Generating energy using Natural Resources(i need a lot of info on this)
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The sources and technologies have changed over time, and some are used more than others. The three major categories of energy for electricity generation are fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), nuclear energy, and renewable energy sources.Most Efficient Energy Sources
Most Efficient Energy SourcesAlthough there are many types of energy, the most efficient forms are renewable: hydro-thermal, tidal, wind, and solar. Solar energy has been proven to be the most efficient and effective among renewable energy sources for home and commercial use.
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1. Solar Energy
The primary source of energy is the sun. Solar power harvests the energy of the sun by using collector panels to create conditions that can then be turned into a kind of power. Large solar panel fields are often used in the desert to gather enough power to charge small substations, and many homes use solar systems to provide for hot water, cooling and supplement their electricity.
The issue with solar is that while there is plentiful amounts of sunlight available, only certain geographical ranges of the world get enough of the direct power of the sun for long enough to generate usable power from this source.
2. Wind Energy
Wind power is becoming more and more common. The new innovations that are allowing wind farms to appear are making them a more common sight. By using large turbines to take available wind as the power to turn, the turbine can then turn a generator to produce electricity.
It requires high investment, and wind speed is also not uniform every time, which affects the generation of power. While this seemed like an ideal solution to many, the reality of the wind farms is starting to reveal an unforeseen ecological impact that may not make it an ideal choice.
3. Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is the energy that is produced from beneath the earth. It is clean, sustainable and environmentally friendly. High temperatures are produced continuously inside the earth’s crust by the slow delay of radioactive particles. Hot rocks present below the earth heats up the water that produces steam. The steam is then captured, which helps to move turbines. The rotating turbines then power the generators.
Geothermal energy can be used by a residential unit or on a large scale by an industrial application. It was used during ancient times for bathing and space heating. Geothermal plants typically have low emissions if they pump the steam and water they use back into the reservoir.
The biggest disadvantage of geothermal energy is that it can only be produced at selected sites throughout the world. The largest group of geothermal power plants in the world is located at The Geysers, a geothermal field in California, United States.
4. Biomass Energy
Biomass energy is produced from organic material and is commonly used throughout the world. Chlorophyll present in plants captures the sun’s energy by converting carbon dioxide from the air and water from the ground into carbohydrates through the process of photosynthesis. When the plants are burned, the water and carbon dioxide are again released back into the atmosphere.
Biomass generally includes crops, plants, trees, yard clippings, wood chips and animal wastes. Biomass energy is used for heating and cooking in homes and as a fuel in industrial production.
However, the collection of fuel involved drudgery. This type of energy produces a large amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In the absence of sufficient ventilation, while cooking indoor, fuels such as dung cause air pollution, which is a serious health hazard. Moreover, unsustainable and inefficient use of biomass leads to the destruction of vegetation and hence degradation of the environment.
5. Nuclear Power
While nuclear power remains a great subject of debate as to how safe it is to use, and whether or not it is really energy efficient when you take into account the waste it produces – the fact is it remains one of the major renewable sources of energy available to the world.
The energy is created through a specific nuclear reaction, which is then collected and used to power generators. While almost every country has nuclear generators, there are moratoriums on their use or construction as scientists try to resolve safety and disposal issues for waste.
Nuclear energy is produced from uranium, a non-renewable energy source whose atoms are split (through a process called nuclear fission) to create heat and, eventually, electricity. Scientists think uranium was created billions of years ago when stars formed. Uranium is found throughout the earth’s crust, but most of it is too difficult or too expensive to mine and process into fuel for nuclear power plants.
6. Fossil Fuels (Coal, Oil and Natural Gas)
Fossil fuels provide power for most of the world, primarily using coal and oil. Oil is converted into many products, the most used of which is gasoline. Natural gas is starting to become more common but is used mostly for heating applications, although there are more and more natural gas-powered vehicles appearing on the streets.
The issue with fossil fuels is twofold. Getting to the fossil fuel and convert it to use, there has to be heavy destruction and pollution of the environment. The fossil fuel reserves are also limited, expecting to last only another 100 years given the basic rate of consumption.