Inexhaustible Energy - overview of renewable energy
Renewable energy sources represent a broad category of natural sources, which have a natural energy. Recognizing that renewable energy - this is not a magic wand, which at one stroke, will cover all the needs of mankind's energy need as much as possible to use these sources, because it would reduce oil imports, reducing pollution and greenhouse gases and an increase in the number of jobs.
To date, we can consider the three major driving forces in promoting renewable energy market.
The first of these is the national energy security. Current projections show that, for example in the U.S., oil consumption is increasing and outstripping the rate of growth of oil production within the country that more increases U.S. dependence on foreign oil markets. And this, as we have seen, led to the fact that the economy is vulnerable to disruptions in oil imports.
In addition, the rapid growth of developing countries such as China and India , are an increasing strain on world oil markets, which is a problem which, in all probability, will eventually deteriorate. The trend in recent years, which resulted in the price of oil for several years has grown more than twice, has shown that renewable energy can help countries to ensure that they become more reliant on domestic sources of energy that will reduce demand for oil or reduce the growth in consumption of this fuel.
The second main driving force behind the transition to renewable energy is the situation associated with climate change. Renewable energy helps meet the needs of energy, reducing at the same time emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide) and methane are increasingly accumulate in the atmospheric layer of the planet, and that increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to higher temperatures around the globe. Scientists believe that this increase of temperatures portends negative and potentially catastrophic consequences, and that it was time to take concrete measures that can positively affect the problem. The use of carbon-free renewable energy is one of such measures.
The third driving force is the market cost of renewable energy, which decreases over the decades, and which will continue to decline. Reduced costs due to improvements in the technologies of renewable energy. Germany , Spain and several other developed countries have introduced new fees for additional electricity supply - the price per unit of electricity that utilities must pay for electricity from renewable sources, obtained by private producers. And in Britain , Finland and Greece have grants and tax benefits, which should contribute to the production and use of environmentally friendly energy sources.
Wind power
New wind power market was formed in Denmark in the 90-ies. Then in Germany . At the moment, highly developed markets in Spain , Italy , France , England and India . But the potential of wind energy is in all countries.
The U.S. wind energy occupies a leading position in large-scale production of electricity from renewable sources. With recent technological advances, the price competitiveness of wind energy compared to the price of natural gas has increased, allowing the growth of its production. Also, the U.S. government offers companies a tax credit for producing wind energy at a rate of approximately 1.9 cents per watt-hour. This is a good incentive to attract investors, such as utility companies, oriented to the tax credit, to purchase wind power.
Solar
Solar energy, which is a global industry, is leading in the distribution of electricity produced from renewable sources. In other words, consumers who themselves produce heat or electricity for their own needs, send what they have surplus electricity utilities. Currently, this industry is developing very fast in Germany , Spain and Japan .
In developing countries, development of solar energy is encountering difficulties, as is required of local infrastructure companies for the sale, installation and maintenance of equipment, as well as the need for financing, which is often missing. But despite this, the market grows in Sri Lanka , India , Morocco , Bangladesh , South Africa , Kenya and other countries.
Different bio-fuels
Different types of bio-fuels, mainly ethanol based on corn, provide the greatest opportunity in the field of renewable energy sources. Scientists from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, questioned the outdated notions prevailing in 70 of the last century, that in connection with the presence of energy-intensive production, environmental benefits of ethanol based on corn, are zero. Today, the production of corn-based ethanol requires much less oil than for the production of gasoline, and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, on receipt of ethanol by approximately 15-20 percent less than gasoline. New technology of production of ethanol from cellulose further reduces the scope of emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the cost of oil. Of particular interest to different types of bio-fuels shows automotive industry. For example, have produced many models of cars that use E85 fuel - a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
Benefits and Prospects
Renewable energy has enormous potential and contributes to meeting the needs of countries in securing demand, creating a cleaner environment, jobs and opportunities for investment.
The development of alternative energy provides rural populations around the world to have access to modern forms of energy. Wind, solar and geothermal power, small hydropower, and biomass energy can provide electricity for rural utilities and villages. Solar photovoltaic and solar water heating can provide modern energy sources in the homes of ordinary villagers.
The prospect of renewable energy worldwide is gaining momentum and is estimated by various industry groups in different ways. Thus, a coalition of "Energy Future" provides that by 2025 renewable energy will amount to 25 percent of U.S. electricity, and the American Council on Renewable Energy believes that this potential will be equal to 20 percent, 30 percent and 40 percent respectively by 2020, 2030 and 2040.
For this to happen, the contract energy prices should stay high, the production costs of renewable energy sources should continue to decline, and public policy must be stable and predictable in order to encourage lenders and investors to continue financing of renewable energy systems. International cooperation is necessary for the transfer of new technologies to developing countries.