Ranting and Raving about Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is not a new concept. While it mayuse of a dam, wherein the energy of the water flow is
appear to be a rather fashionable topic ofcaptured and used to power a turbine. The turbine
conversation in certain circles, renewable energythen generates a supplementary form of electricity.
initiatives have been with us since the dawn of man.Tidal power attempts to make use of the natural
There is some debate about the accepted definition ofenergy potential of tidal activity in the oceans and
renewable energy, but it can be loosely defined as aseas. In simple terms, the high tide is captured and fed
form of energy that is essentially inexhaustible.through a turbine to generate electricity. Ocean thermal
Furthermore, the resource is continually replenished byenergy conversion attempts to exploit the variances in
various natural processes identifiable in the naturalwater temperature, from the warmer surface water
world.to the cooler deep water, resulting in a cyclic heat
One key distinction to make when discussing theengine.
concept of renewable energy is that of sustainability.Wind power is one of the oldest accepted forms of
One could make the argument that, in the long term,renewable energy. It has been used for centuries as a
fossil fuels are a renewable energy resource. Whilesource of power, dating back to the creation of the
the logic stands on its own, this is a failed notion. Thesailboat. The innate potential of wind power was
central difference between fossil fuels and otherrealized a number of years later in the form of a wind
forms of renewable energy is that fossil fuels aremill. In this instance, the kinetic energy of wind is used
being depleted at a rate faster than they can beto drive a turbine which, in turn, generates electricity.
replenished. For this reason, fossil fuels cannot beWind energy possesses immense potential for
considered truly renewable. They are simply notsustainable energy generation, and a number of
sustainable, due to the accelerated rate oflarge-scale development projects are currently
consumption.underway throughout the world.
Some of the more popular renewable energyOne of the greatest challenges facing humanity is to
resources include sunshine, water, and wind. Solardiscover a way to reduce our reliance on
energy refers to the energy that is collected fromunsustainable resources, like fossil fuels. Most, if not all,
sunlight. This form of energy is captured using amodern industrial societies rely far too greatly on fossil
photovoltaic array, more commonly known as a solarfuels and increasingly, this is becoming an undeniable
panel. The solar radiation is captured by thereality. Wars of conquest are being waged to secure
photovoltaic array and converted to direct currentwhat is left of the world's oil reserves. If only the
(DC) electricity. From there, the direct current electricityresources of the powerful nations were channeled into
must be converted to alternating current (AC) for usedeveloping sustainable energy alternatives, as opposed
in most applications. The converted electricity is thento driving a war machine bent on dominating the oil
stored in a battery for use at a later date.markets. Our modern way of life is going to undergo
There are also various forms of energy that exist insome difficult times in the very near future, if this reality
water. One of the most commonly acknowledged iscontinues to be ignored. Ask yourself what you can do
that of hydroelectric energy, but there are a number ofto make a difference. You might be surprised at what
others including tidal power and ocean thermal energyyou can accomplish.
conversion. Hydroelectric energy generally employs the