Clean energies
Fossil fuels were the source of energy used during the industrial revolution, but their use today presents two main problems: on the one hand, they are finite resources, and reserves (especially of oil) are expected to run out in the near future, depending on the various studies published. On the other hand, the burning of these fuels releases large quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere, which has been accused of being the main cause of global warming. For these reasons, different options are being studied to replace the burning of fossil fuels with other sources of energy that do not have these problems.[3][4][5] The use of fossil fuels in energy production is not a common classification.
Not everyone agrees in classifying nuclear energy as an alternative energy source because, like fossil fuels, it is a finite resource and also presents significant environmental problems,[5] such as radioactive waste management or the possibility of a nuclear accident. However, the low CO2 emissions of this technology, and the still insufficient capacity of renewable energies to completely replace fossil fuels, make nuclear energy an alternative subject to strong controversy.
Importance of alternative energies
– Wind Energy – Kinetic energy of the air, it is produced by the winds and is used in windmills in wind turbines. It is also used to generate electricity in wind power plants.
– Geothermal Energy – The internal heat of our planet produces the melting of rocks and the heating of groundwater and subway gases heat the water in the lower layers, which emanates to the surface in the form of steam or hot liquid. These intermittent eruptions, which are normally found in volcanic areas and are known as geysers, generate geothermal energy.
– Tidal Energy – The ebb and flow of sea water caused by tides is used to close a dam – equipped with turbo-alternators – at points where the tides are sufficiently high.
– Hydrothermal energy – It results from the drop in temperature of a body, between a cold spring and a hot spring. In a power plant of this type, hot water from the surface of the sea and cold water from the bottom are used. As the water is not hot enough, a very low boiling liquid is used to vaporize it (ethyl chloride), whose steam will drive a turbo-alternator, as in thermoelectric power plants.
What types of alternative energies exist
The so-called renewable energy sources (sun, wind and water) are those that can be used permanently because they are inexhaustible, unlike non-renewable sources (oil or coal).Tags: From an environmental point of view, we can speak of the existence of two types of energy sources: renewable and non-renewable.
Among the types of renewable or non-depletable energy sources are: solar energy, wind energy, hydroelectric energy, biomass and biofuels, geothermal energy and energy generated by waves, tides and ocean currents.
It is the energy obtained directly from the sun (which is, at the same time, the source of all renewable energies). Depending on the mechanism used, heat or electricity can be obtained.
Low-power wind power installations (as well as photovoltaic solar energy installations) enable any consumer to generate his own electricity, i.e. to generate his own electricity.
Solar energy
In the fight against climate change, the use of renewable energy is particularly relevant. Renewable energy is obtained from inexhaustible natural sources and generates electricity without contributing to global warming.
The different natural sources for generating clean energy include wind, sunlight, water, geothermal heat, tides, and various forms of biomass, all of which are inexhaustible and constantly being renewed.
Wind energy: one of the most widespread at present. This energy harnesses the power of the wind to generate electricity. In this article you will find 10 curiosities about wind energy.
Solar thermal: also called thermoelectric, it concentrates solar radiation with mirrors to heat a fluid to produce steam and, in turn, electricity. Do you know how solar thermal energy works?
Hydropower: the force of moving water is harnessed to produce – and sometimes store – clean electricity. Do you want to know how hydroelectric power plants work, capable of producing enough hydroelectric power to supply an entire city?