Renewable energy

is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished). About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from hydroelectricity. New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) accounted for another 3% and are growing very rapidly.The share of renewables in electricity generation is around 19%, with 16% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3% from new renewables.Wind power is growing at the rate of 30% annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 198 gigawatts (GW) in 2010,and is widely used in Europe, Asia, and the United States.At the end of 2010, cumulative global photovoltaic (PV) installations surpassed 40 GW and PV power stations are popular in Germany and Spain. Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354 megawatt (MW) SEGS power plant in the Mojave Desert.The world's largest geothermal power installation is the Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW. Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugarcane, and ethanol now provides 18% of the country's automotive fuel. Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the USA. While many renewable energy projects are large-scale, renewable technologies are also suited to rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development. As of 2011, small solar PV systems provide electricity to a few million households, and micro-hydro configured into mini-grids serves many more. Over 44 million households use biogas made in household-scale digesters for lighting and/or cooking, and more than 166 million households rely on a new generation of more-efficient biomass cookstoves. United Nations' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that renewable energy has the ability to lift the poorest nations to new levels of prosperity. Climate change concerns, coupled with high oil prices, peak oil, and increasing government support, are driving increasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization.New government spending, regulation and policies helped the industry weather the global financial crisis better than many other sectors. According to a 2011 projection by the

International Energy Agency, solar power generators may produce most of the worlds electricity within 50 years, dramatically reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases that harm the environment.

TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Solar energy
Solar energy is the term used for the heat and light which the sunlight contains. Sunlight reaches to earth in the form of photons. Photons are energy packets that contain light in it. Solar energy is considered as a renewable energy source because it does not destroy our eco system and is present naturally in the environment. Solar renewable energy is considered most environments friendly for cooking purposes. The rural or poor areas where there is abundance of sunlight and forests solar cookers have been introduced. This overture will prevent the process of deforestation and the smoke resulting from burning wood. This renewable energy source is used to provide heating and cooling space facilities. Also this precious energy is a safe substitute for electric lights. The installation of solar street lights can save useful electricity in light and can help us to lower utility bills. Therefore the applications of solar energy are unlimited now solar energy is supporting military operations.

TIDAL ENERGY
The energy of the tides which is transformed into useful electricity and other power sources is known as tidal energy or tidal power. The term tide means rise and fall of ocean and sea level due to gravitational strength from moon and rotation of earth. This is a renewable energy source which is under development and not many people know about it. Tidal energy or Tidal power is more efficient and reliable way of generating electricity as compared to wind mills and solar energy systems.

Advantages & Uses of Tidal Energy

Tidal energy is a renewable energy source and it does not release any acids, harmful fluids and gases while generating electricity. Tidal energy is also a reasonable substitute for nuclear energy. Hence it can also protect us from harmful radiations of nuclear. Change in tidal flow by deploying barrages is however tend to affect the shoreline and related eco system. However scientist says that the impact of these tidal waves is different in different regions. The change in the local tides near LA Rance is negligible but near Fundy Bay it is more which can reduce the tidal wave to about 15cm. tidal power generators can be also helpful in increasing the efficiency of traditional power grids. This tidal power can be used to replace conventional power projects which release greenhouse gases and dangerous acids. The emission of the dangerous gases tends to quickly affect the environment as compared to the tidal waves. The climate changes caused by the tidal waves require centuries to slow the process of local tides.

WIND ENERGY

Wind power or wind energy just like solar energy and falls in the category of renewable energy source. Wind pressure is a renewable energy source because it can be used again and again without the fear of it being diminished or become scarce. The quality of wind power to exist in abundance without depletion along with its environment friendly nature makes it desirable to use as an alternative source of energy.

Research & development in Wind Power and Wind Energy

The windmills power generators have very low fuel cost. Moreover they produce electricity in an environment friendly way. Therefore the potential market for these wind turbines exists. The initial cost of installation is the first consideration which can effect its market growth. However the long term benefits and low maintenance cost makes it desirable to deploy. The development and research in this sector has already helped in improving its structure and efficiency. According to the facts and figure the wind power demand in USA and Germany in 2008 was 4150MW and 585MW. However the challenge of installing wind turbines come with the wind power in countries. USA still has the highest wind power utilization of about 52MW per hour. The problem with all renewable energy sources is that most of the countries of the world lack the basic infrastructure and resources needed to deploy this technology. The major problems like annual production and capital requirements need to be addressed in order to promote renewable energy sources.

HYDRO POWER ENERGY

The different types of hydroelectricity come from the water stored in dams; these dams convert the potential energy present in the water to the electricity with the support of generators. The amount of energy which can

be pulled out from water depends upon the working of Head (difference of height between the source and water flow).

Advantages of Hydroelectricity Power Plants

First let us look at the advantages of hydroelectricity power plants. The cost of operating hydroelectricity power plants is invulnerable to the fluctuations in fuel prices. Hydroelectric power plants can survive up to 10 to 15 years without incurring any maintenance cost. Hydroelectric dams are environment friendly because they do not burn fossil fuels to generate energy. The water reservoirs are another source of increase the beauty of the land which can attract tourists. The water storage can be helpful in supporting water games. Hydroelectric dams can store the rain water hence narrowing the chance of floods. .

Disadvantages of Hydroelectricity Power Plants

The major disadvantages of hydroelectric power plant are that they face the failure hazard even supported with good infrastructure. The silt from the rivers settles down at the surface of dam hence it can slender the storage of water. Hydroelectricity power plants require very large geographical area for its working forests and cultivated land is converted to store rain water in dams. In order to make these power plants safe and harmless they should be constructed far away from human population, so that the failure and destruction of the dams does not harm humans in the form of floods.

Biomass energy
is another form of renewable energy source and it is derived from living or dead organisms like plants, waste and alcohol mostly. Biomass energy is getting widespread popularity nowadays. Biomass energy source is most often derived from plants either to generate electricity or to produce heat.

Sources of Biomass Energy: Biomass Energy Sources

Biomass energy is derived form various sources which help in generating sufficient energy for use. The various source of generating energy from biomass are wood, waste, alcohol, garbage, landfill gases. Wood is either taken from trees or from the waste of industrial processes. The waste material of industry like paper making is really helpful in providing pulping liquor. The second major source of deriving biomass energy is from the solid waste. This solid waste is either provided by municipality waste or industrial waste.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomass Energy

There are many advantages and disadvantages of Biomass Energy. The biomass is used and produced throughout the world. It is the most inexpensive way of producing electricity. So far it looks like an inexhaustible natural resource. Biomass energy as a renewable energy source is capable of replacing fossil fuels. Agriculture biomass energy products add more worth to agricultural activities. The growth of biomass plants and crops produces oxygen and utilize more carbon dioxide present in the air. The use of solid waste from industry and municipality helps in lowering the amount of waste. The use of biomass energy can help lower the pressure of buying foreign oil.

NEUCLEAR POWER
The sun and stars are seemingly inexhaustible sources of energy. That energy is the result of nuclear reactions, in which matter is converted to energy. We have been able to harness that mechanism and regularly use it to generate power. Presently, nuclear energy provides for approximately 16% of the world's electricity. Unlike the stars, the nuclear reactors that we have today work on the principle of nuclear fission. Scientists are working like madmen to make fusion reactors which have the potential of providing more energy with fewer disadvantages than fission reactors.

Advantages of Nuclear Energy

The Earth has limited supplies of coal and oil. Nuclear power plants could still produce electricity after coal and oil become scarce. Nuclear power plants need less fuel than ones which burn fossil fuels. One ton of uranium produces more energy than is produced by several million tons of coal or several million barrels of oil. Coal and oil burning plants pollute the air. Well-

operated nuclear power plants do not release contaminants into the environment.

Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy

The nations of the world now have more than enough nuclear bombs to kill every person on Earth. The two most powerful nations -- Russia and the United States -- have about 50,000 nuclear weapons between them. What if there were to be a nuclear war? What if terrorists got their hands on nuclear weapons? Or what if nuclear weapons were launched by accident? Nuclear explosions produce radiation. The nuclear radiation harms the cells of the body which can make people sick or even kill them. Illness can strike people years after their exposure to nuclear radiation. One possible type of reactor disaster is known as a meltdown. In such an accident, the fission reaction goes out of control, leading to a nuclear explosion and the emission of great amounts of radiation. In 1979, the cooling system failed at the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Radiation leaked, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee. The problem was solved minutes before a total meltdown would have occurred. Fortunately, there were no deaths. In 1986, a much worse disaster struck Russia's Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In this incident, a large amount of radiation escaped from the reactor. Hundreds of thousands of people were exposed to the radiation. Several dozen died within a few days. In the years to come, thousands more may die of cancers induced by the radiation. Nuclear reactors also have waste disposal problems. Reactors produce nuclear waste products which emit dangerous radiation. Because they could kill people who touch them, they cannot be thrown away like ordinary garbage. Currently, many nuclear wastes are stored in special cooling pools at the nuclear reactors. The United States plans to move its nuclear waste to a remote underground dump by the year 2010. In 1957, at a dump site in Russia's Ural Mountains, several hundred miles from Moscow, buried nuclear wastes mysteriously exploded, killing dozens of people. Nuclear reactors only last for about forty to fifty years.

ADVANTAGES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

One major advantage with the use of renewable energy is that as it is renewable it is therefore sustainable and so will never run out.Renewable energy facilities generally require less maintenance than traditional

generators. Their fuel being derived from natural and available resources reduces the costs of operation.Even more importantly, renewable energy produces little or no waste products such as carbon dioxide or other chemical pollutants, so has minimal impact on the environment.Renewable energy projects can also bring economic benefits to many regional areas, as most projects are located away from large urban centres and suburbs of the capital cities. These economic benefits may be from the increased use of local services as well as tourism It is easy to recognise the environmental advantages of utilising the alternative and renewable forms of energy but we must also be aware of the disadvantages.

DISADVANTAGES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

One disadvantage with renewable energy is that it is difficult to generate the quantities of electricity that are as large as those produced by traditional fossil fuel generators. This may mean that we need to reduce the amount of energy we use or simply build more energy facilities. It also indicates that the best solution to our energy problems may be to have a balance of many different power sources.Another disadvantage of renewable energy sources is the reliability of supply. Renewable energy often relies on the weather for its source of power. Hydro generators need rain to fill dams to supply flowing water. Wind turbines need wind to turn the blades, and solar collectors need clear skies and sunshine to collect heat and make electricity. When these resources are unavailable so is the capacity to make energy from them. This can be unpredictable and inconsistent. The current cost of renewable energy technology is also far in excess of traditional fossil fuel generation. This is because it is a new technology and as such has extremely large capital cost.