Renewable Energy: Various Resources

We already know that the use of electricity, gas and coal are all resources that we may eventually run out of. These are the non-renewable resources that we rely heavily on today. We use these non-renewable resources to do many things, including supplying us with power, heating our homes, businesses and schools and more.

When we use all the non-renewable resources up and there are no more to gather, then what?
How will we go without the convenience that we are so accustomed to?

It’s nice to flip a switch to get power and it is even better when the latest technology allows us to press a button to do all the things that women and men had to work for hours to accomplish. We are fortunate to live in a world with so many modern gadgets. Unfortunately when we lose it we may be so accustomed to the modern perks that we will not know what to do when we don’t have them any longer.

What we have to rely on in the future is renewable resources. These resources are all resources that offer us an abundant supply and will never run out. They recharge and allow us to enjoy them again and again.

The renewable resources consist of:

• Solar
• Wind
• Biomass
• Hydrogen
• Geothermal
• Ocean, and
• Hydropower

The good thing is that renewable energy technologies are getting cheaper, and some of these are available for mass production.

We need all of these and right now we have access to each one of them. What do they do and how do they help us with solar power?

Let’s find out.

Solar refers to the solar energy that we get everyday either directly or indirectly from the sun. Solar energy can be used for several things, such as heating, electricity to home, schools, businesses, or buildings, heating water, cooling and ventilation. Solar Energy turns sunlight into usable energy that can power everything from household appliances to satellites in space. Its effective and environmentally friendly, and that is why researchers are trying to improve its efficiency so that solar panels become more commonplace.

Wind helps the suns heat down to earth. When the wind combines with the heat of the sun, it causes evaporation. When the water turns into precipitation it produces energy that can then be captured by hydropower. Wind machines generate clean, alternative energy, and the largest ones can generate enough energy to provide power to over a hundred homes.

Hydropower takes energy from flowing water and captures it turning it into electricity. Hydropower is very complicated and requires a great deal of technology in order to successfully accumulate energy from water. Hydro Energy is derived from the energy of falling water and running water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes.

Geothermal Energy: In this method, hot rocks are saturated with water in underground reservoirs, and deep holes are drilled into these reservoirs in order to allow the hot water and steam to be piped to a geothermal energy plant (where they can then power electric generators).

Biomass is an organic matter that can help to make up the plants. It can be used for the production of electricity, transport fuels or chemicals. Biomass Energy utilizes natural materials (such as woodchips, leftover paper and agricultural waste) in order to produce energy. This type is also viewed as another promising solution to our environmental woes.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element found on earth, usually with other elements. If hydrogen is found alone it can be burned or converted into electricity.

Geothermal looks toward the inner parts of the earth for heat and can be used for power, heating, and cooling.

Ocean produces thermal energy using the heat from the sun. It can also use mechanical energy for the tides and waves.

As you can see there are many benefits to using renewable resources, and the best thing is that they are all around us. Renewable energy is energy that comes from sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat. Climate change and global warming concerns, coupled with high oil prices are driving increasing renewable energy commercialization.

So which one of these is YOUR Favorite Alternative Energy?

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