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A Brief Review of Current Renewable Energy Alternatives

Recent years have seen an outpouring of data concerning climate change and the potentially horrific consequences of global warming. We are reliably informed that the biggest single reason for the existence of this threat is the burning of fossil fuels, much of which is devoted to the generation of electricity. Because these are finite resources, the drive to develop renewable energy alternatives is as much about ensuring that earth’s citizens will be able to continue enjoying the many benefits of electricity as it is about saving the planet. Whether motivated by altruistic concerns or more practical reasons, the fact remains that we have no choice but to come up with more sustainable options.

As it happens, there are a number of ways in which this can be achieved and all are already being exploited to varying degrees in many of the developed and developing nations of the world. Surprisingly, one of these options has actually been in use for well over a century. The first of the world’s renewable energy alternatives became available in 1882, with the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin. This feat was made possible by one James Francis, the engineer who developed the water turbine, which replaced the engine normally required to drive a generator.

Hydroelectric schemes, however, have a downside. While generating free energy, they require rivers to be dammed. This can disrupt their ecosystem and impact wildlife and local residents adversely. Even where this can be avoided, it is a renewable energy alternative that can only be leveraged where there is a suitable river.

A second example of an excellent free energy source that is, unfortunately, also limited by geography, is the geothermal plant. A massive amount of heat is contained within the earth’s core and is conveyed to the surface by hot springs and magma conduits. These thermal energy sources can either be used indirectly to drive turbines and generate electricity or directly as a natural means with which to provide heating for homes and offices. While geothermal activity is an effective renewable energy alternative, it is not always easily accessible. In some countries, it is necessary to drill for kilometres beneath the earth to tap into it. Also not a new idea, a geothermal plant in northern California has been producing electricity since 1960.

Given that the first use of a windmill to generate electricity can be traced to 1888 in Ohio when an inventor named Charles Brusch adapted his own to provide lighting for his village of Askov, wind power is nothing new either. Since then, it is their much-improved design and the practice of linking the power outputs from multiple units that have added the wind farm to the list of useful renewable energy alternatives.

In the world’s coastal regions, tidal power is another option that offers promise, Similar to a hydroelectric plant, it relies on a form of adjustable dam known as a barrage to create the head of seawater necessary to drive the turbine of a generator. While tidal power offers a green and sustainable solution, it is an expensive option and one that has also raised fears among conservationists about its potential impact on the local environment.

Of all the renewable energy alternatives currently available on a global scale, solar power is, from an environmentalist’s perspective, the most promising. Only with the final demise of our planet will its energy cease to be available. It may be used directly to heat water or by means of the photovoltaic effect to generate electricity. It is also a highly scalable option that has been successfully adapted for small-scale residential use to power business parks and shopping centres, as well as to generate electricity on a commercial scale.

To learn more about how to make solar power your renewable energy alternative contact PacB Group.