The US has been helping pave the way in deploying other alternative energy solutions for decades
With an increasing focus on preserving environments and moving our economy away from fossil fuels, those in power continued renewable energy support research and development at the state and local level. For example, the latest US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science released a report that shows how much the country can save with expanded use of clean energy resources such as solar, geothermal and bio fuels.
The report estimates that the nation’s electricity supply can reach its annual peak of energy production from a combination of renewable energy sources by 2021.
Renewable energy in the US has quadrupled in the past decade and there are many reasons for this. One is the fact that the world is quickly becoming a global leader in sustainable energy and this has been accelerated by administrations of the past decade. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix. But there are solutions and technologies which may begin to replace fossil fuels over time. In the meantime, we need to begin exploring and utilizing these alternative sources of energy as much as we can.
Solar power is the fastest growing renewable technology today. In just the past few years, the cost of solar panels has dropped by two-thirds. There are many ways to build and install solar panels and one way is to do it yourself. There is also the option of using windmills to create your own electricity.
Another renewable energy source that is increasing in popularity is wind power. Windmills can be used for a variety of applications. Some people use them to generate electricity for their homes. Others use them to generate power for themselves and their boats.
Oil and gas are diminishing and while we need to continue to rely on these fossil fuels. There are better sources of energy which are readily available. We also need to increase our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and this is an excellent place to start. We have already reduced the emissions of our vehicles. Now we need to make changes to our home and work places. In order to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other gases which are being emitted into our atmosphere. Wind and solar power are a great way to start.
Each one of these systems only take a small portion of the earth’s resources that are currently consumed. But, they will still dramatically reduce our impact on the earth’s environment.
There are many plans currently in place for the development of renewable energy technology in the US. One such plan would involve developing 5 nationwide transmission lines by 2021. Another idea would be the construction of a large number of large wind farms across the country. Although these ideas have not come to fruition as of yet. The research is ongoing and could become a reality very soon.
While the plans for renewable energy in the US have come a long way. It still faces a number of barriers that must be overcome before these systems can be installed. One of the most important hindrances facing these plans is the simple fact that the United States does not have a huge amount of wind or solar power potential. As a result, many scientists believe that these types of alternative energy systems will never be able to come to fruition on a large scale in the US.
The development of renewable energy in the US will continue regardless of what problems are encountered. For this reason, there are some researchers who believe that the growth of this clean energy will continue regardless of the problems that might come up. This is because of the fact that they do not view these problems as obstacles to the continued growth of the energy system. Rather, these people feel that the problems that might be encountered are minor and will be easily overcome. They also believe that the benefits that will be derived through the use of renewable energy will be too great to keep people from working to develop this type of alternative energy system.
If you think that the US is behind the rest of the world when it comes to renewable energy, think again. The truth is that the US has one of the best developed renewable energy bases in the world. With the right planning and leadership. We can continue our country’s development even while other countries struggle to meet their own goals. If we work together, we can ensure that support continues to stay behind renewable development. And that our economy grows stronger as we continue to build on the power of renewable energy.
Sources Of Renewable Energy On A Global Scale
Renewable energy has been gaining momentum lately as more nations discover the endless benefits of using these energies. This has given birth to numerous technologies that are being put into use to harness this powerful natural resource. While this has greatly increased awareness in regards to this renewable source. It is important to emphasize that many renewable technologies still in development. As such, it is up to us as the layperson, or interested parties to keep track of what is being done to further this global effort to conserve energy. Below we will take a look at some of the latest advancements in this field.
One renewable energy that is quite interesting in its developmental stages is the solar energy. Solar energy is based on the photoelectric effect, which utilizes rays of light and converts them into electrical energy through photovoltaic cells. With this source, photovoltaic cells are no longer the main means of conversion. Instead, the sun’s rays are being used to boil water and generate electricity. While solar technology has been around for some time, its growth spurt is bringing it into the limelight of everyday life.
Wind power has also shown great promise when it comes to being a truly renewable source of energy. While it can be tough to set up on a small scale, new advances in technology have allowed developers to scale up these projects to massive proportions. In fact, many countries like Spain and Germany have entire regions designated as wind farms. These farms harness wind’s kinetic energy and turn it into electricity for use on the typical consumer’s household.
Although this technology may not be as immediate as other technologies. The payoff of being free of conventional energy sources like coal and petroleum will be huge for the global economy.
The next step to take in developing renewable technologies is to find ways to store energy. There are a number of different options available that can be put to use in this regard. Magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide have long been used for this purpose. With advancements in technology, however, these substances are starting to be refined and made even more effective. In fact, the material used in roofing, and window siding as well as walls can be used to store the surplus energy produced by renewable technologies like wind turbines.
Another way of storing energy is through the use of a perpetual source of energy. This would allow sources like wind and solar power to constantly be available. A popular choice is a magnetic power generator. These devices create electricity from the magnetic force of magnets. These sources can also be hooked up to power water pumps and electrical generators.
Many nations across the world are trying to exploit the power of wind and solar power. In order to do so, they need to build massive networks of high-voltage power lines. For instance, some have been using wind turbines to generate electricity for its cities. India has also begun to exploit solar energy.
While these renewable energy projects are still at an early stage of development. Many scientists agree that we are far away from having them running on a large scale in places around the world. Still, it is not impossible. Wind farms and solar farms are now being constructed all over the world. The trick is in figuring out how to operate them economically and safely. We can only determine that such renewable energy is not only viable but inevitable as technologies continue to advance.
The future of energy, and the source of renewable energy, will be based on a radical concept called “sustainable development.” It attempts to use the natural laws of the planet to continually produce energy for use and generation in the future. Some think that this theory will revolutionize the way we live. Others are cautiously optimistic but hopeful that it will be successful. Only time will tell.
Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.
