RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY

-Nidhi Kaushik

Renewable energy is energy from sources that are naturally

replenishing but flow-limited. Renewable resources are virtually
inexhaustible but limited in amount of energy available per unit
time. Renewable sources of energy are generally clean enough
and non-polluting. Many forms don’t emit any toxic waste or
harmful gases. It is a reliable and long-term source of energy. It
is mostly cost-effective and efficient. The challenge of climate
change owing to global warming forces nations to set
renewable energy targets.
Renewable sources of energy include the following:-
1. SOLAR POWER-It essentially involves clean green electricity
sourced from sunlight or in some cases from heat from
sunlight. Using solar energy in a residential set-up calls for
establishment of photo voltaic system.
2. WIND POWER-It involves capturing the energy from moving
winds to generate electricity from turbines. The wind power
comes from atmospheric changes. These include changes in
temperature and pressure which make the air move around the
earth surface.
3. MICRO HYDRO SYSTEMS-They convert flow of water into
electric energy. A turbine can be fully immersed in water. The
flowing water rotates its blades. The amount of energy created
depends upon amount of water flowing on the turbine and its
size. They are used as stand-alone systems. Apprix,10% of
Australia’s energy comes from this source.
4. HYBRID SYSTEMS-It comprises of combining different types
of energy production systems into single one. The most
common type is that of combining a solar system with wind
generation.
5. FUEL CELLS-They create energy through chemical reactions.
It is an electro-chemical cell which captures the electric energy
of chemical reactions between fuels. It is similar to a battery
but does not need recharging. It uses an external source of fuel
which needs to be continuously replenished. They aren’t
available commercially and are very expensive. NASA uses fuel
cells for space shuttles, they are used in military operations and
in public parks.
While renewable energy is plentiful, most of the environment
impact pertaining to the manufacture of the equipment for
harnessing the energy. Even so, the energy play back time,
(amount of time it takes to repay the energy) is quite short;but
still the manufacturing of these components of these result in
dire consequences for environment and result in emission of
toxic gases and generation of toxic wastes.
To conclude, I would like to suggest that the renewable sources
are indeed our guiding light to future but still we need to weigh
its cons properly and work on improvising on ways of
harnessing them.