We protect ourselves from illnesses and diseases for better health by exercising, proper diet and vitamins; our planet Earth needs the same – renewable energy. It needs to be taken care of. For hundreds of years, carbon emissions have contributed to climate change and now we are feeling it through extreme weather conditions like heat waves, floods, intense hurricanes, and drought.
Fossil fuels account for over 75 percent of global greenhouse gases and about 90 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. These emissions need to be reduced for the health of our planet. Thus, the need for renewable energy resources will reduce fossil fuel imports, and diversify economies.
Moreover, renewable energy is a cheaper power option. According to the UN, the cost of electricity generated from solar power fell by 85 percent in the last decade. The costs of offshore wind energy also fell by 56 percent and 48 percent, respectively. If we continue on this footing, we could decarbonize 90 percent of the power sector by the year 2050.
Also Read: Planet Earth 1.64C Hotter Than in Preindustrial Times: Report
Here is list of the top five renewable energy resources:
Solar
Solar energy is derived from the sun and converted into thermal or electrical energy. This is regarded as the cleanest and the most abundant renewable energy source in the world. However, it should be noted that the amount of solar radiation that reaches any spot on the Earth’s surface varies. Solar energy boosts efficiency and helps save money.
Solar panels for generating solar energy are commonly used for household electricity and recharging electric vehicles.
Hydropower
Hydropower is generated from water. It’s also called hydroelectricity or hydroelectric power, whereby energy is derived from moving water like a waterfall or flowing water. This is nothing new, as it goes back to 2,000 years ago.
The people of Greece and Rome used flowing water to grind wheat into flour. According to USGS, falling water rotates the blades of a turbine, which spins a generator that converts this mechanical energy of the spinning turbine into electrical energy.
Biomass
Biomass comes from plants and animals. It can be burned directly or transformed into liquid and gaseous fuels. Biomass can be derived from firewood, wood pellets, wood chips, crops and waste materials like sugarcane, algae, soybeans, etc., animal manure, and human sewage. Biomass is organic matter. Using biomass reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
Geothermal
This is heat (thermal) from Earth (geo). The geothermal system relies on the heat from the ground. Some examples of geothermal heat are hot water springs and volcanoes. Countries like Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, and El Salvador are known to use geothermal energy. The heat extracted from hot water springs or hot wells (steam) from the subsurface is converted into electricity.
This type of energy is cost-effective (low cost) and can operate year-round at high capacity. However, it requires an abundant supply of heat and water, and high permeability.
Also Read: Mumbai, Shanghai And New York At Risk To Sea Level Rise, Urgent And Escalating Threat: UN
Wind Energy
Wind is an important natural resource that can be converted into energy. It provides clean energy from land and offshore farms. Despite modern technology being used now, wind energy goes back centuries to ancient Egypt, where Egyptians used it abundantly. They made wind turbines out of wood or reeds, and wove them into tight blades to be easily spun around.
The turbines use moving air to generate electricity. Wind power is a steadily growing industry in India as well as world .
