ALTERNATE ENERGY

Alternate Energy - Advantages & Disadvantages

Alternate Energy - Advantages & Disadvantages

Introduction

Source of renewable energy or its reservoirs are different from energies of nuclear power plants or fossil fuels because of their abundance and diversity. It is believed that the Sun will provide sources of energy in forms such as solar, wind, and rain in the next 4 billion years. The primary advantage in using these renewable energy sources is that they do not produce dangerous emissions and greenhouse gases, unlike to what the fuel use would have, regardless of its fossil form. Few inexhaustible sources do not give off extra carbon dioxide, except those essential for their structure and operation, and get no additional danger, like the nuclear threat. However, some renewable energy systems generate particular ecological problems (Rau 2010). Thus, the first wind turbines were dangerous to the birds because their blades spinning very fast, while hydropower plants can create obstacles to the migration of certain fish, a serious problem in many rivers in the world

Solar Energy

Energy of the Sun or Solar energy could be used for generation of electricity, for purpose of cooking and heating water, for salt production and desalination (Smith 2008). Solar power is known to be harmless to the environment. Nevertheless, as the sun's rays get into the earth's ambiance it is much diluted.

Advantages

Among the most important advantages can be that it is an energy source without contaminants. Solar energy is coming from an inexhaustible source of energy. It's a power harvesting system suitable for areas where power line fails (country, island), or is difficult and costly to transfer (Winebrake 2004). Apart from that, solar collection systems are easy to maintain. Moreover, as technology moves forward and the cost of fuel increases over time because they are becoming fewer and fewer, solar energy is a good alternative.

Disadvantages

The common disadvantages of solar energy are that the radiation level varies from one area to another and from one season to another. To collect solar energy on a large scale large tracks of land are required (Rau 2010). Huge amounts of initial investments are required. Apart from that, it should complement this method of converting energy with others. Moreover, the places where there is more radiation are more desert and remote.

Wind Energy

One benefit of Wind power is that it does not contaminate, is unlimited and decelerates the diminution of fossil fuels besides contributing to change in averting climate. It's a fully mature technology use and setup. The energy produced by wind has been used since ancient times and provides an inexhaustible source of energy.  According to some researchers controlled use could achieve twice the energy that now comes from hydroelectric plants (Rau 2010).  Only has the disadvantage of relying too heavily on the unpredictable weather conditions and topography of each region.

Advantages

Getting electricity with no burning process or a thermic processing tone is a really beneficial process and is light, and pollution free. Generation of electricity from air currents does not give rise to toxic gases, or add ...