Currently most of the energy that we use in society to meet our needs, whether it is electricity for industry or energy at the domestic level, comes mainly from two sources: on the one hand, fossil fuels and, on the other, energy. nuclear.
The big problem with these energy sources is that, in the case of fossil fuels, they are not renewable and are very polluting environmentally. Thus arises the idea of starting to replace these sources with others that are more renewable. But is it possible to make this transition? That is why at Ecologista Verde we wonder if renewable energies are viable alternatives and what types of these energies can we obtain.
What are the majority energies today
The three most widely used fossil fuels today are coal, oil and natural gas. These energies come from biomass or organic remains of prehistoric plants and animals that were buried in the depths of the Earth millions of years ago and thanks to the high temperatures and pressures they formed the energy reserves, although they differ in their state:
- The natural gas It occurs in a gaseous state.
- The Coal in mineral form.
- The Petroleum like an oily liquid.
Of these three, the most used today is oil, which is used to make fibers, rubber, plastic, soaps or asphalt, although coal is gaining more ground, while natural gas is normally used in gas pipelines. While nuclear energy is that which is produced mainly in the different nuclear reactions between different chemical substances.
What are renewable energies
They are energies that are obtained from renewable sourcesEither because they are inexhaustible, like the sun or water, or because they are generated faster than we can consume it. The reason that renewable energies are currently in a period of growth is that they are already beginning to become truly aware that current energy sources will one day be exhausted, and, therefore, will no longer be viable.
While renewable energies are typically environmentally friendly, it is not a specific requirement. This is its difference with clean energies. To clarify, an example: natural gas is a clean energy, but not renewable.
Types of renewable energies
- Seawater energy: energy that is produced by the movement of the waters such as rises and falls of the tides or waves. It is not a very viable energy due to its high costs and its environmental impact.
- Geothermal energy: energy obtained from the heat of the earth's interior, such as magma or hot springs. They can produce a significant environmental impact if heavy metals or greenhouse gases are entrained, and their extraction is difficult, so they are not very viable as an energy source.
- Hydraulic energy: it is obtained from the kinetic energy of the fall of great masses of water in height, later it is transformed into electrical energy in the power plants. They can have effects on biodiversity, so the best solution is mini-hydro power.
- Solar energy: it is obtained from the energy of electromagnetic radiation that comes from the sun and that can be transformed into electrical energy in photovoltaic panels. It is perhaps one of the most viable, since they generate few environmental impacts, although they take time to pay off.
- Wind power: it is obtained from the kinetic energy of the wind, transforming it into electricity in wind turbines. They generate environmental impacts in the areas where they are placed and are traps for birds.
- Biomass energy: energy obtained from organic compounds through natural processes. It pollutes a lot, due to the emission of CO2.
Renewable energies are viable alternatives
These energies yes they are viable, as usual, but not as a global energy system to replace the current use of hydrocarbons, since some are too intermittent or simply their use or extraction is difficult. Perhaps today, one of the more viable and sustainable alternatives to replace fossil fuels is hydrogen, which can also be extracted from renewable sources.
The hydrogen can be obtained by electrolysis from different renewable sources, being able to be used as fuel cells. Today, there are, for example, several buses that circulate in different Spanish cities, using hydrogen as fuel and generating comfortable transport, without noise and without emitting polluting gases into the atmosphere.
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