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New Energy
As the world’s population grows, the demand for energy is increasing proportionately. Scientists project that by the year 2020 global energy demand will require an additional 207 quadrillion British Thermal Units (BTU). Notably, although no one knows the exact time the traditional sources of energy will be depleted, there is a consensus among scientists in the energy sector that in the future, conventional sources of energy will be no more. As a result, there has been a lot of enthusiasm and information about sourcing energy from alternative sources.
Renewable or alternative energy is a term used to refer to energy that is sourced from other sources apart from the conventional fossil fuels which are the primary source of energy in the world. Notably, fossil fuels which consist of oil, coal and natural gas are the traditional sources of energy supply most of the world’s energy demand. However, there has been widespread concern about the negative environmental impact resulting from the use of fossil fuels (Abas 32). As a result, the need for new energy has been increasing as by definition renewable energy does not have any significant impact on the environment. Furthermore, it relies on natural processes that are continually replenished and therefore cannot be exhausted. Renewable energy may be harnessed from geothermal heat, sunlight, wind, water, tides and different forms of biomass.
Relatively, the most commonly used form of renewable energy is hydroelectric power. This form of energy is principally developed through passing current forces from water and wind through turbines which convert the motion energy into electricity. For instance, wind energy is harnessed from turbines that are rotated by wind hence generating electricity. Electric power has been in use for many years and is arguably one of the most relied on form of energy as most of the domestic appliances rely on electricity.
However, hydroelectric dams are the most popular sources of electricity. Dams are constructed in rivers where a barrier is created to regulate the flow of water. The water is then released by channeling it through turbines. The rotating motion of the turbines then creates electricity which is distributed for domestic and industrial use. Moreover, hydroelectricity can also be generated by the rise and fall of tides where the resultant motion is used to generate electricity. Furthermore, there has been a lot of research to diversify the use of electricity such as the development of electric cars that use electric power as opposed to traditional petroleum products (Kaygusuz 360).
The numerous advantages of hydroelectricity have made it the most used source of renewable energy. For instance, there is no combustion involved thus minimal air pollution. Moreover, hydropower plants require minimal costs of operation and maintenance which translates to lower costs of electricity. Additionally, its renewal depends on water availability which is replenished by rain. For instance, the Grand Coulee Dam in Columbia River in the U.S generates 6.81 gigawatts of hydroelectric power which used by millions of people in the Pacific Northwest region. Furthermore, the dam on which the power is constructed is also for irrigation purposes for farmers around the area.
Comparatively, fossil fuels which are the traditional sources of energy are the most used form of energy in the world supplying almost 90 percent of global energy demands. These fuels generate energy upon combustion which is then used in various industries such as the motor vehicle industry. However, there has been a global concern on the adverse environmental effects associated with the mining and use of traditional sources of energy. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide which is the leading greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Relatively, the effects of global warming are extensive and they cut across many areas. For instance, in the North and South Pole regions, the impact of global warming can be witnessed as the ice is melting leading to rising ocean levels. The effects of rising sea levels negatively affect various processes such as agriculture, settlement and fishing. Besides, air pollution which is a direct result of fossil fuel combustion causes degradation of human and plant health, growth and development.
Works Cited
Abas, N., A. Kalair, and N. Khan. “Review of fossil fuels and future energy technologies.” Futures 69 (2015): 31-49.
Kaygusuz, K. “Hydropower as a clean and renewable energy source for electricity generation.” Journal of Engineering Research and Applied Science 5.1 (2016): 359-369.