Though our planet is moving ahead in technology and made significant progress in this journey, there are a few things that need our urgent attention. One such challenge is our climate change and the use of Renewable Energy is a way to mitigate its adverse effects. We find it almost impossible to move forward with our simple lives, without relying on any of the energy resources. About 90% of the energy we consume comes from fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas) which are depleting at a faster rate, but that is not what we should really be worrying about. We need to focus on the threat it poses to our planet – the dangerous levels of carbon emissions that are warming the planet at a rapid pace that means it brings more destruction to life. It is high time now that we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and adapt the road to redemption, which, no doubt, goes through renewable energy technology.
1. Know About Renewable Energy Technology
Energy that is extracted from natural resources like the sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the Earth is known as Renewable energy. Our Nature is rich with these natural resources. They are continuously replenished and emit little or no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air. They are clean, accessible, affordable, sustainable, and reliable. Renewable Energy Technology is used in drawing out the energy, which is a key to a safer, cleaner, and sustainable world. To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we need to end our reliance on fossil fuels and utilise renewable energy technology.
2. Types of Renewable Energy Technologies
The most popular types of Renewable Energy Technologies are mentioned here.
2.1. Solar Energy
The energy that is extracted from the sun is known as solar energy. Solar collectors like photovoltaic, concentrator photovoltaic, solar heating, (CSP) concentrated solar power, artificial photosynthesis, and solar architecture, harness the radiant light and heat energy from the sun and convert it into solar energy. This energy is then utilised to give light, heat, and different other forms of electricity.
Solar Energy is the most prevalent of all energy resources. The energy that the earth receives from the Sun, in an hour, is sufficient for everyone to consume for an entire year. Solar Energy has the potential to meet all future energy demands, if properly exploited. Due to its limitless supply and lack of pollution, in comparison with limited supply of fossil fuels, solar energy is predicted to become a more popular renewable energy resource for the future.
Solar ovens with specialised designs can use the Sun’s energy to cook food. Solar ovens often focus sunlight from a large area onto a single point, where it is converted into heat by a vessel with a black surface.
Solar panels are gaining prominence nowadays. Solar Photovoltaic technology turns sunlight (solar radiation) into electricity using semiconductors to harness the solar power. Electrons are liberated when the solar cell’s semiconductor is hit by the sun; the bus-bars then gather the ejected electrons to produce an electric current. Solar panels produce current and voltage when they are placed strategically in the sun. Most of the world’s appliances and equipment operate on alternating current; therefore we must connect all our solar panels to an inverter, which transforms direct current into alternating current for use in our homes.
2.2. Wind Energy
When wind moves from one place to another, kinetic energy gets associated with it. This is wind
energy which can be converted into mechanical and electrical energy. It is used to drive windmills, in water lifting pumps and flour mills, used to propel sail boats, to fly gliders in the air etc. The electricity generated from wind energy is used for various purposes like lightning, heating, etc.
This energy resource is secure, mature, efficient, and sustainable and is essential for the decarbonisation of the economy and the energy transition. Wind energy is power generated by the wind’s force, with the aid of a wind turbine, which converts the kinetic energy of air currents into electrical energy. The rotor converts kinetic energy into mechanical energy, and then the generator converts this mechanical energy into electrical energy. These are the two basic mechanisms used to extract the energy.
2.3. Hydro-Energy
One of the earliest and most significant types of renewable energy, hydropower or hydroelectric power, harnesses the naturally occurring flow of moving water to produce electricity. There are hydropower facilities of all shapes and sizes. Some may be rather huge, but others may be quite small, like using the water flow in municipal water systems or irrigation ditches. They may even be without dams using run-of-river facilities or diversions that send a portion of a stream through a powerhouse before it rejoins the main river. Whatever be the approach, hydropower is more accessible and pervasive than most people believe.
The electricity produced from hydro power is very economical, and the places closer to rivers can easily be supplied with power. Hydropower offers comparatively cheap expenses over the course of a whole project lifetime in terms of upkeep, operations, and fuel compared to other electricity sources. Hydropower has considerable upfront expenses that cannot be avoided but because of its extended lifespan, these costs are reduced over time. Additionally, the machinery employed at hydropower facilities frequently lasts longer before it needs to be replaced or repaired, saving money over time.
Electricity is produced by hydropower facilities, by harnessing the energy of falling water. The kinetic energy of falling water is transformed into mechanical energy by a turbine; the mechanical energy from the turbine is then transformed into electrical energy via a generator.
2.4. Biomass Energy
Biomass is a type of biological material derived from living organisms and plant-derived materials which are called lingo cellulosic biomass and the energy derived from biomass is known as biomass energy. This energy can be indirectly used to convert to biofuels or can also be used directly via combustion to produce heat. Biomass energy can also be transformed to other forms of energy like transportation fuels which includes ethanol, biodiesel, and methane gas.
Every living thing contains some sort of energy stored in the form of Carbohydrates like starches, sugars, and cellulose. The method of photosynthesis helps in the production of carbohydrates. Organic matter refers to the collective term for the remains of plants, animals, and other organisms that is left behind in the environment. It is from this organic matter that Biomass Energy is produced.
Direct combustion is the primary method of producing most of the electricity from biomass. In a boiler, the organic matter is burned to create high-pressure steam and then it is passed through a series of turbines which are set in motion. A generator is powered by the turbine’s rotation to create electricity. With a method known as co-firing, biomass can also replace some coal in an existing power plant furnace.
2.5. Geothermal Energy
Earth stores some energy called thermal energy. Geothermal energy is generated from the thermal energy of the Earth. Geothermal resources are reserves of hot water that are found beneath the Earth’s surface at various temperatures and depths. Heat energy is captured by the Hot springs and volcanoes
and this heat is directly used for heating the water and other purposes. Wells are dug to access the underground reservoirs of hot water and steam and brought to the surface and harnessed for electricity generation and heating.
Geothermal heat may be accessible and used right away as a source of heat, almost anywhere in the world. Low-temperature geothermal energy is the name given to this heat energy. Geothermal energy with low temperatures can be utilised to heat houses, fisheries, greenhouses, and industrial activities. Sometimes being used to create electricity, low-temperature energy is the most effective when used for heating.
3. In a Nutshell
Renewable Energy Technology is nothing but energy harnessed from a renewable energy source such as sun, wind, water (hydro and tidal), biomass, and heat of the Earth. In addition to these, we also have Nuclear energy which can be used in many ways but may bring destruction if not used properly. We can never run out of these resources as they are available in abundance and are automatically replenished. Renewable Energy Technology is the ultimate alternative to curb the global crisis and feed the ever-growing demand of the planet.