involves fuel and pollution, and China is trying to avoid this by building its own hydroelectric power generation facilities.
Developing countries like China are making good use of ultra-high-voltage power lines to transmit their hydroelectric power. One of these lines already connects 650km between Yunnan and Guangdong.
While hydropower is not included in most renewable energy goals, it is generally considered eco-friendly energy by the state.
The inclusion of hydropower varies depending on the RPS goals. Michigan does not count hydropower as a renewable energy source because it requires the construction of new dams or significantly expands existing dams.
Similarly, Iowa and California only count hydropower when they are small hydropower facilities. Finally, Ohio allows utilities to count hydropower as an eco-friendly energy source as long as it is not harmful to wildlife, fish, or water quality.
Sources:
https://energyinformative.org/environmentally-friendly-energy-sources/
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/hydropower-plants.php
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/chinas-hydroelectricity-ambitions
