There are different sources of energy. These sources are categorized into two groups namely renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Renewable ones are also known as green sources. The increasing world population and number of industries have led to increased pressure on the available energy resources. Many programs have been developed and adopted to utilize the available clean energy sources. The world is going green.
The various forms of green energy are aimed at reducing the over dependence on fossil fuels. Fossils fuels are known for producing certain by-products which contribute to environmental pollution. The increased emissions from petroleum have significantly contributed to global warming. There is, therefore, a need to utilize the available sources of green energy. These sources are environmentally friendly.
The following are the main sources of green energy plants (biomass), light, sunlight, wind, water and much more. These resources are renewable, and they do not affect the environment. Green energy utilizes the available natural resources. These resources are used as a suitable replacement for fossil fuels. Outlined below are the major types or forms of green energy.
Wind power
Wind power has been in use for many years. It is used in generating energy from the wind. It is a suitable replacement for fossil fuel. It is estimated that wind energy can be used to power the entire world once it is fully utilized. Some of the developed nations such as Germany are shifting to wind energy. In fact, there are some countries which are shutting down their nuclear power plants and then shifting to wind power due to safety issues.
Hydroelectric energy
It is also referred to as hydro power. This is energy obtained or generated from water. Water from a high reservoir is used in running turbines which in turn generate electrical energy. However, this energy is said to be less renewable when compared to the other renewable sources. It can be very expensive to make this form of energy renewable.
Solar energy
Solar energy is the most popular form of energy. This energy is derived or harnessed from sunlight. There are different methods which are used in trapping sunlight to generate solar energy. Some of these methods include the use of solar panels and solar water heaters. However, studies and research are still being done to increase the efficiency of solar power. It is a clean energy source as it does not emit any smoke into the environment.
Geothermal power
This energy is obtained from the stem trapped within the earth crust. Steam under high pressure is trapped to drive the turbines thereby producing energy. Most of the geothermal power plants are located along the fault lines where steam is located at a considerable low depth. This power can also be harnessed from the hot springs and geysers which emit naturally to the earth’s surface.
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