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