Introduction

Energyalley is dedicated to promoting the advancement of renewable energy technology. We citizens within society know and understand the problems created by large scale generation. We know how things can be done more efficiently, and cheaper, while embracing an environmental conscience. We have to lobby governments and big business to change, for we are already years behind where we could and should be.

The following paragraphs outline briefly some of the various forms of renewable energy, additionally there is a link that will take you to a much more elaborate and detailed explanation.

It is essential to understand renewable energy as it will undoubtedly play a significant role in future electrical energy production. Currently the world is mainly reliant on 3 main sources,

  • Hydro-Electric
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Coal Fired Power Plants

2 Important Facts

Out of the entire electric industry, coal-fired power plants contribute 96% of sulfur dioxide emissions, 93% of nitrogen oxide emissions, 88% of carbon dioxide emissions, and 99% of mercury emissions, 1.

The most important thing of all to emphasize is that renewable energy relies on natural energy flows and therefore will never be able to run out as natural processes ensure that it is constantly replenished, 2.

Solar Energy

Our SunSolar consists of two main areas, solar heating, and solar power. There are several successful techniques for capturing solar radiation. Generally it is know as active and passive heating. Solar panels are the second form, in this method silicone is used to convert the suns rays into a useable electrical current. Click here to learn about Solar energy indepth Solar energy has a lot of potential in the future and will continue to expand and grow as demand increases and economies of scale continue to reduce manufacturing costs.

Wind Energy

Blowing WindWind energy will be provide a definite and measurable change in the near future, It has the potential to provide 5 times the worlds current electrical demands, 3. Economical growth in renewable wind generation annually exceeds 30%, 4. These few facts attest to the potential and growing realization that wind energy has for the world, to read more about wind energy click here.

Biomass Energy

Biomass EnergyThere are several different forms of biomass energy, some common like the burning of methane collected from deteriorating garbage. Growing C02 absorbing crops and incinerating the stalks for heat energy produces no net carbon dioxide and provides renewable energy. There is also potential in fast growing woody plants that can be utilized as fuel, the technique is to project demand far enough in advance that sufficient amounts of fuel are available. As it stands today there is no real large scale commercial design that will work effectively throughout the world.More about Biomass energy

Geothermal Energy

Geyser There are four main kinds, hydrothermal, geo-pressured, hot dry rock, and magma. Hydrothermal resources are only able to be utilized. Technology is holding us back in being able to use the other three potential renewable heat resources. If you descend from a point on the crust of earth towards the center there is an increase in temperature of between 17°C-30°C per kilometer. Once you penetrate the crust the temperature skyrockets, eventually reaching between 4,000-7,000°C, 5. The potential for energy production is endless from this renewable resource, we need only develop the technology to harness it. Learn about Geothermal energy

Hydro-Electricity

Hydro DamHydro power has been a factor in civilization for years, from powering grinding mills, to today's large scale hydroelectric power plants, (e.g. the three gorges dam). There is also micro-hydro which utilizes a small local river or water flow to provide renewable energy for potentially a house, farm or even a small town. This technology can be implemented relatively easily as it has a long history with high safety. All of the world's hydropower plants produce over 650,000 mW of electricity, that's equivalent to 3.6 billion barrels of oil 6. Hydroelectric power is a success story that desperately needs to be duplicated with other renewable energy potentials. Click here to learn more about Hydro energy

Citations

1. Clean Air Task Force, "Children At Risk" (May 2002)
2. Energy, Society, and Environment, pg.85. "Renewable Energy" (1997)
3. http://www.canwea.ca/en/QuickFacts.html
4. http://www.awea.org/faq/tutorial/wwt_statistics.html
5. http://geothermal.marin.org/geoenergy.html
6. http://www.calpoly.edu/~cm/studpage/cvizcarr/fastfact.htm

Quote Of The Month

"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."

Albert Einstein