Renewable sources of energy
Nicholas Reibel
Northeastern University
8/12/14
Abstract
Environment degradation has taken a global dimension. Human activities continue to cause interfere with the natural surroundings. The balance of the ecosystem has been defiled due to technological advancement, prominence of materialism, human greed, and misuse of nature and egoism of human nature. Non-renewable energy sources have been cited as responsible for environmental degradation. Efforts have been diverted towards embracing more renewable energy sources to combat impacts on the environment. The United States depends heavily on oil, natural gas, and coal for its energy. Fossil fuels draw finite resources that eventually dwindle (non-renewable), therefore, too expensive and environmentally damaging to retrieve. On the contrary, renewable energy sources such as solar energy and wind will never run out as they are constantly, continuously replenished. Sunlight causes the growth of plants along with snow and rain. The organic matter making up these plants is referred to as biomass, which can be used to produce electricity, fuels, transportation, or chemicals. The use of biomass for such reasons is referred to as bio-energy, bio-fuels. The essay will use bio-fuels as an example of renewable energy sources to illustrate its advantages and disadvantages, as well as its environmental implications (PR, Newswire 2013). This essay will look into renewable energy sources, and discuss their benefits and implications on the environment. Renewable energy sources Introduction Renewable energy sources are the kind of sources of energy that are recurrently replenished and continuously restocked. These energy sources include water, the sun, wind, biomass, and geothermal sources. On the contrary, fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas are non-renewable energy. It means that they cannot be replenished once they are depleted. Their replacement must be found instead (Yi and Richard 2014). However, both renewable and non-renewable sources of energy are used to power vehicles, generate electricity, and provide cooling, heating, and light. Renewable energy sources widely vary in their efficiency and effectiveness in terms of cost and availability. Even though wind, water, and other renewable energy sources may seem free, their costs come in terms of harnessing, collecting, and transportation. Renewable sources of energy are non-polluting. However, structures that are used to harness them may pose both negative and positive environmental impacts. For example, while dams may create wildlife habitat, they may also affect fish migration (Grunwald 2014). Hydrogen can be found in different organic compounds and water. It appears to be the most plentiful element on the surface of the Earth. However, hydrogen does not naturally occur as a gas. It must be combined with other elements like oxygen to make water. Hydrogen can also produce electricity and used as fuel when separated from another element. Most of the renewable sources of energy come directly or indirectly from the sun. Solar energy or sunlight can be used directly for lighting and heating in homes, for heating water, for generating electricity, solar cooling, and many other industrial and commercial uses (Grunwald 2014). The …show more content…
These benefits include environmental benefits. Renewable energy sources can be replenished and, therefore, can last forever for generations to come. They also have an economic impact. Many renewable energy sources investment are spent on workmanship and materials to build and maintain the facilities instead of energy imports which are very expensive. Renewable energy technologies can also be sold to boost trade deficit. Renewable energy sources are also a source of energy security. Because they can be replenished, renewable energy is reliable and forms part of the country’s energy security (PR, Newswire 2013). In order to examine renewable sources of energy, this essay will use one example of renewable energy source to present its argument. Bio-fuels will be used as a reference. Bio-fuels are those fuels which have geological energy from recent carbon fixation. Bio-fuels are produced from living organisms. The carbon fixation takes place in microalgae and plants. Bio-fuels are via conversion of biomass, recent living organisms. Biomass can form convenient energy that is composed of substances is different ways such as chemical conversions, thermal conversions, and biochemical conversion. The conversion of biomass can result into different forms of fuels like liquid, solid, and gas (PR, Newswire
Nicholas Reibel
Northeastern University
8/12/14
Abstract
Environment degradation has taken a global dimension. Human activities continue to cause interfere with the natural surroundings. The balance of the ecosystem has been defiled due to technological advancement, prominence of materialism, human greed, and misuse of nature and egoism of human nature. Non-renewable energy sources have been cited as responsible for environmental degradation. Efforts have been diverted towards embracing more renewable energy sources to combat impacts on the environment. The United States depends heavily on oil, natural gas, and coal for its energy. Fossil fuels draw finite resources that eventually dwindle (non-renewable), therefore, too expensive and environmentally damaging to retrieve. On the contrary, renewable energy sources such as solar energy and wind will never run out as they are constantly, continuously replenished. Sunlight causes the growth of plants along with snow and rain. The organic matter making up these plants is referred to as biomass, which can be used to produce electricity, fuels, transportation, or chemicals. The use of biomass for such reasons is referred to as bio-energy, bio-fuels. The essay will use bio-fuels as an example of renewable energy sources to illustrate its advantages and disadvantages, as well as its environmental implications (PR, Newswire 2013). This essay will look into renewable energy sources, and discuss their benefits and implications on the environment. Renewable energy sources Introduction Renewable energy sources are the kind of sources of energy that are recurrently replenished and continuously restocked. These energy sources include water, the sun, wind, biomass, and geothermal sources. On the contrary, fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas are non-renewable energy. It means that they cannot be replenished once they are depleted. Their replacement must be found instead (Yi and Richard 2014). However, both renewable and non-renewable sources of energy are used to power vehicles, generate electricity, and provide cooling, heating, and light. Renewable energy sources widely vary in their efficiency and effectiveness in terms of cost and availability. Even though wind, water, and other renewable energy sources may seem free, their costs come in terms of harnessing, collecting, and transportation. Renewable sources of energy are non-polluting. However, structures that are used to harness them may pose both negative and positive environmental impacts. For example, while dams may create wildlife habitat, they may also affect fish migration (Grunwald 2014). Hydrogen can be found in different organic compounds and water. It appears to be the most plentiful element on the surface of the Earth. However, hydrogen does not naturally occur as a gas. It must be combined with other elements like oxygen to make water. Hydrogen can also produce electricity and used as fuel when separated from another element. Most of the renewable sources of energy come directly or indirectly from the sun. Solar energy or sunlight can be used directly for lighting and heating in homes, for heating water, for generating electricity, solar cooling, and many other industrial and commercial uses (Grunwald 2014). The …show more content…
These benefits include environmental benefits. Renewable energy sources can be replenished and, therefore, can last forever for generations to come. They also have an economic impact. Many renewable energy sources investment are spent on workmanship and materials to build and maintain the facilities instead of energy imports which are very expensive. Renewable energy technologies can also be sold to boost trade deficit. Renewable energy sources are also a source of energy security. Because they can be replenished, renewable energy is reliable and forms part of the country’s energy security (PR, Newswire 2013). In order to examine renewable sources of energy, this essay will use one example of renewable energy source to present its argument. Bio-fuels will be used as a reference. Bio-fuels are those fuels which have geological energy from recent carbon fixation. Bio-fuels are produced from living organisms. The carbon fixation takes place in microalgae and plants. Bio-fuels are via conversion of biomass, recent living organisms. Biomass can form convenient energy that is composed of substances is different ways such as chemical conversions, thermal conversions, and biochemical conversion. The conversion of biomass can result into different forms of fuels like liquid, solid, and gas (PR, Newswire