Top 9 Sources of Renewable Energy

http://www.reelcaribbeanenergy.com

There are many sources of energy that are renewable and considered to be environmentally friendly and harness natural processes.

These sources of energy provide an alternate ‘cleaner’ source of energy, helping to negate the effects of certain forms of pollution.

Waves1

The waves are caused by wind action, and wind action is caused by the sun heating the surface of the waters, generating air pressure. This means as long as there is the sun, there will be wind and waves, even though its intensity may vary. Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy to do useful work — for example for electricity generation, water desalination, or the pumping of water (into reservoirs). Wave energy can be difficult to harness due to the unpredictability of the ocean and wave direction.

Waves1

Most wave power systems include the use of a floating buoyed device and generate energy through a snaking motion, or by mechanical movement from the waves peaks and troughs.

The unpredictable changes in wave patterns (extreme tides to very calm waters can cause huge structural damage. It can also cause overload operation problems. There is also lack of data and information on this new area, and many governments and businesses are less encouraged to utilize it.

Waves1

The world’s first commercial wave farm is based in Portugal, at the Aguçadora Wave Park.

In the United States, the Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative is funding the building of a commercial wave-power park at Reedsport, Oregon.

Tides2

Ocean tides are caused by the earth’s rotation, as well as the combined gravitational fields of the earth, sun and moon.

This combination shapes the gravitational pull on the earth’s oceans. The oceans tidal stream is even more powerful when wind air pressure systems get involved. Areas with greater current speeds, narrow straits and inlets, as well as channels between islands are perfect locations for installing tidal energy structures.

Tides2

Tidal energy can be generated in two ways, tidal stream generators or by barrage generation. The power created though tidal generators is generally more environmentally friendly and causes less impact on established ecosystems. Similar to a wind turbine, many tidal stream generators rotate underwater and is driven by the swiftly moving dense water. Although not yet widely used, tidal power has potential for future electricity generation because are more predictable than wind energy and solar power.

Tides2

Tidal power is the only form of energy which derives directly from the relative motions of the Earth–Moon system, and to a lesser extent from the Earth–Sun system.

The tidal forces produced by the Moon and Sun, in combination with Earth’s rotation, are responsible for the generation of the tides.

The earliest occurrences of using tidal power date from the Middle Ages, even from Roman times.

Tides2

The world’s biggest Tidal Power Plant is the Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station in South Korea, with 254Moutput capacity.

There is also a 240MW output capacity plant in France called La Rance Tidal Power Plant.

Wind3

Wind power is the conversion of wind energy by wind turbines into a useful form, such as electricity or mechanical energy.

Wind is caused by huge convection currents in the Earth's atmosphere, driven by heat energy from the sun. This means as long as the sun shines, there will be wind.

Wind3

When the sun comes up, the air over the land heats up quicker than that over water. The heated air is lighter and it rises. The cooler air is denser and it falls and replaced the air over the land. In the night the reverse happens.

Air over the water is warmer and rises, and is replaced by cooler air from land. The moving air (wind) has huge amounts of kinetic energy, and this can be transferred into electrical energy using wind turbines. One wind turbine can produce enough electricity to power up to 300 homes.

Wind3

Wind turbines cannot work if there is no wind, or if the wind speed is so high it would damage them. Just like a windmill, wind energy turbines have been around for over 1000 years. From old Holland to farms in the United States, windmills have been used for pumping water or grinding grain.

Although wind produces only about 1.5% of worldwide electricity use, it is growing rapidly, having doubled in the three years between 2005 and 2008.

Wind3

In several countries it has achieved relatively high levels of penetration, accounting for approximately 19% of electricity production in Denmark, 11% in Spain and Portugal, and 7% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland in 2008.

Sunlight4

Solar power is energy from the sun. "Solar" is the Latin word for "sun" and it's a powerful source of energy.

The technology used to convert the sun's power into electricity does not produce smoke (carbon dioxide and other air pollutants).

One of the fastest growing energy sources, new technologies are developing at a rapid pace.

Sunlight4

Two common ways to capture solar power are through solar cells and solar panels. Solar cells are devices that convert light energy directly into electrical energy. In these cells, there are semiconductors (silicon alloys and other materials).

You may have seen small solar cells on calculators or some mobile phones. Larger arrays of solar cells are used to power road signs, and even larger arrays are used to power satellites in orbit around Earth. Solar cells are also called photovoltaic cells or PV devices.

Sunlight4

Solar panels do not generate electricity directly. Instead they heat up water directly. A pump pushes cold water from a storage tank through pipes in the solar panel.

The water is heated by heat energy from the sun and returns to the tank. They are often located on the roofs of buildings where they can receive the most sunlight.

Water5

Moving water has kinetic energy. This can be transferred into useful energy in different ways. Hydroelectric power (HEP) schemes store water high up in dams. The water has gravitational potential energy which is released when it falls.

Water5

Once a hydroelectric complex is constructed, the project produces no direct waste. Small scale hydro or micro-hydro power has been an increasingly popular alternative energy source, especially in remote areas where other power sources are not viable.

Small scale hydro power systems can be installed in small rivers or streams with little or no discernible environmental effect or disruption to fish migration. Most small scale hydro power systems make no use of a dam or major water diversion, but rather use water wheels to generate energy.

Water5

Hydroelectricity makes approximately 19% of the world’s electricity (up from 16% in 2003), and accounts for over 63% of electricity from renewable sources. China is the largest producer of hydroelectricity, followed by Canada, Brazil, and the United States (Source: Energy Information Administration).

At this time, most of the available locations for hydroelectric dams are already used in the developed world.

Radiant Energy6

This natural energy can perform the same wonders as ordinary electricity at less than 1% of the cost. It does not behave exactly like electricity, however, which has contributed to the scientific community’s misunderstanding of it. This natural energy form can be gathered directly from the environment or extracted from ordinary electricity by the method called fractionation.

Radiant Energy6

One of the earliest wireless telephones to be based on radiant energy was invented by Nikola Tesla. The device used transmitters and receivers whose resonances were tuned to the same frequency, allowing communication between them. The Methernitha Community in Switzerland currently has 5 or 6 working models of fuelless, self-running devices that tap this energy.

Geothermal Energy7

Deep down in the earth's crust, there is molten rock (magma). Molten rock is simply rocks that have melted into liquid form as a result of extreme heat under the earth.

This can be found about 1800 miles deep below the surface, but closer to the surface, the rocks layers are hot enough to keep water and air spaces there at a temperature of about 50-60 degrees F (10-16 degrees C).

Geothermal Energy7

Geothermal technology takes advantage of the hot close-to-earth-surface temperatures to generate power.

In places with hotter 'close-to-earth-surface' temperatures, deep wells can be drilled and cold water pumped down.

The water runs through fractures in the rocks and is heated up. It returns to the surface as hot water and steam, where its' energy can be used to drive turbines and electricity generators.

Geothermal Energy7

In other places, a geothermal heat pump system consisting of pipes and pumps buried in the earth can be used to heat homes. Geothermal energy has been used for space heating and bathing since ancient roman times, but is now better known for generating electricity.

Geothermal Energy7

The largest group of geothermal power plants in the world is located at The Geysers, a geothermal field in California, United States. Geothermal electricity is generated in 24 countries around the world and a number of potential sites are being developed or evaluated. Geothermal power is cost effective, reliable, and environmentally friendly, but has previously been geographically limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries. Recent technological advances have dramatically expanded the range and size of viable resources, especially for direct applications such as home heating.

Biomass8

Biomass fuels come from things that once lived: wood products, dried vegetation, crop residues, aquatic plants and even garbage. Plants use up a lot of the sun's energy to make their own food in photosynthesis. They store the foods in the form of chemical energy. As the plants die, the energy is trapped in the residue. This trapped energy is usually released by burning and can be converted into biomass energy.

Biomass8

It is such a widely utilized source of energy, probably due to its low cost and indigenous nature, that it accounts for almost 15% of the world's total energy supply and as much as 35% in developing countries, mostly for cooking and heating. Industrial biomass can be grown from numerous types of plants, including miscanthus, switchgrass, hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, sugarcane, and a variety of tree species, ranging from eucalyptus to oil palm (palm oil). The particular plant used is usually not important to the end products, but it does affect the processing of the raw material.

Biomass8

Biomass can be converted through burning, decomposition or fermentation. Production of biomass is a growing industry as interest in sustainable fuel sources is growing. The existing commercial biomass power generating industry in the United States produces about 0.5 percent of the U.S. electricity supply.

Nuclear Power9

Nuclear power is any nuclear technology designed to extract usable energy from atomic nuclei via controlled nuclear reactions. The only method in use today is through nuclear fission, though other methods might one day include nuclear fusion and radioactive decay. In 2007, 14% of the world’s electricity came from nuclear power, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for 56.5% of nuclear generated electricity. There are 439 nuclear power reactors in operation in the world, operating in 31 countries.

Nuclear Power9

According to a 2007 story broadcast on 60 Minutes, nuclear power gives France the cleanest air of any industrialized country, and the cheapest electricity in all of Europe. Proponents of nuclear energy contend that nuclear power is a sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions and increases energy security by decreasing dependence on foreign oil. They also emphasize that the risks of storing waste are small and can be further reduced by using the latest technology in newer reactors, and the operational safety record in the Western World is excellent when compared to the other major kinds of power plants.

Nuclear Power9

Critics believe that nuclear power is a potentially dangerous energy source, with decreasing proportion of nuclear energy in power production, and dispute whether the risks can be reduced through new technology.

They point to the history of and continuing potential for radioactive contamination by accident or sabotage, the possibility of nuclear proliferation and the disadvantages of centralized electricity production.

At REEL, we support green energy projects and are excited by the increasing use of renewable energy in the world today. The combination of increasing

renewable energy and reduction of carbon footprints is the key to a healthy, safe environment for future generations.

One of the projects we're currently leading is called the "Save As You Pay - Pay As You Save" program. This program is devoted to bringing LED lightbulbs and other sources of energy to the Caribbean, where the cost of electricity is very

high and the land to utilize for renewable energy production is limited.

Please visit http://www.reelcaribbeanenergy.com for more about our program.

Thanks to Listverse.com (http://listverse.com/2009/05/01/top-10-renewable-energy-sources/)

and eSchoolToday.com (http://www.eschooltoday.com/energy/renewable-energy/what-is-renewable-energy.html

) for the information resources used in this presentation.