Biomass as a Source of Energy

I. Introduction In India, the concept of energy as " Shakti " has been at the focus of philosphic, scientific and metaphysical thought from time immemorial. The conventional energy sources like fossil fuels, crude oil, natural gas etc. are dwindling fast. The world stock of non-renewable natural sources indeed have decreased. There is every necessity of going for renewable alternative ...

Country Attractiveness Indices

Since 2003, the Ernst & Young Environmental Finance team has been releasing quarterly data that ranks national renewable energy markets, and their suitability for individual technologies. The Country Attractiveness Indices now track the relative attractiveness of 40 countries' renewable energy markets across a selection of technologies each quarter.Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness IndicesTo find out more about the renewable markets, read the latest Ernst & Young Renewable...

What is energy?

Energy is used to provide electricity to our homes and can be generated from renewable sources (that can be naturally replenished) or non-renewable sources (that are used up and cannot be recreated). Energy generated from renewable sources is less harmful to the environment because it does not use up the Earth’s precious resources, and is often less polluting than non-renewable sources of energy, such as coal. Click on the images below to learn about each renewable energy sour...

Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen is the simplest element. An atom of hydrogen consists of only one proton and one electron. It's also the most plentiful element in the universe. Despite its simplicity and abundance, hydrogen doesn't occur naturally as a gas on the Earth - it's always combined with other elements. Water, for example, is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen (H2O). Hydrogen is also found in many organic compounds, notably the hydrocarbons that make up many of our fuels, such as gasoline,...

Why is renewable energy important?

Renewable energy is important because of the benefits it provides. The key benefits are: Environmental Benefits Renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies. Energy for our children's children's children Renewable energy will not run out. Ever. Other sources of energy are finite and will some day be depleted. Jobs and the Economy Most renewable energy investments are spent on...

Alternative Energy For Kids

Alternative Energy For Kids What is alternative energy, anyway!? And why do we need them and when did alternative energy first appear in our history? We have a vague idea that these types of enhanced natural resources can save our planet, but we also have heard that alternative energy may have some disadvantages that may not be as talked about as they should be. The fact is alternative energy encompasses a myriad of sub-topics that include wind, water, geothermal, nuclear, and more. This very...

Renewable and Non Renewable Energy Sources

Nonrenewable Energy Sources   A nonrenewable energy source is a natural energy source in limited supply. While these energy sources may be plentiful, they cannot be produced at all or as quickly as they are consumed. In addition to these resources being limited, not only the burning but also the extraction of these energy sources has dire consequences to our environment. Petroleum   Petroleum, also known as crude oil, is a naturally occurring toxic combustible...

The Gas Is Greener

IN April, Gov. Jerry Brown made headlines by signing into law an ambitious mandate that requires California to obtain one-third of its electricity from renewable energy sources like sunlight and wind by 2020. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia now have renewable electricity mandates. President Obama and several members of Congress have supported one at the federal level. Polls routinely show strong support among voters for renewable energy projects — as long as they don’t cost...

The Consequences of Global Warming

Global warming poses a potential threat to the future of civilizations across the world. There are numerous consequences of global warming which experts believe are likely to have a significant impact on the earth in years to come. Although there is an on-going debate as to whether or not global warming is caused by man, the consequences explained on this page are likely to apply should the earth continue to warm. These consequences continue to be highlighted by scientists, environmental activists...

Causes Of Global Warming

There are numerous causes of global warming, each of which contributes to the increasing intensity of the effects that climate change has on our planet. If you are looking for information on global warming itself then our what is global warming article may be of use to you. The main cause of global warming is the increase of greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere. This creates what is known as the greenhouse effect which heats the earth by reducing the level of solar rays that are able...

What Is Global Warming

This article aims to answer the question "what is global warming?". Global warming is a global increase in the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere. This warming is a result of excessive greenhouse gases contained within the Earth's atmosphere, possibly as a result of the industrial revolution. As increasing levels of greenhouse gases are contained within the Earth's atmosphere, more heat is trapped as a result of the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a key ingredient of global warming...

Natural & Renewable Energy Sources

Clean Energy Ideas is home to a selection of articles surrounding topics related to how we can use natural energy sources to provide power for our homes and businesses. Throughout our website you'll be able to find information on solar, wind and geothermal energy sources. You'll also be able to find a selection of articles covering topics relating to recycling and global warming/climate change. A more widespread use of natural and renewable energy sources is needed to help take the burden...

10 Reasons Renewable Energy May Beat the Projections

New Hampshire, U.S.A. -- Five percent? That's the EIA's projected global increase in renewable energy generation by the year 2035. You'd think that nearly 30 years of technological, business and environmental inroads would make a bigger dent in the world's future energy mix. Aren’t we supposed to be living the solar dream by then? Won’t we be driving to the beach in algae-powered vehicles? Won’t we all revel in our views of majestic wind turbines? The utopian vision of our energy future may not exist in our lifetimes, but it has to have a better outlook than the one released this week. The short of the report: By 2035, world consumption is going to rise more than 50 percent. (So, yes, that’s five percent...

Energy from biomass

What is biomass? Biomass is material from living things. This could be plant material, animal material or even bacteria. Organic matter can be burned to provide heat, or fermented to produce gas. How is biomass energy collected? Plant material such as wood or hay can be burned to provide heat to raise steam and so generate electricity in a power station. Animal waste (e.g. animal slurry from a farm) can be treated to provide gases that can be burned to generate electricity. Landfill sites emit gases (mainly methane) that can also be used to provide energy. Some plant materials such as sugar cane and maize (sweetcorn) can be fermented...

Hydroelectric energy

What is hydroelectric energy? Flowing rivers have kinetic energy. This energy can be collected and used. Hydroelectric power is generated by the falling of water through a turbine. How is hydroelectric energy collected? If a dam is built across the river, water can be allowed to flow in a controlled way through turbines that generate electricity. ...

Tidal energy

What is tidal energy? Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon, and to a lesser extent the Sun, on the oceans around the world. The difference between high tide and low tide can be many metres, and the energy of the tidal movement can be used to generate electricity. How is tidal energy collected? If, at high tide, water can be trapped behind a barrage and then let out as the tide ebbs, this water can be passed through a turbine that can generate electricity. Where can tidal energy be used? Barrages are built in river estuaries that have large tidal ranges, such as the River Severn in the UK. Advantages The rise ...

Biomass Power

Biomass power is power obtained from the energy in plants and plant-derived materials, such as food crops, grassy and woody plants, residues from agriculture or forestry, and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes. Biomass power provides two valuable services: it is the second most important source of renewable energy in the United States and it is an important part of our waste management ...

Geothermal Power

Geothermal power plant at The Geysers, California.Geothermal power uses the natural sources of heat inside the Earth to produce heat or electricity. Currently, most geothermal power is generated using steam or hot water from underground. Geothermal power generation produces few emissions and the power source is continuously available. There are three geothermal technologies currently in use in the United...

Solar Power

Annual average daily solar radiation per month, using a flat-plate collector facing south at a fixed tilt equal to the latitude of the site. Capturing the maximum amount of solar radiation throughout the year can be achieved using a tilt angle approximately equal to the site's latitude.Solar technologies use the sun's energy to provide heat, light, hot water, electricity, and even cooling, for homes, businesses,...

Renewable Energy Sources in the United States

Hydropower refers to using water to generate electricity. Water is the most common renewable source of energy in the United States today. Many hydroelectric power plants use a dam on a river to store water. Water released from behind the dam flows through a turbine, spinning it, which then turns a generator to produce electricity. Electricity generated this way is known as hydroelectricity, and it accounts for about...