Five Resources For Unlimited Renewable Energy

                                                                                         

In today's world, natural energy resources like coal and gas are very important. We use these fossil fuels for powering and heating our homes and businesses, transportation and manufacturing of goods. However, coal is a biomass that has been compressed to a fossil fuel over thousands of year and we must remember that these natural resources will not last forever. The environmental impact of renewable energy resources are usually much less harsh than those of fossil fuels. They are also sustainable and will not run out. If we want to keep the conveniences provided by modern technology that we have been accustomed to, we must change our lifestyle and look towards renewable energy resources.

There are many renewable energy resources that can take care of our needs. Some resources that will naturally replenish and are available in abundance includes wind power, hydro power, biomass, solar energy, geothermal power and wave power.

1. Wind farms can consist of just a few to several hundreds of wind turbines generating electricity. Large wind farms can cover hundreds of square miles but the land between the wind turbines can be used for other purposes, such as agriculture. Wind farms can also be installed off-shore to take advantage of strong winds blowing over an ocean or lake.

2. Hydro power can be obtained from the energy of moving water in oceans or lakes. Electricity can be generated from the energy of rivers, tides or ocean waves. Another source of hydro power is the thermal energy produced by the sun. The Earth's oceans are constantly heated by the sun and the temperature difference between deep and shallow waters can be converted to energy by using a heat engine.

3. Solar energy has been used by humans since ancient times. Solar power can be obtained by converting sunlight into electricity and is used for industrial and domestic purposes. Most other sources of renewable energy are indirectly powered by the sun.

4. Biomass is solid biological material obtained from living organisms such as trees, waste and plants. The most common uses for biomass is to generate electricity and produce heat. Biomass can also be used to obtain biofuels like ethanol and biogas. These biofuels are increasingly used as a renewable fuel alternative in the transportation industry.

5. Geothermal power is energy extracted from heat stored in the Earth. Energy can be obtained by building power stations close to the Earth's surface. This can be a very powerful and efficient method of generating electricity and is also useful for heating houses.

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