RENEWABLE ENERGY

Consumption of non-renewable sources of energy has caused more environmental damage than any other human activity. Electricity generated from fossil fuels has led to high concentrations of harmful gases in the atmosphere. This has in turn led to many environmental and health problems being faced today.

Therefore, alternative sources of energy have become very important and relevant.

Renewable energy is energy that is generated from natural resources that are continuously replenished. This includes sunlight, geothermal heat, wind, tides, water, and various forms of biomass. This energy cannot be exhausted and is constantly renewed.

They are viable source of clean limitless energy, cause less emission, and are available locally. The use of renewable energy greatly reduces all sort of pollutions vis-a-vis non-renewable energy. Most of the renewable sources of energy are fairly non-polluting and considered clean. But biomass though a renewable source, is a major contributor of indoor pollution.

Renewable energy comprises of

♤ Solar energy - energy generated from the sun

♤ Hydel energy - energy derived from water

♤ Biomass - energy from firewood, animal dung, biodegradable waste and crop residues, when it is burnt.

♤ Geothermal energy- energy from hot dry rocks, magma, hot water springs, natural geysers, etc.

♤ Ocean thermal - energy from waves and also from tidal waves.

♤ Co-generation - producing two forms of energy from one fuel.

♤ Fuel cells are also being used as cleaner energy source.

Electricity is the flow of energy or current and is one of the most widely used forms of energy throughout the world.