RENEWABLE ENERGY

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy

Introduction

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the development and use of renewable energy sources, also known as clean energy. Many of these energy sources focus on generating electricity while reducing or eliminating the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases, and pollutants that they produce. Another related area of interest is the development of alternative fuels for cars and trucks. Traditional sources of energy, such as coal and natural gas power plants, are also becoming less polluting with the use of new technology. Jennings (2009) stated that “We are clearly living in the midst of an energy crisis that seems unlikely to go away. There is unprecedented concern about fuel prices and oil depletion. There is also a high level of concern about global warming and how best to respond to it” (Jennings 2009, 435-439).

Several important influences have driven the current enthusiasm for clean energy. A growing scientific consensus that climate change threatens human and animal life has raised interest in reducing greenhouse gases from energy consumption. Increasing oil prices, and the realization that supplies will eventually be depleted, drive interest in alternative fuels for transportation, energy generation, and household use. Furthermore, there is growing concern that dependence on oil from foreign sources decreases national security while supporting oppressive foreign regimes. This paper discusses the present and future roles of Renewable Energy policies and technologies in averting the energy crisis and global warming.

Discussion

Humanity has a long history of employing clean energy sources to do useful work. For much of our existence, clean, renewable sources of energy were the only available options. The burning of wood for heat, light, and food preparation is one of the oldest energy sources. In parts of the world where wood is not abundant, different fuels including dung, peat, grasses, and other plant materials have been used. Wood is still a significant source of renewable energy, surpassing the use of all other clean technologies. It should be noted that while the burning of wood does not release new carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, it can contribute to global warming if trees are not replanted. Wood smoke can also be a major source of air pollution. (Asmus 2010, 12)

Other sources of clean energy have long been used in industry and agriculture. Wind power was one of the earliest clean energy sources to be exploited, with sailing ships acting as the main agents of commerce from ancient times to the 1800s. In the Middle Ages, windmills began to appear in Europe, possibly influenced by Persian technology. The windmill turned the energy of wind into the ability to do mechanical work, and was used for both grinding grain and pumping water. Later, the Dutch even used windmills to power industrial machines.

Another very old source of clean energy is the watermill, which uses the power of moving water. The use of watermills extends back to at least the Roman era. The Romans used watermills to grind grain more efficiently than the traditional human- ...