Renewable fuels

Introduction
Renewable energy, as the name suggests is an energy that can be renewed or replenished. It is often
referred to as 'clean energy' because it is less harmful to the environment as compared to non-renewable
energy. Renewable energy is obtained from natural resources and processes that are constantly replenished.
Whenever a question arises about what is renewable energy, we can simply say that it is the energy
obtained from the resources which constantly renew themselves; hence it is available in sufficient amounts
for our use such that it would not finish no matter how much we use it. Sunlight and wind energy can be
taken as an example. These resources keep flourishing even if their availability is dependent on time and
weather respectively.

Definition of Renewable Energy

It is the type of energy obtained from the resources which do not deplete or replenish themselves
within a human's lifetime.
OR
Renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than
they are consumed.
Eg.: Sunlight, wind, geothermal heat, moving water, Bio mass, tidal energy etc.

Renewable Energy Resources

These are those resources that produce renewable energy. They are mostly present in nature. To the
question 'what are renewable energy sources’, we can say that a renewable source is a natural resource that
either through natural reproduction or other recurring processes replenishes the depleted or consumed
amount of resource within a finite time interval on the human time scale. Solar, wind, biomass, geothermal,
and water (hydro) are major renewable resources.

Types of Renewable Energy

1. Solar Energy
2. Wind Energy
3. Hydroelectric Energy
4. Ocean Energy
5. Geothermal Energy
6. Biomass Energy

1. Solar Energy
Solar energy is the energy obtained from the sun. The radiant light and heat energy are harnessed by
solar collectors. The sun's energy can be captured to generate electricity or heat through a system of
panels or mirrors.
Solar cells convert sunlight directly into electricity while solar thermal collectors use heat-absorbing
panels and a series of attached circulation tubes to heat water or buildings.
Advantages
 Solar energy is one of the most widely accessible renewable resources across the globe.
 Nothing is to be mined, burned or consumed. It creates far less greenhouse gases than traditional
fossil fuels.
 Solar systems can work without being plugged into the grid. It allows for communities to become
more energy independent, rather than relying on imported sources of oil or coal.

Disadvantages
 Even though solar panels could save money in the long run, solar panels and arrays can still be
expensive to purchase and install.
 Requires space or ideal sun-facing surfaces (roofs) for solar installation. Still, solar technology
continues to drop in price every year, and is gaining in popularity

2. Wind Energy
Wind power or wind energy makes the use of wind to provide mechanical power to electric generators
through wind turbines so that they can do operations like milling or pumping. The wind hits two or more
propeller-like blades around a rotor. This rotor is connected to the main shaft which is connected to the
generator so that when the rotor moves it moves the shaft in turn, hence electricity is produced as the
generator operates. These turbines are installed mostly in high-altitude areas.

Advantages
• Like solar energy, harnessing wind energy requires nothing to be mined or burned, creating fewer
greenhouse gases.
• Wind is plentiful in many areas across the globe, making it easily accessible and sustainable. Plus,
wind farms can create job opportunities, as the turbines will require maintenance from time to time.

Disadvantages
• The sound produced by rotating blades/turbines
• Wind farms are often built in remote areas due to the space requirements, so power lines must be
constructed to transport the electricity to cities and communities.

3. Hydroelectric Energy
Hydroelectric power is produced by installing turbines in moving water. The water spins the turbines
which in turn generate electricity. This is typically achieved by building dams to create artificial
waterfalls, or directional channels in fast-moving rivers.

Advantages
• Moving water can be a constant source of energy. As long as the water flow is constant, a
hydroelectric plant can generate energy 24/7.
• Hydroelectricity also scales very well. Small turbines or water wheels can power an individual home
or business. The large-scale hydroelectric plants, such as the Hoover Dam, can generate enough
power to supply electricity to more than 1 million people.

Disadvantages
• The major disadvantage of hydroelectric energy is that, since it requires moving water to work,
hydroelectric plants are restricted to rivers. This means that, like wind, power lines have to be built
to transfer the electricity to populated areas.
 • The construction of dams can interfere with fish and other wildlife by changing the water level and
blocking migration paths.

4. Ocean Energy
Electricity is produced by harnessing ocean energy and is done using one of two methods:
• Thermal - Using a variety of systems, heat from the ocean’s surface and cold water from the ocean’s
depths can be exchanged to run an engine that creates electricity.
• Mechanical - Harnessing the natural ebb and flow of the ocean’s tides, a variety of instruments are
used to capture the energy produced by the moving water. This is known as tidal energy.
This method of generating electricity is still in its early stages but may be a major source of renewable
energy in the years to come.

Advantages
• Since ocean energy relies on the tides, it’s very consistent and predictable.
• Using this technology, cities located near oceans may be powered to reduce dependence on fossil
fuels.

Disadvantages
• It can be useful for coastal populations, but land-locked cities won’t have access to this resource.
• The structures required to capture this energy have to be built in the ocean, and these projects can
disturb the delicate ecosystems.

5. Geothermal Energy
When the Earth cooled billions of years ago, a large amount of heat was trapped beneath the Earth’s
crust. Geysers and volcanos are caused by this heat escaping all at once. However, by digging tunnels
into the ground, we can use this heat on a controlled scale to turn water into steam, which in turn can
provide heat or power a turbine to generate electricity. This is known as geothermal energy.

Advantages
• The equipment to harness geothermal energy is built underground, it has very little impact on the
surface ecosystems. This energy source is self-replenishing.

Disadvantages
• Geothermal plants can be costly to construct. Certain areas of the world (frequent earthquake areas)
would not be suitable for geothermal plants, as the could damage or destroy the underground
components.

6. Biomass
The energy derived from biomass which is the organic waste of animals and plants is called bioenergy.
Biomass contains stored chemical energy.
• This organic material is typically burned to produce heat.
• Biomass can also be allowed to decompose, which creates methane gas. This gas can then be
captured and used for fuel.
Advantages
• Burning of biomass does create carbon dioxide, but the same amount of it is consumed for plant
growth. As long as reforestation keeps pace with the amount of biomass being burned, the use of
biomass as a fuel source can be carbon neutral.
Disadvantages
• Biomass only works as a renewable source of energy if the living organisms are being replaced at the
same rate they is being harvested. The most popular forms of biomass come from plants, and while it
takes a very short amount of time to burn plant biomass, it takes a much longer time to grow it.

Importance of Renewable Energy

The importance of renewable energy lies in the need for renewable energy over the conventional form
of energy. Some important points are given below.

1. Renewable energy is a source of clean, inexhaustible energy.

2. It is pollution-free as it does not produce any greenhouse gas and polluting emissions which are
otherwise produced in the case of non-renewable sources.

3. The costs for renewable energy are also falling at a sustainable rate opposite to the rate trend of
fossil fuels.

4. It reduces energy dependence on fossil fuels.

5. It can be easily generated because renewable sources are mostly present all around, there is no non-
availability issue.

6. Both economically and environmentally, renewable technologies are becoming competitive to

conventional sources of energy.

Uses of Renewable Energy

1. The major use of all renewable energies is to generate electricity. In 2018, 26.2 percent of global
electricity requirements were fulfilled by renewable energy which is expected to rise to 45 percent by
2040.

2. Solar energy can be directly used for heating and lighting homes, for hot water heating, solar cooling,
etc.

3. Biomass is also used to heat buildings and provide heat in industries. It is also used as a fuel when
converted to liquid biofuel.