Key Types of Alternative Energy With a Potential to be Never-Ending. Pt1

A comprehensive overview of 2 types of green energy, their advantages and disadvantages

So what exactly is ‘alternative energy’? Is it just any energy that is not coming from gas, oil, or coil?

Not precisely.

We also know alternative energy as renewable energy or clean energy. It refers to energy sources that are friendly to the environment and sustainable. Compared to conventional fossil fuels, such energy sources do not deplete natural resources and have lower greenhouse gas emissions — hence, those energy sources are considered sustainable.

If you’re still unsure which energy sources can be called alternative, let’s see the key characteristics such sources have in common:

1. Such energy sources are replenished naturally and have the potential to provide a continuous supply of energy. Alternative energy = renewable energy.
2. The majority of clean energy sources produce little to — greenhouse gas emissions during the energy generation itself. Alternative energy = clean energy
3. Alternative energy sources include a whole variety: solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, biomass and more.
4. They are sustainable because they have a much lower impact on ecosystems and reduce reliance on non-renewable resources.
5. And one of the most important points — energy security. By reducing reliance on centralized, vulnerable energy infrastructure, alternative energy can help distribute alternative energy to many regions.

Alternative energy/ green energy, or renewable energy, is an umbrella term for many sources of power that have a lower environmental impact compared to traditional fossil fuels and ensure energy security.

Let’s have a look at the types of such energy sources:

Solar Energy

By harnessing energy directly from the sun via photovoltaic (PV) cells or solar thermal systems, solar energy is a form of renewables that are derived from the sun’s light and heat. Such energy has relatively quickly become a widely accessible and abundant source of renewable energy.

Solar power is considered one of the cleanest sources of renewable energy available today.

Advantages of Solar energy

1. It’s Renewable & inexhaustible

Well, we expect the sun to shine for another billions of years, so I think it’s a safe assumption.

2. It’s friendly to the environment

As it produces no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants, solar energy also contributes to the reduction of carbon footprints and mitigating climate change.

3. Low maintenance costs

The largest investment in taking advantage of solar energy would be its installment. Solar panels have relatively low operating and maintenance costs.

4. Energy independence

If a household produces its own energy, the household can reduce its reliance on external energy sources.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy:

1. It fully depends on the sun

Good news:

If you live somewhere, you can more or less rely on the sun. But if imagining an almost sunless winter is easy for you, I would only like to remind you that the sun can be quite unreliable at times.

2. High initial costs

The maintenance costs of solar panels are relatively low. The installation of solar panels and associated equipment can be quite expensive. Especially expensive can be the cost of the panels, inverters, batteries, and installation labor.

3. Energy Storage Challenges

When it comes to storing extra solar energy — it can become a real challenge. Storing solutions can require additional costs and may require additional maintenance. Another challenge is limitations in terms of capacity, efficiency, and the lifespan of a battery.

4. Space Limitations

Solar panels built for a large household or economic purposes require a considerable amount of space to cover the needs of multiple households or a business need. Large-scale solar farms may require huge areas of land — creating challenges for populated areas.

5. Impact on the environment

Yes, solar energy in itself has a very low environmental impact; however, to produce energy from the sun, we need special technology. The production and disposition of solar panels can have environmental impacts, including the use of rare and potentially hazardous materials.

6. Transportation of the energy

Since solar farms require a vast amount of land, it is a common practice to organize solar farms outside of the big cities. The challenge with it is the transmission of produced solar electricity from remote solar farms to urban areas. Such transportation is not always reliable and may potentially lead to energy losses and will require significant infrastructure investments.

As can be seen, solar energy has a significant set of advantages but also considerable disadvantages that everyone who considers the installation of such an energy source should take into consideration. However, the solar energy industry is always developing and evaluating the potential issues within the sector with ongoing research and technology advancements.

For instance, solar panels that are moving together with the sun. Read more here: https://elenabeliaeva-baran.medium.com/3-most-exciting-solar-energy-trends-of-2023-and-beyond-c916a34dd137

Wind Energy

Wind turbines work by creating electricity by converting the kinetic energy of moving wind or air. This clean and sustainable energy source has existed for centuries. However, modern wind turbines are significantly more powerful than their wooden ancestors.

The major components of wind energy consist of:

• Wind Turbines
• The Tower — the structure that supports the turbine. It’s high in the air where the wind speed is stronger and more consistent.
• The Rotor — includes blades (that capture the kinetic energy of the wind) and the hub (connects them to the shaft)
• Nacelle — includes the generator, gearbox, and control systems. It is responsible for the energy converting from the spinning rotor into electrical energy.
• Generator — the mechanical energy that is generated by the rotor’s rotation is then transmitted to a generator within the nacelle. The generator is responsible for converting this mechanical energy into electricity, typically in the form of alternating current.
• Inverter — the alternating current (AC) electricity produced by the generator is then converted into a usable form of electricity — direct current (DC)
• The electricity generated by the wind turning is usually sent over to the electrical grid through underground or overhead power lines — which can then be transmitted either locally or over long distances to support homes or business needs with electricity.

Advantages of wind energy

1. It’s renewable and inexhaustible (never-ending)

Similar to solar energy, we expect wind to exist for a long time — as long as the sun shines and the Earth rotates, there will be wind.

2. It’s clean and sustainable

Wind power generation produces no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants and does not require water.

3. It contributes to energy independence

and reduces reliance on fossil fuels and other imported energy sources.

4. The lifespan of turbines

20–25 years is the average lifespan of the wind turbines, after which they will need to be displaced.

Disadvantages of wind power:

Like any other form of energy generation, wind power also has a few disadvantages.

1. Wind can be unreliable

Similar to the sun, wind can be quite unreliable — which can potentially lead to fluctuations in energy production that may not match electricity demand.

2. Such wind energy technology is very much dependent on location

The location of wind farms has to have consistent and strong winds — limiting their widespread applicability.

3. Biodiversity threat

Wind turbines can pose a significant threat to the biodiversity in the region — particularly birds and bats. Collisions with turbine blades are mortal for birds and bats, which can result in disruptions to local ecosystems and can harm local wildlife populations.

4. Wind farms require space

Similar to solar farms, in order to cover significant household or economic needs, wind farms have to take a significant amount of land, which can lead to possible conflicts with agriculture or conservation efforts.

5. Energy transmission

Transmitting the electricity generated to urban areas can result in energy losses and can potentially require substantial investments in transmission infrastructure.

Just as with any other energy source, wind power has both interesting advantages and disadvantages worth remembering. Despite its disadvantages, wind energy is considered a valuable source of renewable energy. Ongoing research and technological advancements are helping to address some of the drawbacks of modern wind energy, contributing to further development of it as a reliable energy source.

It is crucial to remember that no single energy source is a silver bullet. The future of energy lies not in a single solution but in a combination of technologies, each playing a role in a more sustainable, diversified, and interconnected energy landscape. Together, they will shape a cleaner and more secure energy future.