Basic Science JSS1 Third Term
Topic: Renewable Energy
Introduction
There is a new issue becoming popular in the society nowadays and that is whether the energy we are using can be easily replenished by nature or not. This issue has made people to be conscious of what they do with available
Meaning
There are some forms of energy that can be replenished after use and there are some that cannot except one pays for it. The form of energy that can be replenished naturally after use is referred to as the renewable energy.
Renewable energy is an energy source that can be replenished within a short period of time. Renewable energy is also defined as “energy” derived from resources that are regenerative or which for all practical purposes cannot be depleted. Renewable resources are those that can be used or made over and over again from other resources – they are unlimited
Examples of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy sources include, solar energy, which comes from the sun and which can be turned into electricity and heat, wind, geothermal energy from inside the earth, biomass from plants, and hydropower and ocean energy from water are also renewable energy sources. Each of these sources has unique characteristics which influence how and where they are used.
Solar Energy
The solar panels (photovoltaic arrays) can charge the 12V batteries up to 9 amperes in full, direct sunlight. Most fossil and renewable energy sources are ultimately derived from “solar energy”. Thereby, some ascribe much broader meanings to the term.
Solar Renewable Energy
The majority of renewable energy technologies are directly or indirectly powered by the sun. The Earth-Atmosphere system is in equilibrium such that heat radiation into space is equal to incoming solar radiation. The resulting level of energy within the Earth-Atmosphere system can roughly be described as the Earth’s “climate”.
The hydrosphere (water) absorbs a major fraction of the incoming radiation. Most radiation is absorbed at low latitudes around the equator, but this energy is dissipated around the globe in the form of winds and ocean currents. Wave motion may play a role in the process of transferring mechanical energy between the atmosphere and the ocean through wind stress. Solar energy is also responsible for the distribution of precipitation which is tapped by hydroelectric projects, and for the growth of plants used to create biofuels.
Wind Renewable Energy
Kinetic energy in airflows can be used to run wind turbines, some are capable of producing 5MW of power, turbines with rated output of 1.5 – 3MW have become the most common for commercial use. The power output of a turbine is a function of the cube of the wind speed. Therefore, a so high-power output can be achieved as wind speed increases. Wind power is renewable and produces no Greenhouse gases during operation, such as carbon dioxide and methane
Water Renewable Energy
Energy in water (in the form of motive energy or temperature differences) can be harnessed and used. Since water is about a thousand times denser than air, even a slow flowing stream of water, or moderate sea well, can yield considerable amounts of energy.
There are many form of water energy: Hydroelectric energy is a term usually reserved for hydroelectric dams and waterfalls. Tidal power captures energy from the tides in a vertical direction. Tides come in, raise water levels in a basin, and tides roll out. Around low tide, the water in the basin is discharged through a turbine.
Tidal stream power captures energy from the flow of tides, usually using an underwater plant resembling a small wind turbine.
Bio-fuel Renewable Energy
Bio-fuel is any fuel derived from biomass, including living organisms or their metabolic by-products, such as cow manure. Plants use photosynthesis to grow and produce biomass. Other organisms may be grown to produce biomass. Also known as biomatter, biomass can be used directly as fuel or to produce liquid biofuel.
Read more below: https://passnownow.com/lesson/renewable-energy…renewable-energy/
