Renewable Energy
High oil prices, carbon emissions and their effect on climate change and the possibility of the ‘peak oil’ crisis have led engineers and scientists to seek alternative, renewable sources of energy. While we in the UK have all seen wind farms with their towering white turbines on the top of hills and the occasional solar panel, we are less aware of hydroelectric power generators and geothermal sites which generate energy through the earth’s natural heat. Renewable energy comes from the earth’s natural sources and cannot be exhausted.
Wind power is the most obvious form of renewable energy as the turbines which generate energy from the wind can be seen on hilltops and plains. Wind farms are also located at sea, although the cost of building these is more. Wind power comes in for criticism for two reasons; the first is the aesthetic look of wind turbines which some residents feel is detrimental to the look of their local environment and will decrease the value of their homes. On the contrary, environmentally responsible people welcome wind turbines as a form of renewable, clean energy and appreciate their aesthetic value, believing it to enhance the area. The second reservation with wind power is its intermittent performance, though excess power can be conserved for use during periods of lower winds and diversifying sources of energy production means supply can be continuous.
Solar power is of less effective use on a large scale in the UK due to the often cloudy weather conditions. Solar panels are effectively used to light road signs and there are companies using directional solar panels to provide a proportion of their energy requirements. In countries with warmer climates solar panels are extensively used, both to supply business and domestic power and to directly heat water. Solar energy is also suitable for use in isolated areas and can bring electricity and other functions to distant populations in the developing world. Only a tiny proportion of the world’s potential solar energy is currently used.
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