Using solar electric systems can benefit the natural environment in many ways. It reduces local air pollution, conserves energy, reduces need for dry-cell battery disposal and offsets greenhouse gases. Using solar panels reduces the amount of local as well as global pollution because instead of using kerosene and oil for heating and lighting you are using solar energy. When using solar panels (photovoltaic system) to produce electric power there is no carbon dioxide (Co2) emission. The amount of carbon dioxide emissions today is taking a serious toll on the earth, by global warming. Using solar electric systems can also conserve a lot of energy especially for developing countries in a conventional way.
Solar power has advantages but there are limitations. Some of the drawbacks are; solar energy does not work at night because there is no sun, it is very expensive to build a solar power station and get solar cells, it is not very cost efficient if you do not live in a very sunny climate. This is an issue that our current scientific knowledge cannot solve.
Energy created by wind is now economically competitive with fossil fuel etc. in windy areas. Wind energy is only cost efficient if it is installed in a very windy area. In order for wind energy to be cost efficient there needs to be an average wind speed of 25km/h. There are three places where wind turbines are found, off shore (no further than 10km of the shore), near shore and on shore. Most wind farms are located in coastal areas, top of hills and open plains. The basic scientific idea is the sun heats our atmosphere unevenly. The warm air then rises and other air blows into replace it “wind”. We use the energy in the wind with a tall tower with a propeller. The wind blows the propeller round, which turns a generator to produce electricity. This is why towers of the wind turbines are very tall, so they are able reach areas with stronger wind. Towers range from 20-80meters tall. The fact that they are very tall means that the land beneath can be used for farming and other purposes. Usually only 2% of farm land, where turbines are installed, is used for the wind turbines.
Wind energy is used for many purposes and many people use it. How uses wind energy you ask? National and Provincial networks, communities, homes and farms, process industries and remote communities. Today, there are over 70,000 wind turbines in the world. In Canada they are now able to power over 280,000 homes using wind energy. People use wind energy to power there homes etc. but boats and caravans tend to use small wind generators to keep there batteries charged.
There are many advantages to wind energy, which is why it is an increasing popular alternative energy source, around the world. Some of the advantages include:
- Wind is free. This is a benefit to wind farms because they need no fuel.
- Does not harm the environment by producing any waste.
- It does not produce any greenhouse gases.
- The land around wind towers can also be used for farming, which is an economical gain seeing as wind towers do not take up that much land.
- Wind farms can be tourist attractions
- It is a great energy source and method for those who live in remote areas.
- Often landowners get paid for the use of there land.
- It can increase the value of land.
- It allows people to contribute in the preservation of our environment.
- Makes little noise
Wind machines also have some environmental drawbacks. Some of the more serious issues include the size of the wind machine and how it ruins the landscape and the negative effect on bird populations. Another let back is the fact that we cannot control where the wind is.
Wind energy is only worth it when there is enough wind to benefit from the cost of construction etc.. In this way science is presently not able to entirely solve a problem. Scientist need to find a way that we can use the wind available and still make it cost efficient.
We do not have two earths we have to live with what we have. We are currently killing our environment. As time goes on the price of fossil fuels will raise because of the decreasing amount. This is why we need to spend more time on advancing alternative resources that are reliable and can last. Wind and Solar energy are here to stay.
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Sources:
Frequently ask questions
The cost of wind
Wind power- energy from the air
Benefits of Solar: Environment
Solar Energy Facts Answers
How does solar power work?
Solar Power is energy from the Sun
Solar Energy will be Percentage of World Electricity
Solar Thermal
