Renewable energy
Renewable energy refers to clean energy that comes from natural sources such as wind, sunlight, water, and geothermal. Renewable energy is preferable compared to alternative sources of fuel such as gas, coal, and oil. These sources of energy are clean and do not result in environmental pollution. Further, most of the sources are cheaper compared to fossil fuels since they are readily available from the environment. Another advantage is that renewable sources of energy cannot be depleted, unlike fossil fuels. This paper shall consider three sources of renewable energy and propose the best for the country to adopt.
Wind Energy
The wind has been used as a source of energy since time immemorial. In the past, wind was used to drive windmills and sailing boats. However, wind has lately been adopted as a source of electricity, with more and more turbines being put up every day. Currently, there are three common types of wind power, including distributed, offshore, and utility-scale. Offshore wind power is produced using turbines spread along the sea. Utility-scale refers to wind power produced by distributed turbines on a large-scale level. Distributed wind power is tapped from turbines distributed turbines but on a lower scale. Wind is a cheap source of energy and also not depletable. What’s more, wind does not pollute the environment. However, wind energy cannot be tapped in places like cities where there are many barriers.
Solar energy
Solar energy refers to the power that is produced from the sun. Heat from the sun can cause chemical reactions that are necessary for generating electricity. Solar energy is a good source of energy since sunlight is vastly distributed in the world. Photovoltaic cells made from silicon and other materials are used to tap and convert sunlight to electricity. Such technology is efficient on a small scale as the cells can be placed in rooftops to produce energy for homes. Solar power is advantageous as it does not result in pollutants and other greenhouse gases. Additionally, solar power cannot be depleted and is cheaper compared to other forms of energy. Nonetheless, solar energy remains expensive as efficient technologies of collection, storage, and transformation of the energy have not been devised. Consequently, solar energy is yet to be adopted on a large-scale basis.
Hydro energy
Water is also used as a renewable source of energy. Fast-moving water in rivers or water falling from high places is used to spin turbine blades, which lead to electricity production. Hydro plants are classified into three main categories depending on the nature of water collection. The first category is impoundment facilities, where water is collected in a large reservoir and passed through turbine blades to produce electricity. The second category is a pumped storage facility where water is collected in two reservoirs, with one acting as storage. The third category is run-off-river facilities, where turbines are directly placed on running rivers without impounding the water. Hydro energy does not result in air pollution, just like other renewable sources of energy. Further, the energy source is not depletable. Another advantage is that the dams can be used for other purposes such as fishing and irrigation. However, impounding water may alter a river’s natural flow; quite often, the reservoir walls break, causing catastrophic outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is imperative that the country shifts to renewable sources of energy for the benefits at hand. One, all renewable energy sources are clean sources of energy that do not result in environmental pollution. Additionally, they are cheaper compared to other sources of energy, such as fossil fuels. Thirdly, the sources cannot deplete, meaning that they can run eternally. However, solar energy technology has not yet been developed, making it an expensive form for mass production. Hydropower, on the other hand, is susceptible to weather changes and tampers with the natural flow of water. For this reason, wind power emerges as the best source of energy for the country.