Renewable & Non-Renewable Energy Sources: A Comprehensive Guide
Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources are those that come from sources that cannot be exhausted.
Solar Energy
- Photovoltaic solar panels are made up of materials capable of producing electricity when the Sun’s rays hit them.
- Thermal solar collectors are used to heat water, which can then either be used directly or indirectly. Thermal solar collectors can also generate electricity by making turbines rotate.
Wind Energy
Wind energy comes from the wind. Wind turbines are used to produce energy.
Wind turbines operate as follows:
- The blades turn, propelled by the wind, and transfer their movement to the shaft.
- The movement of the shaft passes to the multiplier, where an adequate turning speed for the generator is reached.
- Then, the generator transforms this mechanical energy into electrical energy.
- The energy produced moves through conductor cables to a transformer and from there, flows to the distribution network.
Hydraulic Energy
At various points along the river, the water is dammed so that an enormous mass is accumulated. This mass is then released from the top of the dam. At the highest point of elevation, the standing water has acquired potential energy. As it is released through the dam, it loses that potential energy, which transforms into movement energy or, in other words, kinetic energy. This potential energy can be turned into electrical energy in hydraulic power stations by means of the turbine-alternator connection.
Tidal Energy
The force of gravity that the Moon and the Sun exert on the Earth causes sea levels to increase and decrease in constant cyclical movement. This movement can be transformed into electricity.
Geothermal Energy
The heat from the Earth is harnessed through thermal power stations.
- Hot water deposits usually have two wells: one in which water heated by the thermal source is extracted and another to inject cold water to be heated and returned, by differential pressure, to the first well.
- In hot dry rock deposits, a pipe that passes through shallow hot stones and rocks is installed. Water circulates through this pipe and is heated when it passes through the heat source.
Biomass
Biomass is matter obtained from living organisms.
- Natural biomass is found in nature, without human intervention.
- Residual biomass is produced by human activities, such as agricultural and livestock waste, garden cuttings, and waste from lumber industries, etc.
- Manufactured biomass is created by energy-producing agricultural and forest crops from which fuel is produced.
Types of biomass processes:
- Combustion: The biomass is burnt, and the heat generated by combustion is used to heat water, produce steam, and move turbines that generate electricity.
- Pyrolysis: The biomass is subjected to high temperatures in a furnace without oxygen, which produces coal.
- Gasification: This process is very similar to pyrolysis; however, it aims to obtain the gas released from the partial oxidation of the biomass.
- Alcoholic fermentation: This process transforms sugars, starches, and plant cellulose into ethanol or methanol.
- Methane fermentation: This is a complex process carried out in several stages in the absence of oxygen, using livestock waste (manure) and plant waste (shavings and sawdust). The end product is called biogas.
Non-Renewable Energy Sources
come from resources that are scarce-or resources that are consumed more quickly than they can regenerateCOAL:Coal is a rock made mostly of carbon. It also contains sulphur, oxygen. hydrogen and nitrogen in varying amounts. It is formed through plant waste being buried under a layer of oxygen poor mud. coal can only be extracted mechanically from mineuses of coal are as followsGenerating electrical energy/In the iron and steel industry/In the construction industry
NatURAL GAS