Can the Planet Really be Saved by Renewable Energy?

by Alexis Jameson

With environmental concerns as they are today, renewable energy is enjoying a time of heightened interest. Renewable energy can come from a number of sources such as wind, water, sunlight and heat from geothermal sources. Today, approximately 20% of the energy in the world comes from renewable sources. While most of this comes from burning wood a very large amount also comes from hydroelectricity. One form of renewable energy that is becoming popular in the world today is that of wind power. Unfortunately the problem with wind power, which makes it most controversial, is that they require a great deal of land and a very unsightly and may be damaging to the local environment. However, they can also be built at sea in certain cases, which is more effective and has less of an impact on the environment. Wind power, of course, is wind that is converted into electricity by way of wind turbines. This technology has however proven controversial due to the fact that it requires an enormous amount of land to build enough windmills to generate a satisfactory amount of electricity. These wind farms are not only unsightly, but they can be damaging to the local environment. Fortunately, however, they can also be placed in the sea. Energy from water is called hydroelectricity. This kind of energy is created by way of water wheels and water mills and dams. The biggest advantage of a hydroelectric power, is that it is relatively cheap to produce and also brings us a lot of power, currently supplying the world with 19% of its electricity. Hydroelectric power can also come from waves and the force of the tides. Solar power is another popular form of renewable energy, which of course comes from sunlight. Solar panels are used to take in the sunlight and convert it into electrical power. An increasing number of households in some countries are installing their own domestic solar panels because not only can it produce electricity for the household, any excess electricity generated can be sold back into the grid. This works out very well for everyone, especially the environment, since not only is it good for the planet, it is also good for your wallet. The other form of energy which is renewable comes directly from the natural heat beneath the surface of the planet. This is called geothermal energy, and is supplied by power stations which tap directly into the heat of the Earth and convert it to electricity. The market for renewable energy is rapidly growing, especially the wind power industry, which is currently experiencing a remarkable 30 per cent annual growth rate. In addition to this, or more people are getting solar power panels installed into their homes. In these worrying times of environmental destruction coupled with the rapidly growing worldwide population, it does give us some hope when governments and individuals and companies are starting to be really aware of the problem and start producing more environmentally friendly solutions. Hopefully, we can expect to see further technological advancement in the near future and the rapidly increasing use of renewable energy sources. It is the only hope for the future of the planet.