Energy is essential for the day to day running of many operations. For the longest time, we used fossil energy for our cars, buildings, and so forth. This, in turn, affected our environment in significant ways, which are seen in the current state of the earth. On realising how bad it would get if we continued using fossil fuel, people became more aware of renewable energy and became more willing to use it.
The use of renewable energy is becoming more and more popular as people try to reduce their carbon footprint on the earth.
Renewable Energy
To fully grasp the difference between renewable energy and renewable energy technology, we need to understand what the former is. Renewable energy is energy obtained from natural and environmentally friendly sources. They include water, wind, warmth from the earth and carbohydrates from plants. They produce energy in the form of:
- Wind Power – created from harnessed wind which is converted to free power.
- Solar energy – solar collectors and photovoltaic panels are used to turn solar to electricity.
- Geothermal energy – utilises heat from the earth. This type of energy can be created on a large or small scale.
- Hydroelectric power – created through manipulation of power from water by storing it in dams.
- Hydrokinetic power – moving water and waves are harnessed to become electricity.
The aim of incorporating renewable energy into daily operations was to reduce pollution and slow down global warming. Through this, we would be able to move into a cleaner and healthier world.
Renewable Energy Technology
To be able to convert primary renewable resources to energy, we use technology. This technology used is often not entirely beneficial to the environment we are trying to save. Windmills and solar panels are not made using renewable energy.
It is noteworthy that renewable technology is expensive, thus not affordable to many people. The cost of production, transportation and installation is beyond what most people can spend.
Though the cost of receiving and maintaining the constant production of renewable energy is low, its use is not widespread. The push for renewable energy because it is green is defeated by the fact that the technology that produces it is not.
Conclusion
The shift from fossil to renewable energy has been faced with a lot of issues, the main one being the cost. There is also a lack of efficient education and meaningful conversation on the value of renewable energy.
Each person must contribute to the efforts being made to save the environment from the adverse effects of humanity. Renewable energy, despite being produced through technology that is not green, is more environmentally friendly than other forms of energy.