By: Leah Filloy

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy is energy generated by natural resources which are continuously replenished; for example: solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity, biomass and biofuels for transportation, all come from sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat. The main objective of implementing renewable energy, is to adopt an alternative method to replace the use of fossil fuels; but why should we replace the burning of fossil fuels for a more sustainable energy source? Scientists believe it’s human activity that’s driving the temperatures of the earth up. Ever since the industrial revolution began, factories, power plants and eventually cars have burned fossil fuels such as oil and coal, which in effect augments the amount of greenhouse gasses on earth. Carbon dioxide, methane, halogenated gases and nitrous oxide are all greenhouse gases, which inevitably raise the temperatures of the earth. When greenhouse gasses increase, more thermal energy is trapped in the atmosphere, therefore the temperature of the earth increases, causing global warming. As long as industrialized nations consume energy, and developing countries increase their fossil fuel consumption, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will continue to rise. This is why the implementation of renewable energy worldwide could save our planet!

Why is This topic Important?

Many countries have already initiated the change from fossil fuels to renewable energy as the main energy source of the country. Even developing, third world countries, like Costa Rica, have successfully initiated a powerful change. “Almost all Costa Rica’s electricity was produced by renewable energy in 2016, continuing its reputation as a “verdant gem” among a pile of “black coal rocks”. The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) said that around 98.1 per cent of the country’s electricity came from green sources. In comparison, less than 15 per cent of the US electricity supply for January to October 2016 was renewable, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Coal and natural gas together made up nearly two-thirds of the US electricity generation over that period and nuclear power provided the remaining 19 per cent (Walker, Costa Rica’s electricity was produced almost entirely from renewable sources in 2016).” The article Costa Rica’s electricity was produced almost entirely from renewable sources in 2016 by Peter Walker, raises the question of how come countries with so much power and money, like the United States, are unable to have such an impeccable electric plan like the one of Costa Rica, one of the smallest third world countries in the world? If the most developed and powerful countries join a movement to change their main energy source from fossil fuels to renewable energy, there could be a slight chance of returning the earth to its original state before human activities ruined the balance of the greenhouse gasses and atmospheric temperature. Although it seems as if renewable energy would only bring positive changes to any nation, there are indeed some consequences that could also come along with such idea; therefore, this blog post will help you understand why the United States has had doubts about implementing renewable energy all over the nation.

Why do we need renewable energy?

Most of the electricity used worldwide comes from non-renewable resources, such as coal and gas; in other words, fossil fuels, but they are running out.Burning fossil fuels to provide energy also releases gases that contribute to climate change, “greenhouse gasses”. Renewable sources of energy don’t run out or pollute the environment. Why don’t we get all our energy form renewable resources? It is important to have a mix of energy sources so that if one fails, another can be used. Also many renewable technologies are still being developed, and they are expensive for the government to acquire.

Types of renewable energy:

• Biomass energy: biomass is plant and animal matter, for example: wood, straw, sewage and waste food, or it also comes from trees grown for fuel.
• Hydroelectric energy: hydroelectric energy is energy from moving water. Water flowing from a reservoir to a river through a hydroelectric dam can be used to make power.
• Solar energy: solar energy is energy from the sun. the sun’s light and heat can be captured by solar panels and then turned into electricity or used to heat water.
• Hydrogen fuel cells: hydrogen fuel cells make “clean” electricity from hydrogen gas. They work like batteries, and can power cars or buses.
• Tidal energy: every day the tide at the seaside goes in and out, as the sea rises and falls. Marine turbines can use this movement to generate electric power.
• Wave energy: waves are made when wind blows around the sea. The energy in waves can be used to generate electricity by new technology such as the Pelamis wave machine.
• Geothermal energy: geothermal energy is energy from the natural heat of the earth. Geothermal power stations use heat form deep underground to generate electricity.
• Wind energy: giant machines called wind turbines can be used to make electricity in windy places. Groups of wind turbines, or wind farms, are being built on land and out at sea.

Bibliography

1. Ciolkosz, Daniel. “What Is Renewable Energy? (Renewable and Alternative Energy).” Renewable and Alternative Energy (Penn State Extension), Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/energy/what. Accessed 19 May 2017.
2. Walker, Peter. “Costa Rica’s Electricity Was Produced Almost Entirely from Renewable Sources in 2016.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 2 Jan. 2017, www.independent.co.uk/environment/costa-rica-renewable-energy-electricity-production-2016-climate-change-fossil-fuels-global-warming-a7505341.html. Accessed 19 May 2017.
3. National, Geographic, director. Climate Change 101 with Bill Nye | National Geographic. National Geographic Magazine, 2 Dec. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtW2rrLHs08&t=144s. Accessed 18 May 2017.