Renewable Energy Resources: Top Evergreen Energy Resources

Renewable Energy Resources

The energy obtained from natural sources as an alternative to fossil fuels is known as renewable energy and the sources are known as renewable energy resources. There are many energy resources. Among them, four are discussed here.

Types of renewable energy resources:

The Following are some of the notable types of renewable energy resources.

1. Solar energy

It is the energy obtained from the sun used for a profitable purpose. Sun is the largest source of providing heat energy in the past era, Sunlight was used by people for many purposes like the cooking of food, drying of meat and grains, etc. But nowadays, Sunlight rays can be used for the generation of electric power through solar cells.

The process of collecting solar energy

In past years, different sources were used for the collection and absorption of solar energy. For this purpose, a solar oven was designed to capture solar energy. Nowadays, photovoltaic or solar cells are used for this purpose.

Photovoltaic system

Photovoltaic devices or solar cells are used to convert solar energy into electrical energy. A typical solar cell consists of a p-n junction where the electrons are excited by the thermal energy of sunlight. Due to the excitation of electrons in the junction, electrons start motion and an electric current is generated.

Advantages

It causes no pollution as it has no emission of hazardous gases.

1. It can be installed anywhere.
2. It saves on electric costs and includes bills etc.
3. It enhances the fuel Independence

Disadvantages

1. There is no capturing of sunlight at night so there is negligible power production.
2. Devices that run on DC directly are expensive.
3. There is almost no power production in winter and cloudy weather.

2. Nuclear Energy

It is the alternative energy form of fossil fuels obtained from the nucleus of an atom. The nucleons in the nucleus are held together by the bond which keeps a huge amount of energy. Whenever these bonds are broken down, energy is released. Nuclear energy can be obtained through either nuclear fission or nuclear fusion.

Nuclear Fission

In a nuclear fission reaction, an atom of high mass number is split into parts and hence energy is released.in nuclear reactor, usually, a neutron starts the reaction by colliding with a uranium atom. The uranium atom is spliced and hence energy is released. The fission atom thus releases 3 neutrons which further goes to continue the nuclear reaction and thus, a fission chain reaction starts.

Nuclear fusion

It is the fusion of two nuclei of low atomic numbers to form a larger single nucleus releasing energy. For example, when two protons are held together, it forms a helium nucleus releasing a huge amount of energy in the process.

Advantage of Nuclear energy:

1. By providing less fuel, we can get more energy.
2. Due to its production in a huge quantity, nuclear energy can be used for many purposes.

Disadvantages of nuclear energy:

1. Uranium is required for the production of nuclear energy which is not easily available in every place.
2. It can damage a huge population in case of any miss happening in the plant-like Chernobyl nuclear plant accident.
3. For the cooling of nuclear plants, water may be contaminated.

3. Geothermal Energy

Geo’ means earth and ‘Therm’ mean heat. It is the heat energy within the earth. This energy is used as steam to generate electric power. They’re a lot of radioactive elements inside the earth surface those radioactive elements emits radiation on the slow decay process which produces the geothermal energy.

Volcanic Eruption

Earth has consisted of different layers. The inner layer is solid iron while the outer layer near the surface is Magma which is the hot molten rock. The outer layer of the earth is known as the crust. It is broken down into pieces called Tectonic plates. The Magma comes close to the earth's surface where most of the volcanic eruption occurs. When the nature water come in connect with that hot rock, it is converted into steam. Which is used to run the turbine to generate electric power?

Advantages

1. It is also environmentally friendly where the emissions of hazardous gases are minimum.
2. It is a predictable source of energy as there is no fear of environmental factors to disrupt the reservoirs.

Disadvantages

1. The establishing of a geothermal power plant is very expensive.it requires deep drilling and cutting of mud to reach the source.
2. Due to cutting and drilling of soil, it causes earth instability and hence can lead to earth quacks.

Tidal Energy

It is the energy also called tidal power that converts the energy of tides into useful power obtained from the waves and rise and fall of tides of the ocean the tides are formed due to the gravitational force between the sun and earth. Tides are more predictable than wind energy and solar power.

Tidal energy generators

Many kinds of tidal generators are used to gain energy from tides some of them are

Tidal Streams

Usually, turbines are placed in the path of fast-flowing water the tides produced by in the ocean keep more power than the air. When these powerful tides strike with turbines it gives motion to the turbine and hence generates electricity.

Tidal Barrage

A barrage is installed in the way of an ocean that forms tides of different rates to control the water level and flow rates, sluice gates are used in the barrage the sluice gates are opened during high tides while closed during low tides to create water differential due to rise and fall of tides the generators in the lower part of the barrage generate electricity.

Advantages

1. It is pollution-free. It has no emissions of carbonaceous compounds as fossil fuels to cause pollution.
2. Tides are predictable so we can predict the power generation easily.
3. It generates more power than wind power plants.

Disadvantages

1. The tidal power plants affect marine life adversely. The growth and movement of fishes become difficult.
2. The Transmission of power from some of the power plants is very expensive when they are far away.

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