“What do you think will happen if fossil fuels become exhausted?” Use of renewable sources of energy has gained popularity among many individuals and organizations. Some examples of renewable sources of energy include solar and wind. The emission of greenhouses and the risks associated with global warming have led to adoption of renewable sources of energy. Many people prefer to use renewable sources of energy, at present, because fossil fuels have become scarce and further expensive. Besides, fossil fuels emit toxic gases to the atmosphere. Renewable sources of energy are affordable and sustainable. Also, they do not pollute the environment, since they are clean sources of energy. Several controversies exist regarding the real significance of renewable sources of energy in today’s world, despite these advantages.
First, critics argue that renewable energy sources need large gathering practices. Hence, the cost of renewable energy technology is far above that of conventional fossil fuel production. Second, they argue that sources like wind and solar can only be processed into electricity from their points of location. Third, critics argue that renewable sources cannot produce large amounts of energy, similar to those generated by conventional generators of fossil fuels. They say that using renewable sources would require persons, to decrease the quantity of energy used, or build new energy amenities. Furthermore, they argue that the most excellent solution to the energy distress may be to balance diverse power sources (Solway 56).
Fourth, critics argue that renewable energy lacks reliability. They argue that renewable energy sources usually depend on the weather, for power supply. For instance, hydro generators require rain so that they can fill dams with water. Also, solar dishes require sunshine and clear skies to gather heat and generate electricity, while wind turbines require wind to rotate the blades. Critics argue that, in the absence of these resources, renewable energy becomes impossible. They say that the condition of weather is incoherent and unpredictable. These diverse characteristics make critics regard renewable energy as an extremely expensive source of energy.
Such controversies have existed since time immemorial. Nonetheless, they have not discouraged persons from adopting renewable sources of energy because their merits outweigh any possible demerits. Particularly, renewable sources of energy are the future because of two key benefits: economical and their environmental friendly nature (Boyle 37).
Renewable energy can be recycled, implying that it can never run out, since it is sustainable. Besides, renewable energy facilities call for fewer repairs than conventional generators. The fact that their fuel gets derived from natural and accessible resources decrease operation overheads.
Also, renewable energy has a lesser negative impact to the environment than traditional energy sources. This is because renewable energy generates small or no waste products like carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
The advantages of renewable energy expand to invigorating the economy and making opportunities for jobs. Money that would be spent becomes spent on staff and materials that make and sustain equipment rather than importing energy.
There exist numerous advantages of renewable energy to business owners and regular citizens. Home users, will also obtain gains from utilizing renewable energy through saving money, ultimately, and decreasing negative environmental implications. Besides, using renewable energy makes persons sovereign as home users can obtain fuel autonomously.
The owners of small businesses will, as well, gain from adoption of renewable energy, since they will be able to save money on services. Suppliers of electricity can, as well, gain through selling clean energy. For experts who can devise ways of utilizing renewable energy proficiently, job openings will also appear.
Furthermore, schemes of renewable energy can bring fiscal gains to several local regions, since most schemes get positioned away from urban centers. These fiscal gains can be from the augmented use of regional services and tourism.
Most nations, at present, give tax incentives to those who are utilizing or preparing to install renewable energy structures for heating, lighting and operation of machines (Boyle 38). Nations want to ease the process of change to clean energy.
There exist five chief renewable sources of energy including wind, sun, biomass, heat from inside the earth and streaming water. First, energy that comes from the sun gets describes as solar energy. The radiation, of the sun, can be transformed into electricity, since the sun is a natural, regular source of light and heat (Johansson 12).
Second, wind energy can be derived from winds. Normal condition of geography and atmosphere create the winds that propel across the land. In the past, windmills became employed to supply mechanical energy, such as, grinding grain and pumping water (Johansson 12). Recent wind turbines can generate electricity.
Third, water can act as a source of energy. Flowing water, similar to wind, is a result of the climate and geography of the earth. Overspill from precipitation and snowmelt flow to sea level in rivers and streams. In the past, water wheels utilized the power of streaming g water to run mechanical apparatus. Contemporary hydro turbines employ water power to produce hydroelectricity (Johansson 12).
Fourth, biomass energy can be derived from organic matter, trees and plant. Since the natural course of photosynthesis creates new organic matter continually, biomass becomes a renewable source of energy. Biomass can be used to produce electricity, liquid fuels and heat.
Lastly, the earth produces energy through geothermal processes. Geothermal energy is a source of heat that gets produced inside the earth. Geothermal energy, in some places, is extremely near the surface. It gets extracted through drilling a well to contact the heat source (Solway 56). This energy may be used for warming buildings and other functions. Geothermal energy may be used to produce electricity, in places that have hot temperatures.
Renewable sources of energy present several advantages that overrule the demerits that become expressed in controversies against their use. Renewable sources of energy have environmental and economic benefits. Economic benefits can lead to the invigoration of the economy and opportunities for jobs. Also, money that should be spent, in renewable energy, becomes spent on staff and materials that make and sustain equipment rather than importing energy. Besides, the owners of small businesses can gain from adoption of renewable energy, since money used on services can be saved. Furthermore, schemes of renewable energy can bring fiscal gains to several local regions, since most schemes get positioned away from urban centers. Environmental benefits result from few emissions that do not pollute the environment. In particular, renewable energy generates small or no waste products like carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Also, renewable energy can be recycled, implying that it can never run out, since it is sustainable. Thus, renewable energy has a lesser negative impact to the environment than conventional sources of energy.
Works Cited
Boyle, Godfrey. Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future, Oxford: Oxford University Press in association with the Open University, 1996. Print.
Johansson, Thomas. Renewable Energy: Sources for Fuels and Electricity, Washington, D.C: Island Press, 1993. Print.
Solway, Andrew. Renewable Energy Sources, Chicago, Ill: Raintree, 2010. Print.