The Growing Importance of Renewable Energy
In a discussion on global warming, renewable energy tends to top the list of possible developments that the world can adopt to stave off its worst effects. However, there are more advantages to this type of energy than just being green.
The emerging industry makes electric grids more reliable, creates jobs in developing countries, increases energy access in emerging countries, reduces air pollution, creates alternative sources of energy, and lowers energy costs. It also serves as a source of job security for thousands of people throughout the developing world.
There are two broad categories of renewable energy:
Hydropower, which is derived from dams, rivers, or lakes; and solar energy, which is harnessed by concentrating sunlight into a usable form. Hydropower is commonly used to generate electricity, whereas solar power is typically used to heat homes, provide hot water, and create heating for commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants. Each type of renewable energy has its own advantages, but the most important is the fact that it can be used at home, for domestic purposes.
Wind and solar power are the two most commonly used sources of renewable energy in India.
Wind power, which is often referred to as wind generated electricity, is available in small-scale windmills that produce electricity for domestic use, but is also available as a form of "demand response" - which is when the utility company sells excess power to households, businesses, and other large commercial entities for the sake of meeting their demand.
Demand response uses surplus power to lower the cost of electricity or to increase the number of customers that receive regular electricity supply.
While most of these kinds of power plants use the same technology, there are also different technologies available to utilize renewable energy in India.
Some examples are geothermal energy, which use the Earth's heat to create power; solar energy, which are used to heat houses and buildings; and hydropower, which produce electricity by using dams and streams as a source of water power.
These are all forms of renewable energy, but not all of them are used together; some are exclusively for domestic usage while others are used for commercial purposes.
Geothermal energy is used to create power by burning natural gas or petroleum. This kind of energy is produced by melting ice found deep underground in the earth.
Geothermal power plants, which are located mostly in the southern India, use geothermal wells and pipes to produce energy, which then powers steam turbines and other equipment in order to create electricity.
Geothermal energy is particularly beneficial in southern India, where high temperatures cause ice to melt, which releases steam that then turns turbines, which in turn generates power.
Solar power comes from the sun's rays and converts them into usable forms of energy. One of the most common ways to make solar power in India is to install photovoltaic panels on homes. This kind of power plant produces energy by absorbing solar rays from the sun and converting them into electricity.
Solar panels are made out of glass panels that capture the sun's heat and use the heat in order to create electricity for domestic consumption. Although most households and businesses have panels on their roofs, they can also be installed in remote areas where sunlight is not abundant. They can also be attached to roofs of residential buildings for the purpose of making electricity.
Other renewable sources of clean energy sources include bioenergy - which are derived from the decomposition of biomass - and geothermal energy, among others. Biomass, which is made from plant material or animal waste, is an excellent source of alternative energy sources due to its low cost and availability.
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