Category: Alternative Energy

Energy Security and energy policy are the modern world’s main actual themes. Meantime of developing an economy and industry is increasing consuming energy resources and in future demand on crude oil and natural gas will increase (British Petroleum, 2019). As known natural resources are not in every country and therefore countries in the world are divided as an importer and exporter. That makes uneven and mostly unfear relationship between countries. The Eurasia continent’s European side has a minimal amount of natural resources, contrary to the Asian side has a large amount. (CIA (US), 2019) That makes the European Union (EU) energy dependent on energy imports. Russia as an owner of the largest natural gas reserves in the world, (approx. 837 trillion cubic meters) (Reserves, Resources and Availability of Energy Resources, 2013 p. 23) and is one of the biggest exporters on Euromarkets (British Petroleum, 2019). The European Union is dependent on Russian energy resources, which should not be a problem if Russia acted as a reliable trade partner for Europe.

However, Russia uses its energy wealth as a primary means of political pressure against Western and neighbour states. That creates significant problems for EU’s nations not only in energy security but also regarding foreign policy. There are two options for the EU: first, remain faithful to democratic values, be strict and very demanding on the Russian government’s internal or external political behaviours. Second, is to close its eyes to Russia’s unfair actions in the international community and maintain the status quo in trading with Russia. Definitely, the EU has chosen the first option. Therefore the EU has to make its energy security more resilient, by lessening the import of Russian energy sources and finding alternative supplier countries and supply routes. In Cold War-era eastern European countries were supplied with energy resources by the Soviet Union, after its demolish Russia as a Soviet Union’s successor, became a main supplier for the Central and Eastern European countries. After Germany’s unification and post-communist Central and Eastern European countries joined the EU in the late nineties and early two thousand, therefore the EU automatically became more dependent on Russia’s energy resources.

Furthermore, the Western European countries improved a relationship with Russia and gave it free access to the European energy market, believing its democratic development and becoming a European style democratic country. Because of before 2006, there were just minor interruptions of energy supply from Russia to Europe and therefore Russia was considered as a quite reliable energy source supplier partner country (The European Union: Energy Security and the Periphery, 2002 p. 10). That was economically beneficial for both sides, one decreased energy recourses deficit in the market and another gained profit. The EU and Russia became interdependent each other, that would diminish unfear relations between them. Nevertheless, Russia became not a democratic but autocratic country which is eager to regain the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence. That means to rule not only all post-soviet states but also Central and Eastern European countries (Warsaw Pact).

The Russian government against its neighbour and interested European countries uses multiple tools to reach their imperial goals such as bribery, intimidations, inducements, wiles, and diversity of destabilizing activities. In its sphere of interest, the Kremlin always tries to weaken resistant governments, by obtaining control on main segments of the economy, corrupting key leaders, breaching of governmental security agencies, widely using propaganda via media and social channels (Bugajski, et al., 2016 p. 6). Kremlin tries to increase the dependence of the EU states on Russian energy resources which will give it not only financial benefit but also political power for influencing on economically vulnerable countries’ external and internal policies. In addition, holding pipelines, storage facilities, and refineries by the Russian energy companies, gives Moscow extra lever for pressing on capitals (Bugajski, et al., 2016 pp. 35-36). Some EU countries have already practised hardship of oil supply shutdown by Russia. Because of Riga’s refusal to sell Ventspils Nafta export infrastructure to a Russian company, Moscow stopped pipeline oil delivery to Latvia in winter 2003. In summer 2006 after a Russian energy company could not gain Mazeikikiu Nafta refinery facility in Lithuania, Kremlin used the same technique of influence and shut down oil pipeline (Baran, 2007 p. 133).

To be dependent on Russian energy sources for the EU is not only the economic handicaps but also that harms its foreign policy. It also corrodes Western European support for partner countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which are key countries in energy production or in transit potential. All those countries are under Kremlin threat. Rather than firmly react on these violations, energy dependence on Russia leads European leaders to be softer and careful against Moscow especially before 2014. Moreover because of significant energy reliance on Russia, from the west had the same attitude towards Kremlin even it harassed the EU member states. For example in 2006 when a Lithuanian oil pipeline was closed, except Poland and the Baltic countries very little protested Russian behaviour (Baran, 2007 pp. 133-134). Not like oil, Gas by tankers is hard to transport and more expensive to compare transportation through pipelines.

But if a provider country or company rejects delivery of gas or prise will be irrationally increased, it is not easy for a consumer to find an alternative source in a short time. Nowadays the EU has only one supplier of oil and especially gas via pipelines and that is Russia. If this circumstance does not change the EU will be in danger. In 2006 after Russian – Ukrainian gas dispute and cut-off natural gas to EU member countries, the EU commission started to pay more attention to Energy Security. Even though it was an economical quarrel between those two non-EU member states, it caused gas delivery interruption for several EU countries. This increased consciousness about that Europe becomes geopolitically more vulnerable because of Russia dependency (Baran, 2007 p. 132).

The European Commission realized that ‘Europe has entered into a new energy era’ (European Commission, 2006). In green paper was emphasized on importance of open energy markets based on fair competitiveness among energy companies. Russia’s Aggressive Energy Policy Russian energy companies: In the contemporary environment, Russian strength should be measured not in military power, but in the number of pipeline lengths and volume of oil and gas trade. Kremlin already started annexation of the EU’s energy assets (Baran, 2007 p. 132). For reaching its future goal to increase the EU’s dependence on Russia, Kremlin by its proxy energy companies such as Gazprom, Rosneft, and Transneft, is purchasing shares in the main energy supply companies and energy distribution infrastructure of the European countries (Baran, 2007 p. 134). All of them are worldwide energy companies. Their economical positions are strengthened by the Russia government support, which uses its not only political influence but also military provocations to make them more powerful in energy markets. The companies by themselves are perfect weapons in the Russian government’s hand for playing ‘dirty political games’ in international relations. The Public Joint Stock Company Gazprom is a worldwide energy company. It is mainly concentrated on discovering, manufacture, transfer, retention, supply, and trade of gas and oil.

The company owns the largest natural gas reserves (17 per cent share in global, 72 per cent share in Russia; Natural gas output is 12 per cent in global and 68 per cent in Russia) and the longest gas transmission system in the world (172.1 thousand kilometres). Gazprom’s strategic objective is to become front runner between international energy companies, by differentiating energy markets, ensuring uninterrupted deliveries. It distributes natural gas to more than thirty states excluding former Soviet Union countries. Gazprom is the biggest manufacturer and seller of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Russia and aims to become more competitive in the global LNG market. In Russia, the company also is among the top four oil producers. It holds about 16 per cent of Russia’s power-generating system. Gazprom shareholders are Federal Agency for State Property Management (representative of the Russian Federation) 38.37% Rosneftegaz 10.97% (fully owned by the Russian Government) Rosgazifikatsiya (fully owned by the Russian Government) 0.89% ADR holders 25.20%, Other Legal Entities and individuals 24.57% (Gazprom, 2019). Gazprom owns major shares of energy companies within the most post-Soviet Republics. It is one of the largest stakeholders in the three Baltic countries.

Besides Gazprom amplified its expansion into the internal gas delivery system of western European countries. Its commercial partners are German companies E.ON Ruhrgas and BASF, Eni (Italy), Gaz de France and Gasunie (the Netherlands) (Baran, 2007 p. 133). The Public Joint Stock Company Rosneft is one of the biggest energy company in the world, which is focused on exploration, production, refining and selling of gas, oil and oil products. Its 50.00000001 per cent of shares hold JSC Rosnevtegaz (fully owned by the Russian Government), 19.75 per cent of shares holds BP Russian Investments Limited, 18.93 per cent of shares holds QH Oil Investments LLC, 10.4 per cent of shares holds National Settlement Depository, 0.58 per cent of shares hold Other Legal Entities, less than 0.01 per cent of shares hold Federal Agency for State Property Management (representative of the Russian Federation), 0.34 per cent of shares hold individuals, less than 0.01 per cent of shareholders are unknown. Rosneft operates in the whole territory of Russia and also in foreign twenty-two countries. Its oil production share is about 40 per cent in Russia and 6 per cent in global. Rosneft owns thirteen large and several mini oil refineries in Russia and also has its shares in Germany, Belarus, and India. In Germany it owns from 24 to 54 per cent of shares in three refineries, in Belarus indirectly holds 21 per cent, in India 49 per cent of shares in the second largest refinery.

The company’s share in oil refining in Russia is about 35 per cent. In Russia Rosneft ability in oil-refining is 118.4 million ton per year. Rosneft’s export goes through Transneft’s pipelines and ports (Rosneft, 2019). The Public Joint Stock Company Transneft is the largest oil pipeline company in the world. Which is mainly concentrated on the transportation of oil and oil products through a pipeline system inside Russia and abroad. The company owns more than 68.000 km trunk pipelines, more than 500 pumping stations, more than 24 M cubic meters of storage tanks. Its share of transportation oil extracted in Russia is 84%. JSC Transneft’s 100% shares hold Federal Agency for State Property Management (representative of the Russian Federation) (Transneft, 2019). Russian Energy Supply Projects: Druzhba is one of the largest oil pipeline system in the world. Building the pipeline was decided in 1958 to supply the USSR’s ally socialist states with crude oil from the Soviet Union. The construction started in 1960 and in 1964 the pipeline became fully operational.

The pipeline network’s total lengths are approximately 5500 km. Its capacity is 1.2 to 1.4 million barrels per day and has the potential to increase up to 2 million barrels a day. It lays from Almetyevsk which is interconnector of Ural, (Russian Federation) to Mozyr (Belarus), where it is split into northern (through Belarus and Poland goes to Germany) and southern (via Ukraine split into two branches in Uzhgorod goes to Hungary and Slovakia, where it is split again and one branch goes to the Czech Republic, another branch goes to Hungary) directions (International Association of Oil Transporters). In Unechna (Russian Federation) on the main pipeline also is connected to another branch which goes to through Belarus to Lithuania and Latvia. But as mentioned above the branch is not operational since 2006. Operating Druzhba pipeline decreased the price of oil transportation approximately 20 – 25 per cent (Pipelines International, 2009). In January 2018 according to Reuters Rosneft is interested in constructing a new pipeline branch connected to the Druzhba in Germany, which would supply more oil refineries there.

The company also declared that had planned to invest about 600 million Euros in Germany within the next five years (Reuters, 2018). Via Ukraine Russian gas export conducts through pipeline systems: Brotherhood (Bratstvo) and Union (Soyuz). 4.451 km length pipeline Brotherhood is the largest gas transport system that goes from Russia via Ukraine to Slovakia where it is divided into two branches: one goes to the Czech Republic, another to Austria (From Austria Russian gas is delivered to Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia) (Gazprom, 2019). That is operational since 1967. After the collapse of the Soviet Union owners of the pipelines became in Russia ‘Gazprom’, in Ukraine UkrGazProm. Union (Soyuz) pipeline is linked to Russian internal and Central Asian gas pipeline networks.

That gives more volume of natural gas. On Union (Soyuz) pipeline in 1986 was added another branch Trans Balkan that goes via Moldova to Balkan countries and Turkey. By those pipelines, 80% of Russian gas was exported to Europe, but after constructing North Stream pipeline, this amount decreased to 60% (Vermaat, 2015 p. 57). For exporting Russian gas to Europe is used also gas pipeline Yamal-Europe, which is about 2000 km length and goes through four countries: Russia, Belarus, Poland, and Germany. 402 km is the Russian section’s length and owned by Gazprom. Belarus part of the pipeline is 575 km, which also fully owned by Gazprom. In Poland, the pipeline’s length is 683 km and owned by Polish company EuRoPol GAZ s. a., of which 48% shares hold Gazprom (EuRoPol GAZ s. a., 2019). In Germany, the pipeline ends near Frankfurt an der Oder (near Germany-Poland border), where it is connected to YAGAL-Nord gas transmission system. German segment of the pipeline is owned by WINGAS which shareholder is Gazprom (WINGAS, 2019). Gas pipeline Yamal-Europe was constructed in 1994-2006 years and its capacity is 32.9 bcm per year (Gazprom, 2019).

One of the newest offshore Russia gas exporter pipelines is 1224 km length Nord Stream. The pipeline goes from Russia directly to Germany through the Baltic Sea. That avoids not only extra transit fees but also any possible political tensions by transit countries. On Russia side, the offshore pipeline is linked by 917km length onshore pipeline (constructed by Gazprom) to Russia’s internal gas transmission system. On the German side from Greifswald the pipeline is connected by approximately 900 km length onshore pipeline (constructed by W&G and E.ON SE) to the European gas transmission system. Nord Stream was constructed by consortium Nord Stream AG in 2010 – 2012 years and its capacity is 55 bcm per year. Shareholders of the consortium are Russian Gazprom – 51%, German companies: Wintershall Holding GmbH – 15.5%, PEGI/E.ON-15.5, Dutch company N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie – 9% and French company ENGIE – 9% (Nord Stream AG, 2019). Another offshore gas pipeline project is Nord Stream-2 that construction is ongoing and is planned to be finished in late 2019. The pipeline’s route is the same as Nord Stream-1. It will connect through the Baltic Sea Russia to Germany, laid parallel to the existing pipelines. Nord Stream-2’s capacity is 55 bcm annually. This gives Russia the capability to export 110 bcm natural gas per year to Germany via one route that bypasses all transit countries. That amount is about 70% of Russian total gas export.

The project partners are Gazprom, Royal Dutch Shell, French Engie, Austrian OMV, German Wintershall and Uniper (Assenova, 2018). Another important project for Russian gas export to Europe was building gas pipeline ‘South Stream’, which aimed to transport natural gas into the Southern and Central European countries. The pipeline’s planned route was from Russia to Bulgaria offshore (Anapa – Varna section under the Black Sea) 900 km length pipeline. 1455 km. length onshore North-West section would go from Bulgaria via Serbia, Hungary, and Slovenia to Northern Italy, and by its extension to Austria. Also was planned to construct from Serbia two additional branches that would provide natural gas to Croatia and Republic Srpska. (Gazprom) Another South-West route would go from Bulgaria through Greece to Southern Italy. In every section of the pipeline, ‘Gazprom’ had at least a 50% share. ‘South Stream’ capacity would be 63 bcm per year.

The pipeline’s cost was approximately 15.5 bn Euros. This project was the main competitor to another alternative energy supply project for Europe – ‘Nabucco’ and finally caused its termination. In 2015 the pipeline was supposed to be fully operational, but because of the European Union’s objections, in 2014 the project was cancelled. After termination of the ‘South Stream’ project, Russia switched its attention to ‘Turkstream’ pipeline project, which sea route remained mostly in the same corridor as was planned for the ‘South Stream’.

Only a small part changed route towards Turkey (Hydrocarbons-Technology). The ‘Turkstream’ is a 930 km length offshore two parallel gas pipelines, which goes from Anapa (Russia) to Kiyikoy (Turkey) and by onshore pipelines will be connected to Turkish gas network at Luleburgaz. The capacity of both pipelines is 31.5 bcm per year. The aim of this project is to provide with natural gas Turkey and Southern European countries. For the construction of offshore part of the pipelines was responsible ‘Gazprom’ owned company ‘South Stream Transport B.V.’ (South Stream Transport B.V.) The building of offshore pipelines started in May 2017 and finished in November 2018. It is planned that in late 2019 year all work will be done (Gazprom, 2019). Russian energy companies because of handy connection with government follow tactics that make a small economic profit but assist Russian strategic goal.

For example, Nord Stream project costs approximately three times more than the land pipeline route via Lithuania and Poland. Rather than investing in developing its domestic oil and gas infrastructure and explore new energy fields, Moscow follows the violent policy for further enlargement and procurement in regional and global energy markets (Baran, 2007 p. 135). Russia’s internal energy market is not stable and nor transparent for foreign energy companies, even they invest billions of US dollars. For example, energy companies Shell and BP were forced to give up their controlling shares in Sakhalin-2 (Shell) and Kovykta (BP) projects to Gazprom for a considerably low price than its real cost. Even though those companies easily discussed with the Russian government agreed to certain positions and invested a significant amount of money into those projects, Moscow later discarded these contracts (Baran, 2007 p. 142). The EU’s Energy Security Strategy As it showed above from the economic view Russian Energy Projects towards Europe are quite attractive and mutually beneficial.

Even though after the Kremlin started using those projects as the main tool for political influence on the neighbour and the EU member states, it became very essential to find alternative energy supply sources, with different routes that avoid Russia. To do this there are two interconnected issues to be solved: one find countries (regions) with enough volume of energy sources and second find secure routes for transportation energy sources from those countries (regions) to Europe that excludes territories of Russia and its satellite states. The potential countries which have the ability to relatively substitute Russian energy sources for Europe are Algeria and the Caspian Sea Region countries (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan). Algeria is the third largest gas supplier country for Europe (after Russia and Norway). It has 4.3 tcm proved gas reserve (British Petrolium, 2018). According to Algerian energy ministry, this decade the natural gas production will be doubled, because of thirty-two new gas fields with approximately 550 million tons oil equivalent gas reserves (Ministry of Energy of Georgia, 2014).

Iran is the second country in the world by its 33.2 tcm proved gas reserve that is 17.2% world share. (British Petrolium, 2018) By importing Iranian gas, the EU could be fully independent of Russian gas demand. Although because of nowadays the EU – Iran significant tensions in political affairs, deepening economic relations is a far future matter. Other good alternative suppliers could be the Caspian Sea Region’s post-soviet countries (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan). There is an adequate amount of gas for European countries. Kazakhstan owns 1.1 tcm proved gas reserve that is 0.6% world share. Turkmenistan is the fourth country in the world by its 19.5 tcm proved gas reserve that is 10.1% world share. Russia till 2009 was re-exporting the Central Asian natural gas to Europe for the price about 230 USD per thousand cubic meters (tcm), named it as a Russian gas. That gas was bought in the Asian states for the price of about 45 – 65 USD per tcm. Its monopoly in the European energy market, allows Moscow to manipulate with gas prices that gives it enormous revenue (Baran, 2007 p. 137). Azerbaijan owns 1.3 tcm proved gas reserve that is 0.7% world share (British Petrolium, 2018). Only the Azerbaijani gas volume is not sufficient for Europe, but it has a significant geographical location in the Caspian Sea Region.

For transporting natural gas from the Caspian Sea Region to Europe, has been discussed several projects. The most significant from them was American-European joint ‘Nabucco’ project, which planning started in 2002. Purpose of the project was to build 3900 km length gas pipeline from the Middle East and the Caspian Sea Region to Europe that route avoided Russia’s territory and would provide the European countries up to 31 bcm natural gas per year (Tanrikulu, 2018 pp. 161-162). This project would decrease by approximately 20% dependence on Russian gas import, considering Russia is exporting to Europe about 150 bcm natural gas per year (Nabucco Pipeline Suffers Setback As Rival Expected To Get Azeri Gas, 2013). In ‘Nabucco’ project that was subsidized by the EU, in summer 2012 the eastern (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey) part was excluded from the project. In the project was remained only western (Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Austria) part and was named ‘Nabucco West’. Therefore pipeline’s length lessened to 1300 km rather than planned 3900 km. Instead of rejecting the Nabucco’s eastern section, Azerbaijan and Turkey financed the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) project. 1900 km length TANAP was constructed by partner companies: SOCAR – 80%, BOTAS – 10%, TPAO – 10%. TANAP construction finished in 2018. In 2013 ‘Nabucco West’ was finally rejected by Azerbaijan in favour Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, which route is from Turkey via Greece, Albania through the Adriatic Sea to Southern Italy. This route is 400 km shorter than the Nabucco West’s one. (Nabucco Pipeline Suffers Setback As Rival Expected To Get Azeri Gas, 2013) In TAP consortium company’s shares are: Statoil – 42.5%, EGL – 42.5%, E.ON – 15% (Tanrikulu, 2018 p. 164). Despite the US’s and the EU’s significant support to the Nabucco project, it could not succeded, because of no ability to join into the project main supplier countries such as Turkmenistan, Iran, Iraq, Egypt. That finally undermined the project (European Union’s Nabucco pipeline project aborted, 2013).

Even though Nabucco project was terminated, an enlargement of the South Caucasus Gas pipeline system, constructing TANAP and TAP creates the Southern Gas Corridor for the EU. One of the most important segments of the Southern Gas Corridor is the Trans Caspian Pipeline project which would connect Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan (Turkmenbash – Baku). The project would enable transporting the Central Asian gas through the Caucasus Region (Azerbaijan, Georgia), to Turkey and Europe. There are two ways to transfer the Asian gas to Europe: one via Turkey (TANAP), second through the Black Sea from Georgia. According to Vladimir Socor Turkey undermined the Trans Caspian Pipeline project in 2002 by its decision to import Russian gas rather than Turkmen gas. At that time was planned to import 16 bcm per year from Turkmenistan that would be transferred through the Trans Caspian Pipeline, Azerbaijan and Georgia to Turkey. Even the Trans Caspian Pipeline project was supported by the US, Turkish influential authorities supported Gazprom’s Blue Stream project. Therefore was built an offshore Gas pipeline in the Black Sea with a capacity of the same amount of gas. That was not a wise decision from the Turkish government because they have to buy more expensive Russian gas rather it was proposed from Turkmenistan.

The situation changed in 2012, Turkey with cooperation Azerbaijan declared about their intent to import some amount of gas for their own demand and rest amount transfer to Europe. That gas would flow via projected Trans Caspian and TANAP gas transport systems. Turkmenistan itself proposed willingness exporting to the EU 40 bcm per year. Therefore Ankara planned to increase TANAP capacity from 30 bcm up to 60 bcm per year (Turkey Sees Opportunity in Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline Project, 2012). Nevertheless, mentioned above one of the main obstacles for accomplishment the Trans Caspian Pipeline project was more than twenty yearlong demarcation dispute on the Caspian Sea between the five coastal countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan). In summer 2018 those countries made the deal that seized dispute, but to completely solve the problem must be done a lot of work to clarify sea borders (Caspian Sea: Five countries sign deal to end the dispute, 2018). Another segment of the Southern Gas Corridor is 691 km length South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), which lays from Baku (Azerbaijan) via Georgia to Turkey.

The pipeline connects Sangachal terminal (Baku) with the Turkish gas distribution system. Its capacity is 20 bcm per year (British Petroleum, 2019). Another alternative gas supply project for the EU is Azerbaijan – Georgia – Romania – Hungary – Interconnector (AGRI). The project designed for transportation of natural gas from the Caspian gas fields through the pipeline to the Georgian seacoast, where it will be liquefied and be taken by LNG tankers (2 tankers each 140 000 cm capacity) to Konstanca (Romania). After de liquefying the gas, it would be transported to Hungary by pipeline system (Romania 810 km, Hungary 110 km). Maximum capacity will be 8 bcm per year. In the project are involved Azerbaijani SOCAR, Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation, Romanian SNGN ROMGAZ S.A. and Hungarian MVM. Each has a 25% share. The projects accomplishment is planned in 2024. (AGRI, 2019) AGRI is the first project that includes LNG transportation on the Black Sea. Furthermore, it has a unique route that bypasses not only Russia but also Turkey that will make the EU’s resilience better. In addition, mentioned above alternative energy suppliers and routes, another option for energy sources also is shale gas. After development technology, it is now possible to produce gas at an affordable price.

For example in the US increased internal shale gas production overflowed the domestic energy market and caused decrease gas prices. The prices on gas lowered so much in that period of time that in its domestic market Russian subsidized gas prices was bigger than the US prices (MITROVA, et al., 2018 p. 15). Even though this idea is not supported in the EU yet. Some of the member states banned shale gas production, in some countries was not founded enough amount of reserves and some countries are waiting for more researches on environmental issues (Boersma, 2015 p. 109).

The cost of producing and distributing electricity from depletable energy resources continues to grow more and more expensive over the years. In connection to this, the use of renewable energy can greatly contribute to a cleaner environment and a good alternative source of electricity. Collecting energy from vibration or pressure is possible because of the element called piezoelectric. Piezoelectricity is the electric charge that accumulated on the bending of transducers in response to applied mechanical stress. This study aims to utilize the piezoelectric generator to gather and store energy by applying it on the roads and sidewalks. The researchers decided to conduct a true experimental study to evaluate how piezoelectric technology affects energy conservation and consumption in sustainable road engineering. The piezoelectric unit is mainly composed of piezoelectric transducer and rectifier diodes integrated into a circuit that enables the transformation of AC voltage into DC voltage which produces a higher output voltage. Testing will be conducted at the FEU Institute of Technology Physics Laboratory where the piezoelectric equipment will be observed for gathering and recording of data.

The total primary energy consumption of the Philippines mostly comes from fossil fuels which are non-renewable sources of energy or simply, resources that cannot be replenished. Although the country has large reserves of natural resources including oil, natural gas, and coal, extracting fossil fuels from our lands can cause numerous environmental problems. In addition to this, coal prices have doubled and will more likely continue to soar, making the cost of producing and distributing electricity from depletable energy sources all the more expensive.

In an account of this case, the “Renewable Energy Act of 2008” has been established to develop and apply the different renewable energy sources accessible in the Philippines. This includes the exploration of sources such as, but not limited to, biomass, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and ocean energy sources. The use of renewable energy can greatly contribute to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable energy requirement. It can also help the country to meet the inflating power system demands and even stabilize the rising power rates.

Concerning this matter, the Philippines is capable of utilizing other renewable sources not to mention that the country has one of the biggest producers of geothermal energy and also the first in Southeast Asia to develop wide-scale wind and solar technologies. Besides this, there are also other ways to acquire green energy.

Piezoelectricity is known as the “Piezoelectric Effect” is an ability that generates an alternating current voltage when subjected to mechanical stress or vibration when it is subjected to the alternating voltage. The common material for piezoelectric is quartz. Piezoelectric enables the electricity to flow through the quartz or squeeze certain crystals. It would also reverse if you pass electricity through the same crystals, it would squeeze themselves by vibrating back and forth. The crystal becomes a tiny battery with a positive charge on one face and a negative charge on the opposite face if people connected the two faces to make a circuit.

The piezoelectric effect was discovered in 1880 by two French Physicist brothers Pierre and Paul-Jacques Curie. They took the Greek word “work piezein” which means “to press”.

Throughout the past, several applications concerning piezoelectricity were made and advancements are still ongoing up to this day. The said subject has been used in different industries like automotive, computer, consumer, medical, and military. Researchers today still engage in the pursuit of improving technologies to maximize the use of piezoelectricity in everyday life.

Different parts of the Philippines have been experiencing numerous power crisis due to insufficient power supply and poor power transmission. Also, most Filipinos are complaining of high-power rates these days. It is because most of the fuel used for power generation is imported and is coming from depleting resources.

In connection to this, the current generation has been heavily dependent on electricity making it to the cut of the major needs of the community. Electricity is used everywhere, from residential places to large scale commercial buildings.

Because of the great demand for electricity, the researchers made various studies on sources and technology that may be used as an alternative rootage for it. At this point, any alternative regardless of how much electricity it can produce can be a big help not only to the problem of shortage but also in the contribution of fundamental knowledge in this area.

After several days of brainstorming, the researchers thought of the idea of applying the mechanism of piezoelectricity and its integration to everyday objects or places. Piezoelectricity is the electric charge accumulated on the bending of transducer in response to applied mechanical stress.

Collecting energy from vibration or pressure is possible because of the element called piezoelectric. The Piezoelectric element was discovered by Pierre and Paul Jacques Curie in 1888. They discover it from a crystal of quartz, tourmaline, Rochelle salt. The name “piezo” is derived from the Greek word that means pressure. It commonly uses in butane lighters, gas grills, gas stove, and electricity generator and the piezoelectric effect is mostly used to gather energy for batteries or any technology that need to charge by electricity.

The invention relates to generators for portable devices, and more particularly to piezoelectric generators. Transducers such as piezoelectric, electrostrictions, and magnetostrictions, can be used to convert one form of energy into another. Energy from a mechanic input, for example, a periodic force applied to a device containing a piezoelectric or electrostrictive material, can be converted to electric energy. Therefore, such materials provide a means for harvesting electric power from a mechanical input.

A generator employs piezoelectric elements to convert mechanical power to electrical power. The generator includes one or more piezoelectric transducers that are actuated by a mechanical input. The resulting electrical power is stored or used to run an electronic device. The generator is hand or foot operated. According to one aspect of the invention, a method of extracting electrical energy from mechanical motion includes reusing an elastic portion of energy in a transducer by transferring the elastic portion of energy to another transducer.

Piezoelectric generators (materials) are used as a mechanism that converts the motion, usually vibration, into a new energy that we call electricity that can be stored or directly used for devices such as mobile phones and portable electronics. The piezoelectric generator is an alternative source of energy that has the potential to provide energy autonomy to wireless sensor devices. However, the piezoelectric generators can only produce small amounts of energy and have the possibility to not directly power the electrical devices.

According to Novella (2016), the piezoelectric effect is a property of crystals in which the mechanical strains will generate an electric current. Pressing or deforming the piezoelectric crystals (such as quarts) can create a voltage across its two sides. The piezoelectric effect can also be reversed, and it will make the crystal deformed in shape or mechanically stressed. It shows how piezoelectricity is great in acquiring a useful energy source that is only from vibrations or movements. The piezoelectric effect can be a new harvesting method of energy to overcome the lack of power supply or the power demand.

The piezoelectric road is a new energy harvesting method evolution that will produce a sustainable solution to the environment, economy, and social needs. According to Kour and Charif (2016), redirecting routes to merge the principle ideas of piezoelectric materials to urban roads is important. This new renewable energy harvesting method may lead to a new successful alternative source of power or energy that can be used to power up electrical and wireless sensor devices.

The paradigm shows how the study will be conducted. The researchers are going to conduct various stages to come up with a result. The piezoelectric transducers and rectifier diodes will be connected using connecting wires forming a circuit. This circuit will be integrated into piezoelectric equipment. Afterward, piezoelectric equipment will be tested in different ways. The gathered data will be analyzed critically to come up with a conclusion

This study aims to utilize the piezoelectric generator to gather and store energy by applying it on the roads and sidewalks. The result of this research will determine the effectiveness of a piezoelectric generator to produce energy that is sufficient for using it on everyday use and to power up other devices. This research has been made for the field of building design and estimates in which it is lined with Electrical and Civil Engineering. The researchers would like to make use of a piezoelectric generator as an alternative for producing energy to supply other devices and machines that is beneficial to humans. This could also be a help for the human who is in low income or cannot manage to pay their electricity bill. The researchers would like to apply the piezoelectric generator on roads and sidewalks to areas where there are a lot of people that walk and a lot of automobiles that pass without traffic. This could be a big solution for the problem of a lack of energy supply and power shortage. Electricity is very important for everyday use and to power up commercial buildings, traffic lights, hotels, and households. Without electricity, we cannot use the modern technology we have today. By the use of a piezoelectric generator, it can convert, collect, and store mechanical energy to produce electrical energy that is necessary for humans to operate technology and devices to make lives easier. The result of the study will be of great benefit to the following:

ENGINEERS. They can continue this study for improvement and apply this in their work. This will serve as a pattern or reference for their project which may benefit the community and environment. They might discover a new development for harvesting energy from piezoelectric materials. If they will be successful in using this research, they will be known for creating this solution to the power shortage.

ELECTRICIANS. They can use this study as their reference material if they will apply piezoelectric materials in households. It could be a great help to lessen the expenses including the electricity bill. Electricians might as well apply this in their homes and discover a new development that can greatly benefit the community and environment. They might discover a new safe electrical wiring involving the utilization of the piezoelectric generator.

FUTURE RESEARCHERS. To the aspiring future developers of this research, they can use this as their reference or pattern for their study. This research will give them an overview of the application of piezoelectric generators on roads and sidewalks for energy-efficient road engineering to help them understand what it is all about and to continue and improve the research that will benefit the community and environment.

CONSUMERS. They can use this research to plan their future homes. They can use this to apply on the floor of the house and make it an alternative source of electrical energy when it is stored in a capacitor. The stored energy can be used if there is an intentional or unintentional blackout that can be caused by typhoons and other natural disasters. If they want to be thrifty, they can use the stored energy to lessen their electrical consumption.

This study focuses on the properties of electricity that a piezoelectric powered sidewalk can produce. Data collection involves applying a designed weight of 40kg, 50kg, and 70kg to the piezoelectric equipment to determine the energy difference base on the force applied by a weight. The study will also cover the rate of electricity that can be conserved using piezoelectric and the benefits of it to the community and the environment.

In this study, the researchers will apply the piezoelectric effect, the ability of piezoelectric transducers to produce electricity under mechanical stress or pressure. The piezoelectric transducers will be designed into a circuit where the mechanical load will be converted into voltage. The piezoelectric equipment will be placed on sidewalks where it functions as an alternative source of electricity through movement. This enables to gather more energy from the motion of people, given that every individual has different weights giving a variance on load conversion per individual.

This study aims to consider a piezoelectric generator as an alternative source of electricity positioned in crowded places of Metro Manila, mainly on sidewalks of University Belt where large numbers of students and employees pass through.

The instruments that will be used in data collection is composed of the testing of the piezoelectric equipment that is made up of piezoelectric transducers, rectifier diodes, and connecting wires connected into a single circuit for maximum and minimum voltage production and inductance. Inside the circuit, the piezoelectric transducer will generate an AC voltage out of the pressure applied to it. Using rectifier diodes, the AC voltage will be converted into DC voltage which yields a higher average output. A multimeter will be used to read the voltage output and the capacitance (charge per voltage) of the piezoelectric equipment. Furthermore, the piezoelectric unit will be observed for varying changes.

Each of the piezoelectric transducers, rectifier diodes, and connecting wires will be verified for workable performance. Then, all the components will be assembled into a single circuit attached to a spring in-between two solid metal plates. The product which is the piezoelectric equipment will undergo test and experimentation which includes load detection, voltage conversion, and inductance at a force of 400N, 500N, and 700N. The test will be held at FEU Institute of Technology Physics Laboratory where the piezoelectric equipment will be observed for gathering and recording of data.

In this research, the piezoelectric equipment will be tested on different loads applied by individual movement. Each step will be analyzed for voltage and current emittance. The researchers will use tables to present the data gathered on each test of a load. Furthermore, the data will be evaluated to answer the research’s purpose.

In this study, the researchers will acquire a unit of piezoelectric transducers and rectifier diodes that will be connected into a circuit that requires the participation of experts for reliable performance and will be installed beneath the sidewalks.

In this study, there will be only a limited force that the piezoelectric can withstand and exceeding it will break the piezoelectric sensor on the piezoelectric transducer.

The research aims to utilize the vibrations found as a person step or exert force to produce a renewable type of energy. It also aims to lessen electric consumption by using piezoelectricity as an alternative source of electricity.

The piezoelectric powered sidewalk will help generate clean energy. The energy produced varies from the weight that will be applied. The greater the weight that will be applied, the greater the energy it can produce. Energy will be dependent on the number of participants, the larger the number of participants, the greater the energy it can harvest. The higher the bending force of the piezoelectric transducer due to the force applied, the higher the voltage it can produce. The energy produce will lessen electric consumption.

Electricity is one of the most efficient forms of energy that has powered human societies. An increasing percentage of global energy production is being converted to electrical energy for consumption over the last century. From 2% of fossil fuel energy being converted to electrical energy in 1900 to 10% by 1945, the 2000s saw as much as 25% of fuel energy being converted (Smil, 2017). The 21st century also marked an increased awareness and concern over environmental degradation resulting from coal and oil fired power plants, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change. Another issue is the non renewability of these resources. Oil and coal is estimated to run out before 2100 and 2300 respectively (Fisher, 2018). Transition into cleaner and more renewable sources of energy, such as wind, and solar are thus an increasing concern if humanity wishes to be sustainable. However, in the author’s opinion, one issue that has been inadequately addressed is the aging electrical grid system, distributing power from energy sources to energy consumers. This critical component of electrification is in need of upgrade to the “smart electrical grid” to address the changing needs for the future of electricity.

Electrification is one of the defining aspects of modern human society which only started with the invention of the electric light bulb during the late 19th century. The installation of the first electrical generating plant at Holborn Viaduct, London, in 1882 by Thomas Edison’s companies marked the advent of widespread centralized electrical generation (Smil, 2017). Up until the 1930s, the main source of electrical power has come from hydroelectricity, but technological advances have made fossil-fuel generation much cheaper and more efficient. (Britannica, 2015). Regardless of the source of electricity used, whether it is large hydroelectric, coal, natural gas, or nuclear, which accounted for up to 90% of global electrical production in 2012 (World Resources Institute, 2016), the method of distribution has remained similar. Figure 1.0 depicts the electricity flow in Hong Kong, China, an example of the conventional model for an electrical grid.

The smart electrical grid is an upgrade of the conventional electrical grid, as described, to be more efficient, reli200able, and flexible (Amin, 2016). A more efficient grid minimizes losses over transmission of electrical power, thus decreasing the amount of fossil fuels (if used) combusted per unit kilowatt of electricity consumed. A more reliable grid means that the grid provides optimum functioning in the case of partial grid failure (caused by an earthquake, for example), thus decreasing the impact to both important facilities, such as hospitals, as well as losses to the economy. A more flexible grid could not only adjust to the dynamic demands of electricity especially during peak hours consumption, but also by successfully integrating alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar that would have higher variation in electrical output. These aspects combined makes this an important tool to aid humanity to bridge to transition from fossil-fuel based to a clean-energy based society, while providing a host of side benefits.

Improving efficiency in power distribution lowers the demand for fossil fuels and electricity from other sources, which aid the development and installation of alternative energy sources. According to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an updated, modern grid has the potential to reduce GHG emissions up to 58% in the year 2030 compared to 2005 (Kanellos, 2011), aiding in the crucial issue of mitigating climate change This is accomplished by reducing the electricity consumption during “peak periods” of consumption, which take a large amount of extra resources of generation and distribution, unused during “off periods,” to meet that extra demand (Amin, 2016). Monitoring systems and smart homes, which adjust power generation and appliance use respectively, as shown in Fig. 2.0, is one method for achieving this goal. The result would not only be useful for the present and near future, where centralized power systems are and would be still used, but also when human society has transitioned to a more decentralized electrical system. There would always be times of the day where electrical use is especially higher than others, such as during afternoons (12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.), compared to midnight and early morning (12:00 a.m.), as depicted in Fig. 3.0. Even with a more complex range of electrical source options, the basic principle of “flattening the load” of the smart electrical grid (Amin, 2016) still applies, especially with an ever increasing electrical demand. Instead of spending costly amounts of money and resources, such as copper, steel, and aluminum, on building backup facilities and extra power lines, they could instead go to alternative electricity research and installation, or other beneficial economic and industrial uses.

Improving grid reliability carries with it many indirect benefits along with the more obvious desire to decrease the frequency of blackouts, an inconvenience to households. Power outages, whether caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes damaging a component of the grid, as well as the rarer overload of the grid’s capacity by excess demand, have significant economic tolls. The reliability of an electric grid is measured by the indicator “% reliability,” which takes the average total amount of time in a single year where there is electricity divided by the total amount of time in an year, multiplied by a hundred %. (Smil, 2017). The current industry target is 99.9999%, while the U.S. only has a reliability of 99.98%, costing the economy between an estimated 18 to 75 billion USD between 2003 and 2011 (Smil, 2017). The reason for such a costly toll is because of the dependence of many sensitive industries on a constant source of electrical energy. Financial markets and telecommunications stop without electricity. Electronics and heavy industries which are intensive consumers of power would need costly auxiliary generators, and when those run out, could stop production. Even worse, hospitals, police, and fire stations as well as basic facilities such as water and gas also require electricity to function, necessary for a country to function. While one may argue that equipping the U.S. electrical grid with smart functions is an even costlier prospect, costing between 338 to 476 billion USD, according to the EPRI, it has the potential of generating 1.3 to 2 trillion USD in benefits between 2010 and 2030 (Kanellos, 2011). This may come in the form of the more obvious savings to industry and finance that depend on a reliable source of electricity, but also to job prospects and alternative energy investment.

The importance of grid reliability is also highlighted in a widespread blackout in the northeastern United States and parts of Canada in 2003. Caused by the failure of a few HV-power lines that triggered a cascading event, costing the economies as much as 6 billion USD, the failure lasted for 2 days (Minkel, 2008). Grid systems in one localized area could overload neighboring lines, and without immediate response, could cause those lines to also fail. Other blackout events, such as those caused by natural disasters, also are a potential source of cost to the electrical grid system, a problem that would only increase as climate change worsens. As depicted Fig. 4.0, the occurrence of major power outages in relation to more extreme and frequent weather events had increased in the United States from 1984 to 2012, a problem that is occurring all over the world. Cyberattacks are another overlooked threat to grid security. One such example affected about 90 million people in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Paraguay in 2009 (Bosselman, 2011). As information technology improves, aiding hackers and cyber attackers, the possibility for a concerted attack in an attempt to disrupt the electrical grid is even more dangerous to national and international safety. Clearly, adopting a safe grid with capabilities of constant monitoring and automatic adjusting would be not only of convenience, but of paramount importance.

Figure 4.0. United States Power outage yearly frequency caused by natural disasters over 28 years, from 1984 to 2012. Adapted from Climate Central, April 10th, 2014. Retrieved April 14th, 2018 from http://www.climatecentral.org/news/weather-related-blackouts-doubled-since-2003-report-17281

Improving grid flexibility is possibly the most direct advantage of adopting the mart electrical grid. Increasing efficiency and reliability as discussed previously are an indirect consequence of having a grid that could dynamically adjust to production and demand of electricity. As new technologies relating to electrical storage and alternative electrical production are developed, improved, and implemented, the complexity of the electrical system would increase. Electrical production from renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and tidal have large variations in their capacity, location, and power fluctuation. The German-based Siemens AG states for European countries:

“ … estimates that optimization of wind and solar plant locations could result in as much as €45 billion in cost savings by 2030 … result in electricity being produced far away from the centers of demand … expansion of transmission networks would be absolutely essential… have the positive side effect of reducing the need for cost-intensive storage capacities” (Kreutzer, 2014).

Decentralization and personalization of the power grid is likely to come as cleaner sources of energy are adopted, which could not be tackled effectively by the current electrical grids. As sources of power move away from cities and into areas such as in deserts and plains for solar and coasts for hydroelectric, effective management of this power supply could only be optimally accomplished by means of the smart electric grid. New tools like the smart meter, which could more accurately monitor electrical flow from a source or consumer and “communicate” with the electricity provider. In the case of household use, they report a more accurate and lower charge for electricity (Amin, 2016). Solar panels owned by households not only reduces power consumption, but also lowers electrical spending when excess power flows via the “net metering system” into the electrical grid (Bosselman, 2011). This not only lowers the need for the combustion of fossil fuels, but also enhances diversification of electricity sources, providing increased reliability.

The global issue of transitioning into a less fossil-fuel intensive society while maintaining global security and economic growth is a difficult issue to tackle, particularly so because is requires the collective cooperation of all nations. As such, the smart electrical grid plays a crucial role in this change by easing this progression. The increased efficiency reduces the need for fossil fuels; the increased reliability decreases the chance of costly grid failure; and the increased flexibility allows for the integration of sustainable sources of energy. These 3 aspects combined make the smart electrical grid an important component for any nation. In the author’s opinion, distribution, a traditionally overlooked portion of the electrical system, must be modernized to effectuate the full potential of clean electricity provision.

In the U.S., fossil fuels produce up to 80% of all energy that we consume. Our current level of dependence on fossil fuels puts us on track for a rapid depletion of these finite materials. Meaning, if we’re not careful, we will run out of our precious, non-renewable resources. That means no more oil, natural gas, and even coal.

Burning fossil fuels in power plants is hard also on the environment. We’re talking about everything from ocean and air pollution to the destruction of entire ecosystems.

The good news is, we’re now able to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas, thanks to the growth of alternative energy sources. This article will discuss what alternative energy is and why it’s so important that we transition from our dependence on fossil fuels to alternative energy sources. We’ll also take a look at the difference between alternative and renewable energy sources, along with what sources of energy we’re using today to meet our energy needs.

Fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) are our most traditional source for power generation. Therefore, the energy that’s produced from any source other than fossil fuels is alternative energy. In other words, alternative energy is any amount of energy derived from non-fossil fuel sources. Generally speaking, using alternative energy has a low environmental impact.

We now know that alternative energy sources are any source we use to supplement or even replace traditional energy sources used for power generation. You could almost say the same thing about renewable energy sources. But there is one subtle difference between the two. All renewable energy sources fall under the category of alternative energy sources, but it doesn’t work the other way around.

That’s because renewable energy sources are derived from naturally replenished sources or processes of Earth, such as the sun, wind, and water. We refer to these resources as renewable or sustainable (as in sustainable energy) since, unlike fossil fuels, this naturally occurring continual renewal makes them inexhaustible. However, it’s possible for there to be alternative energy sources that are exhaustible, and therefore not renewable. That’s the difference. So what alternative energy source is exhaustible? You’ll have to continue reading to find out.

The equipment necessary to harness energy from alternative sources used to be so expensive that it wasn’t practical for consumer use. However, thanks to increased demand, more experienced energy developers, competitive supply chains, improved renewable technologies, and enhanced energy efficiency capabilities, that’s no longer the case.

In fact, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released a report back in 2020 showing how renewable power has now become increasingly cheaper than fossil fuels for electricity generation. Let’s look at a few of the best alternative energy sources we use today.

Onshore wind power and solar photovoltaics, respectively, are currently the most affordable options when it comes to energy production. Using these two natural resources over coal could save as much as $23 billion in yearly power system expenses. It could also lower annual carbon dioxide emissions by 1.8 gigatons. Bioenergy, geothermal energy, hydroelectric power, and nuclear energy are also making their way into the financially competitive spotlight, depending significantly on location.

When it comes to energy efficiency, the leader of the renewable energy pack is wind energy. Behind wind comes geothermal energy, hydropower, nuclear energy, and then solar power.

Out of all the known energy sources, nuclear energy has the highest capacity factor by far. Nuclear power plants are able to produce maximum power over 93% of the time on an annual basis. Next in line comes geothermal, followed by natural gas.

Natural gas is considered the cleanest burning and most reliable fossil fuel, but it still isn’t a clean energy resource. However, there is an alternative called renewable natural gas (RNG). RNG also goes by the name of biomethane and is produced from livestock, landfill waste, and other organic materials through anaerobic digestion. While it’s not a fossil fuel, RNG is completely identical to conventional natural gas in chemical make-up, allowing them to use the same distribution system.

As it turns out, wind energy, which uses turbines to harness its power from the wind, is one of the cleanest and most sustainable forms of electricity generation. It’s able to produce energy without generating any pollutants or global warming emissions. Plus, the land and animal impact of wind turbines is minimal.

As alternative energy technologies continue to improve, the cost simultaneously falls. Solar and wind power have unlocked the potential to generate an energy reserve plentiful enough to meet the world’s demand. When you look at how affordable, effective, and economically friendly these powerhouses are, you begin to see how we could displace fossil fuels within the next 30 years.

Most consumers agree that the benefits of using alternative energy sources far outweigh any drawbacks. Not to mention, improved technology is continually emerging to address and eliminate the disadvantages of various renewable resources.

You now understand the importance of making the switch to alternative energy sources and why it’s so vital to a healthy future, but how can you go about making this necessary change? When you’re ready, contact your energy supplier. Let them know that you’d like to choose a new electricity plan or natural gas plan as part of your energy conservation efforts. Inquire about green energy products and plan options to get started on your new sustainable lifestyle.

Given that Canada is a rich country with plenty of rivers and lakes, it is obvious that the best and most suitable way of producing electricity is through the use of water, that is, hydroelectricity. This paper will evaluate Quebec’s choice of hydroelectricity and introduce biogas which is another way of energy production that may be a better choice; it will mostly establish a comparison of the impact of each of those two energy sources on the environment and on the economy.

For several years, Quebec has opted for hydraulic energy to produce electricity, therefore, it is important to evaluate this choice and rethink its benefits. Based on a documentary produced in 2010 (La recherche du courant), hydraulic energy showed to have a negative impact on the environment. The use of hydroelectricity led to many disasters which the government did not worry about, as that was in contradiction with their main reason of using this source (a renewable source to protect the planet). The documentary explained that 25% to 40% of trees were cut for the project ‘la Romaine’.

Peter H. Gleick, who is a scientist working on issues related to the environment at the Pacific Institute in Oakland, California, also stated in his paper that, as a result of the use of a hydraulic source, “Flooding land displaces or eliminates terrestrial biota by destroying habitat and altering the aquatic ecosystem of the formerly free-flowing river”; producing hydroelectricity requires a dam to be built, getting rid of many trees in the projected area, and proceeding to flood the whole area along and around the river, which leads to change the natural course of the river and thus to the destruction of the whole natural flora and fauna around it. Needless to say, this also contributes to eliminate any previous farming and houses beneath the dam and around, as it becomes a serious flooding hazard area.

Imane, a Saint Laurent college student and an acute environment protection activist, once said: “It is funny how this country intends to promote and insure the protection of the environment and nature while, in fact, it contributes to their destruction, so long as the project is perceived to be efficient enough, and while hiding behind the argument of using clean, renewable energies, but unfortunately focusing solely on that one source of energy while other, more efficient and more nature friendly sources are left on the side”. She explained that solar cells for instance could be used even during winter time (when the sun is not visible) yet this source is rarely used. Imane also noticed that many rivers have been totally destroyed, and she explained her theory: “If you look at all the flooding that is happening now in Quebec, there is a high possibility that this may be due to past and current hydraulic projects; what am saying is that a river always opens up on a bigger river or the sea; now if that river is turned into a dam, then the natural flow of that river is disturbed and, as it rains, the water level rises up. Therefore, it is natural that it would flood since the excess water has no specific exit”.

Since hydraulic energy presents more harm than benefit, it is essential to look for other options and methods that may be more sustainable than hydraulic energy. “While the solar energy is great, it’s an intermittent energy; it’s important to combine it with another sustainable energy source such as wind energy or biogas, the latter one being more environment friendly and therefore more sustainable since it’s a product of biomass”, – said Imane. Biogas is a product of Anaerobic digestion of animal manure, it is an energy that is produced during the decomposition of biomass. “Biogas production is a natural process whereby micro-organisms convert the carbohydrates, proteins and fats contained in organic substances into the main products methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide” (Anaerobic Digestion News blog). Quebec could make a use of this energy since it has so many lands and farms; however only a few of them are using this energy according to the documentary (La recherche du courant). This form of energy is mostly used in Europe where there is an increase in animal production as stated in the article of J.B. Holm-Nielsen; the more animal production the more animal manure, a surplus in this last one could represent a pollution threat to the environment which is why it is important to manage it and put it into use such as biogas to produce heat and electricity. “Anaerobic digestion of animal manure has the general goal of converting organic residues into two categories of valuable products: on one hand biogas, a renewable fuel further used to produce green electricity, heat or as vehicle fuel and on the other hand the digested substrate, commonly named digestate, and used as fertilizer in agriculture” (J.B. Holm-Nielsen).

On the economical aspect, between biogas and hydraulic energy in Quebec it was obvious according to the documentary (La recherche du courant) that biogas is more beneficial and less expensive. “I think that biogas would be cheaper since it requires less work than hydraulic energy. With the advancement of technology, I believe that transforming animal manure into biogas is easier than destroying a river and building a dam. It is easier to have more animal manure if needed than having more rivers to exploit. the excess of money used in building dams could be used for other projects such as health care, education, etc.”, – explained Imane.

As documented in the documentary (La recherche du courant) biogas costs from 6 to 18 cents per KWh compared to 2008 project (project La Romaine) which cost 10 cents per KWh, as for the potential, biogas could provide from 18 to 30 billion KWh and a potential of 8 to 16 billion of KWh only for hydraulic energy.

A Canadian study made in 2013 had shown that biogas not only saves the government money, it also reduces the emission of CO2 and offers a huge amount of jobs “Realizing the full potential of biogas development would lead to up to 1,800 separate construction projects with a capital investment of $7 billion and economic spin-off of $21 billion to the Canadian economy. These construction projects would create 16,800 construction jobs for a period of one year and 2,700 ongoing long-term operational jobs” (Kelleher Robins Canadian Biogas Study Technical Document, December 2013).

As a conclusion, hydroelectricity is less sustainable than other forms of renewable energies it is therefore recommended to seriously look up into those other forms of renewable energies considering the damages hydroelectricity could cause to the environment.

The advantages and disadvantages of solar energy are numerous, and whilst this is probably amongst the most desirable of energy options in the world due to it being so green and economic in the long term. There are still many elements one needs to weigh up before making use of it

The aim of this post is to make you aware of all pluses and minuses involved in the erection of an effective solar array, to allow you to determine whether or not this is going to be the right route for you to go down.

It’s worth noting before we get started, that the majority of points here are entirely dependent on personal circumstances. If you’re lucky, then it might just be that it’s all ‘pro’ and no ‘con’ for you, in which case it’ll be an easy decision for you to make.

First, we’re going to weigh up the advantages of solar energy.

Usually, people would think of the renewability on offer when considering solar, as this is likely to be its most widely understood benefit.

But there’s so much more to it than that, and as you read on, you’ll discover that this energy source has many positive attributes. Most of which, people probably didn’t even know about.

Whilst it’s still true that the initial cost of outfitting your property with this technology is reasonably high, it has certainly reduced significantly. One of the huge pros of solar energy now lies in the amount of money that you can actually keep in the bank by using it.

This is thanks, at large, to the many government schemes out there that will see you being able to claim back as much as 30% of the total cost. This amounts to literally thousands of dollars on a large array.

In conjunction with this, diy installation kits for those that want to do it using their own expertise, or that of contractors in their network offer an incredibly viable alternative to purchasing solar from enormous corporate entities.

With everything factored in, it’ll take roughly 7 years to start seeing your savings on a larger array.

This might sound bad, but when you consider that the most popular solar technology lasts for about 25 years. You’ve got a serious amount of money to save here versus traditional forms of energy.

Throw into the mix the fact that you have the option to install solar using a home diy kit should you feel that you’re up to the task, and the load on your pocket really can be reasonably light.

When it comes to green energy, it’d be almost impossible to find a source greener than solar. That’s because it’s always available, or that is to say, it will be for as long as the sun remains in the sky. Which is basically forever.

This technology relies on photon rays from the sun being harnessed via solar cells and redistributed as usable energy throughout your chosen location. Photons will never stop being produced by the sun, therefore we will never stop having power provided we get it via solar cells.

Not only is it an ‘always on’ option, but it also leaves zero emissions in the ozone layer, meaning it isn’t adding any negative to the harmful greenhouse gas atmosphere mix as many other types of energy do.

By opting for sun powered energy, you’re not only helping to scale back environmental damage. You’re also scaling back your financial outlay at the same time.

Another one of the benefits of solar energy is that you have so much choice about how you actually integrate and use it in your home or work place.

Whereas certain fossil fuel energy types can only be used for a very limited number of utilities or functions, solar can be adapted for use with almost anything.

Not only are its potential applications very numerous, but the means in which you can actually integrate a solar array are numerous too.

If you’ve got an enormous power demand and a huge building, you can opt for a large scale solar farm. On the other hand, if you’ve got a small personal residence and smaller requirements, then you have many options at your disposal.

These options include externally erected solar structures, roof mounted panels, wall mounted panels, or even thin film applications that can be woven seamlessly into window arrays and home decor.

Whatever your requirements and preferences are, you can make solar work for you in a way that simply isn’t possible with other energy types.

Last but not least, another often overlooked facet when comparing the pros and cons of solar energy is that it’s likely to add value to your home.

Not only are you making long term savings by installing a solar array, but you’re probably also making a long term investment that may just add a few thousand dollars (or more) worth of value to your property.

If you’re likely to be in the location for a considerable duration, then this is a huge factor to take into consideration.

Now it’s time to consider the disadvantages of solar energy.

Realistically speaking, the negatives on display here are largely circumstantial. In itself, solar power could never be a negative thing, because its renewable nature makes it a ‘no brain’ option in the energy battle. But that’s only if you can definitely access it.

Besides the initial costs associated with outfitting a location with solar, there are several other elements to take into consideration before making a choice about whether or not solar is going to be the best option to serve your needs.

With it taking an average of roughly 7 years before the average installation begins to pay for itself, this means that those looking to make quick savings are probably better off looking elsewhere for a way to reduce their bills.

One of the main benefits, also ends up being one of the cons of solar energy. Installing solar power needs to be something that you only do if you’re satisfied that you won’t be moving any time soon.

It’s also worth noting that added property value only really means anything if you don’t move shortly after installation, as the installation costs are unlikely to outweigh the added value to your home.

Even though DIY kits are available to help you bring down the overall outlay of using solar, they’re also a very complex option. One that require a pretty large degree of technological knowhow and man power to bring to fruition.

This leaves many people who want to make use of this energy source at the mercy of large companies, and also, the elevated financial outlay that comes with them.

As previously mentioned, solar energy pros and cons largely relate to individual circumstances. And yours might mean that your only option is to use a company, if you happen to be in a state where diy installs aren’t allowed.

Even if you go down the home install route, you’ll still need a permit (which will cost several hundred dollars), and either the knowledge, or access to the knowledge (via a local contractor) to make your solar dreams come to life.

One of the widely overlooked areas when it comes to solar power pros and cons is the available government schemes and rebates.

Simply put, they aren’t all available in all areas, and to all people.

If you’re about to make a huge commitment to solar and you’re banking on making use of one of these schemes to claim back up to 30% of the total cost, then make absolutely sure that you definitely qualify for them before taking the plunge.

As with almost any form of construction, you’re going to need a permit in order to be able to bring your planned solar array to fruition.

Whether it’s included as part of the cost when you use a large company, or you fund it yourself via a diy installation. You’re going to need one to make it happen.

If you don’t have a permit, then sadly, you don’t have a solar array. Don’t spend any money on anything until you’re absolutely sure that you can actually build the solar array you need, and in the way you’d like to.

Despite and of your previous understanding of this subject, it’s safe to say that you’re now aware that the solar energy pros and cons are numerous, and it’s important that they’re fully weighed up before any final decision is made.

As mentioned previously too, solar itself is always wholly positive in nature. If you can access it in a way that works perfectly for you, then it’s probably going to be the most perfect choice available for you to power your chosen building or installation with in turn.

In this report I will be researching and gathering research on the different types of alternative energy. I will be looking into how each renewable and non-renewable energy technologies operate, and I will compare both energy technologies to see how they operate and what environmental issues and benefactors are produced by both technologies.

Operating Principles and sustainable energy factors of Renewable energy Technologies

Wind Turbines

Wind is a form of kinetic energy, when It comes to kinetic energy the goal is to convert kinetic energy into an electrical energy. We can achieve this by using a generator also known as “Faraday’s Law”.

This law will convert rotational kinetic energy into what’s known as AC/DC (Alternative and Direct) currents. When we convert the linear motion of wind into rotational kinetic energy this is then used to turn the wind turbines blades. The turbines blades will then generate a rotational force due to the pressure difference. Wind power is a clean energy source that can be relied upon for a long and green future due harmful chemical polluting the atmosphere, wind turbines create a reliable, cost effective pollution free energy. Wind turbines are affordable very clean and sustainable compared to fossil fuels.

A single wind turbine can generate enough electrical energy for one single household due to wind turbines being a non-polluted source of renewable energy, due to the major issue regarding fossil fuels and the need to saviour them it’s vital that wind turbines create their power without using our fossil fuels i.e. The fact wind turbines can work and operate without producing greenhouse gases, radioactive or toxic waste this is a major benefit for our planet.

Photovoltaic Systems

Photovoltaic systems also known as Solar panels will consist of a series of solar cells that will absorb the light produced from the sun and will convert the light harvested into DC Electricity.

Solar panels are built to last, they are designed and built to withstand the expose of harsh climate conditions that change depending on the season of the year, an example of this would could be freezing due to the high freezing temperatures, harsh and high winds, and snow storms. Solar energy is a renewable free source of energy that is completely sustainable and utterly inexhaustible, meaning solar panels will continue to convert into sun into free electricity without running out, this is beneficial because solar panels can harvest light from the sun and convert it into electricity for our planet.

If we compare solar energy to fossil fuels the main factor is that our fossil fuels are running out that is why solar energy is a major benefactor, our planet can help prevent the inexhaustible energy sources previously used by building and manufacturing more Photovoltaic systems. Solar panels will typically convert 16% of solar energy into electrical power.

Solar Panels are a renewable CO2 totally free power source, Solar panels have many environmental benefits and play a huge part on the impacts we have with the environment. Solar panels only impact the environment on a small scale compared to other non-renewable types of energy, the impact which they have on the environment is due to the production of solar panels, the materials used and metals to construct solar panels will cause harm to the environment but on a smaller scale.

The Government hope to help climate change using Solar energy, solar panels are being installed across the UK, and because of this the government hope to reduce all emissions by 2050 by up to 80%. Solar panels can generate between 700 and 900 units (kilowatt-hours, kWh) of electricity per year. A solar Panel that is a 3.5kW south-facing domestic system will produce about 3,000kWh per year.

Hydro-electrical systems

From 2017 hydro power approximately accounts for 1.8% of Britain’s electricity supply that is roughly 18% of our renewable energy.

Hydroelectricity power is a renewable energy due to electricity. Hydro systems will generate electricity by using the flow of the running water which comes from the rivers surrounding hydro systems or man-made systems such as reservoirs.

When it comes to turning the waters power into electricity this will require the use of turbines that will then convert the kinetic energy into mechanical energy, then a generator will turn it into electricity for consumers e,g, householders. Hydro systems are very efficient, reliable and sustainable, hydro power generation will rely on a constant flow of running water, meaning hydro systems can generate energy 24 hours a day. Hydro turbines can convert up to 90% of the kinetic energy of the water into electrical power this statistic makes hydro systems the most efficient source of renewable energy.

Hydro systems are the most sustainable source of renewable energy since other types of renewable energies depend on weather conditions. Hydro systems are very low in cost the cost to generate the water is free and is a natural resource the only cost comes from the installation of hydro systems. Hydro systems can store the energy generated in very large quantities this is then used when needed due to being transferred into a grid, hydro systems are the only renewable energy source that can store large amounts of energy.

Combined heat and power (CHP)

Combined heat and power is very efficient, it is a process that will capture and utilise the heat that is produced and given off from the electricity generation process, when we combine both heat and power continuously we can reduce the total carbon emissions by up to 30% this statistic is compared to other sources inside domestic dwellings i.g. boilers.

When the heat is generated in the process it is then supplied to a heat supply that is at the same heat, CHP systems are very efficient this is because CHP takes advantage of the heat which would normally be lost and wasted when we generate electricity. The benefit with CHP is that by using the heat it cuts out the need to use fossil fuels, otherwise if we did not use the heat produced, we would have to the already exhausted non-renewable energy sources. CHP will allow companies and organisations to reduce the overall cost of energy supply and will protect the environment from polluting the atmosphere and contaminating wildlife.

Comparison between Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy

The total amount of electricity generated in the United Kingdom in 2018 was only 33%. However, in 2019 the total renewable electricity percentage in 2019 was 37.4% this statistic was taken from January and March 4.9% of renewables dropped in generation, renewables such as hydro, solar and bio-mas made the statistics increase.

This chart shows that the fossil fuels being used has reduced by up to 50%, the benefit of this is that more people are resisting the need to use fossil fuels are heading towards renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines, bio-mas, hydro systems. 39% of electricity was produced by coal, oil and gas. We can see that renewable energy was at 40% which included 20% from wind, 12 from bio-mass and 6% from solar and nuclear at 19%.

Over the years more issues have been raised about Global warming and the amount of CO2 emissions being produced, by adapting and using renewable energy technologies such as solar panels we can harvest the suns light to create free electricity. The major difference between non renewable and renewable energy is that the fossil fuels we are currently using will run out if we don’t stop exhausting our resources, this is where renewable energy technologies are more advanced, the worrying aspect is that when we keep burning fossil fuels at this current rate, “it is estimated that all our fossil fuels will be depleted by 2060.” Our generation are exhausting the fossil fuels that we currently have, and the planet is seeing the impacts its causing worldwide, that is why the government are pushing to use renewable energy sources because of the future.

the Government plan to make a “greener” “healthier” world for our future generation by using renewable energy technologies are using less power for example by not burning coal or releasing toxic dangerous fumes out of power plants and factories we are conserving the earths natural resources that were delivered and removed from the earth we also protect the ecosystems by no allowing our atmosphere to get polluted from all the fumes. By eliminating or decreasing the amount of emissions commercial and industrial buildings produce we can project the air quality that is vital to human life and wellbeing, due to factories and power plants burning fossil fuels they put toxic emissions up into the atmosphere the toxic gases include Carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

Advanced Renewable Technologies

Biomass is a great renewable energy source, what biomass refers to materials such as wood and waste that have living organisms. Biomass is a renewable energy source which mainly comes from plants, due to the planet needing plants and trees to survive we will have an endless energy supply without causing damage to the environment, biomass helps tackle climate change by reducing the total amount of green house gas emissions, biomass does produce CO2 but once the gas is released it doesn’t cause damage to the atmosphere.

Biomass energy is available on a large wide scale, this is a huge benefit over using fossil fuels, the fact that biomass is located everywhere its easily sourced and can be used quickly and will less effort than gathering resources from fossil fuels. The population of the world will forever get bigger and expand and if we keep using fossil fuels to burn the waste we will cause more damage to the environment this is where biomass has another great benefit due to biomass being created from living organisms in things such as wastage and wood we can use biomass to feed off the wastage produced from the expansive growth of the population. By using what’s given to our planet we can source our own energy from the waste that we produce that way the waste doesn’t go to landfill and contaminate the soil.

Wave energy can be summed up to be a source of power that will be produced from the endless bundle of the waves as they roll into the shore then back out again. Oceanic wave power converts the ocean waves into electricity, this is done by placing equipment that is designed in the ocean specially to capture the movement of the waves and then once it captures the waves it will covert It into power. With oceanic wave power there is only one main technology used which is based on oscillating movement of the sea (repeats its self in motions). “The device will utilise the continuous up and down wave movement on the ocean’s surface which is mainly caused by the sun and the heat transferring energy as they move.”

Wave energy can also be a form of wind energy because of the captured movement of the water which is on the surface on the oceans floor and by capturing this energy from the motion of the waves is then converted into mechanical energy and then us used to power and electrical generator. Environmental benefactors of Wave energy; They are renewable, one of the main features with wave energy is that wave energy will never exhaust or run out. This is beneficial because there will always be washes hitting up against the shore. The waves flow back from the shore, but they always return. Unlike fossil fuels, which are running out.

Waves are environmentally friendly unlike fossil fuels, due to the factor of the power being created from the waves also no dangerous or harmful gases, toxins or pollution is produced from waves, the energy that is produced can be directly taken and converted into electricity this type of energy is clean due to it being natural and can be used to power generators and used in power stations instead of burning fossil fuels they could use the electricity and energy which is sourced for free.

Hydroelectric energy is the use of running water to generate electricity or power. Generally, water flowing from a waterfall is used to generate hydro energy on a large scale and provide electricity to cities, towns, etc. Humanity used this for millennia. There have been records of the same concept being used in ancient Greece about two thousand years ago, where people used this flowing water to rotate a wheel that turned ground wheat into wheat flour. More than 15% of the world’s electricity is generated from hydropower in this current day and age, and this value is set to increase by 3.1% every year for the next two decades.

The working principle behind hydroelectricity is that hydroelectric plants have a water reservoir, and a gate or valve is connected to the reservoir to adjust the flow of water coming from the reservoir, and a place the water ends up after it is released from the reservoir. By doing this process, water will be gaining potential energy before it is spilled from the dam, and then this water with potential energy is then converted into kinetic energy as the water flows down. Then, the blades of the turbine at the bottom are rotated by this water which is connected to a generator and thus electricity is generated.

There are 3 types of hydroelectric power plants and they are impoundment facility, diversion facility, and pumped-storage facility. Among these three types, an impoundment facility is the most common hydroelectric power plant. In an impoundment facility, the dam controls the water flow that is stored in a reservoir or a water pool. This water is released accordingly to the power requirements. Then, gravity pulls the water down, and this water, which has kinetic energy, rotates the turbine, which in turn powers the generator. A diversion facility doesn’t require a dam but uses canals to direct the water flow towards the turbines which power the generator. Speaking about a pumped-storage facility, it should be noted that, firstly, energy from other sources like wind, solar, and nuclear is collected and stored. By using this energy, water from a lower elevation is pumped into a higher elevation. Then, when there is an electricity demand, this water is then released back into the lower elevation, which rotates the turbines to generate more electricity.

There are a lot of advantages of hydroelectric power. First, since the fuel for rotating the turbine is water, which is a very clean fuel source, there will be no pollutants to pollute the environment, unlike fossil fuels, coal, or natural gas that pollute the environment. Moreover, most of the countries have water bodies, so they don’t need to rely on other countries for importing fuel. The energy created from hydropower is reliant on the water cycle, which is controlled by the sun, thus making it a renewable power source. So, it is better than fossil fuels as they won’t be depleted if used wisely and replenishes over time. Hydroelectric plants can immediately power the grids, so they can shift quickly from zero to maximum output. This provides a good backup in cases of electric outages or any power disruptions in the grid. Also, they have many other benefits like irrigation, water supply, and flood control. And the last advantage is that the places where there are hydroelectric plants also offer some recreational activities like boating, swimming, fishing, etc.

Despite all the benefits, there are some disadvantages of hydroelectric power as well. Firstly, the construction of a hydroelectric plant requires the usage of a lot of resources like money, time and construction, and land. Also, suitable places for the construction of hydroelectric plants are already taken. As water is the main force that drives the hydroelectric plant, it is dependent on precipitation levels that fluctuate year to year causing instability. Hydroelectric plants also cause minor to major changes in the water present in the reservoir, or the overall quality of it, or even changes in the temperature of the water. These changes would affect native plants and animals in the river. And as hydroelectric plants require a lot of land, people initially living in that area might be displaced from their homes.

Though there are some negative impacts like damaging the ecosystem due to hydroelectric power plants, they still are and will be a major contribution in the generation of energy as the energy produced is clean and better than fossil fuels. Also, as a long-term measure, we can practice watershed management, which involves soil conservation and catchment restoration that will reduce erosion and also the inflow of sediments into the reservoir. Other ways like sluicing, dredging, flushing, and also hydro suctioning can reduce the sedimental deposit to some extent in the reservoirs. The effect mostly will be concentrated in a particular area, unlike burning fossil fuels which affects the whole world, which is the lesser evil among the two.

As long as water tables are maintained normally, hydro energy will be a sustainable source for generating electricity as the Earth is filled with oceans, rivers, ponds, lakes, etc.

Now in a lot of cities or countries, we often see solar panels on top of a building or a field. But why do people do that? People now start realizing the importance of global warming and start to find solutions to slow down or stop it. The use of solar energy is one solution to mitigating global warming, and therein lies its enduring significance.

To slow down global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, countries such as Germany, Japan, China, the United States, and India have started using more and more solar energy in their countries. In Europe, there are also other countries like the UK and Italy which are also starting to use more and more solar energy in their country. Germany did very well to start using solar energy instead of other types of energy that are not good for global warming. In 2014, Germany produced a total of 38.2GW (gigawatts) out of 177GW produced globally. In Germany, 27% of its total electricity is used for solar energy. Which is one of the leading countries in the world. In 2015, China was the largest producer and buyer of solar panels. In the past few years, many solar power plants have appeared in different areas of China, and these solar power plants sell energy to the utility. Japan is also one of the leading countries of solar energy produced in the world. In 2014, Japan produced 23.3 GW of solar energy. The reason that Japan can produce a lot of solar energy is because they have lots of golf courses that no one uses. They covered the course with lots of photovoltaic products, so they can get lots of solar energy.

Traditional electricity is sourced from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, but it produces harmful byproducts and gas emissions such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide that cause pollution to the environment. We shouldn’t use fossil fuels to produce energy because it’s not only bad for the environment, but they’re also a limited resource. So, if we keep using it as a resource for producing energy, very soon there won’t be any fossil fuels anymore. As the cleanest and most widespread renewable energy source, solar energy is our key.

Over 49GW of total solar capacity was installed and it can generate enough electricity to power 9.5 million homes. There are now 1.6 million solar installations in the US. After reaching 1 million in 2016, experts estimate 2 million should be hit in 2018 and 4 million by 2022. Solar power added worldwide increased 50% last year because of a sun rush in China and the US. China’s large lands and large solar farms help increase a lot. Globally there is now 305GW of solar power capacity, up from around 50GW in 2010. Now China alone is responsible for over 40% of global renewable capacity growth. So, if other countries start using more and more solar energy, it can slow down or maybe stop global warming.

For example, India started to pay attention to solar energy. They build the largest solar power plant in Kamuthi, Tamil Nadu. The facility has a capacity of 648 MW and covers an area of 10 sq km. By 2022, India aims to power 60 million homes by the sun. It is part of the government’s goal to produce 40 percent of its power from non-fossil fuels by 2030.

If more and more countries start to have goals like the Indian government has, it won’t be very hard to lower the total pollution that all countries produce. If there’s less pollution, it’s possible to slow down global warming and make the environment better. Therefore, given its value, the world should use solar energy more actively.

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Green energy is a natural sources of energy such as sunlight, wind, water, biogas and more. These sources of energy resources are renewable, meaning they are naturally replenished. They are a safe way to produce energy that will not harm the world and the atmosphere. One of the technology trends making a difference around the world is the more use of solar energy to generate clean energy, and is not polluting the air electricity. Different kinds of global warming concerns that we have less Earth’s resources, people that come up with new ideas have found a way to take the sun’s energy and to create long lasting solutions that they hope will soon replace non renewable resources of energy. Solar is driven by expansion especially in developing countries as it is gradually gaining stance of securing power. Clean energy investments in some of these countries rose 36% to $131bn with nations like Brazil, Africa, and India.

The numbers have also been rising as renewables record about 9.1% of the world’s electricity, the percent increase from the past years. These numbers got investors wanting more than just waiting around, which has been evident in energy investments show a 17% increase in 2014, compared to 2013. Now 14.3 percent of the united states uses renewable resources and it was not long ago that they thought we would only reach that by 2040. So the world is moving faster towards a better way of energy that won’t hurt it fast then they thought. Wind power alone increased by 9.0 percent compared to last year and accounted for 5.0 percent of the nation’s electrical generation during the first six months of 2014, while solar-generated electricity more than doubled (growing by 115.7 percent). Biomass also grew by 4.0 percent. However, geothermal power dipped by 1.5 percent and conventional hydropower declined by 4.2 percent. The more that we convert to renewable energy the better we are doing to protect the planet. Then using the other ways of energy that harms the planet and the atmosphere.

Research has shown some of the deadly results of global warming emissions from sources such as human activities and electrical production, which steadily drive up the planet’s temperature. The rise of this blistering temperature creates significant and harmful impacts on the environment, health, and climate. With a focus on coal mining and natural gas drilling, they can pollute sources of drinking water contrary to fossil fuels.

However, in contrast to the above collisions, renewable energy sources are safer because they produce little to no global warming emissions. This means a reduction of air and water pollution and abundant renewable energy source directly from the sun. Therefore, increasing the supply of renewable energy will reduce global warming emissions to a significant level.

In addition, due to the health hazards (breathing problems, heart attacks, cancer, etc) linked with air and water pollution, generating electricity from nonrenewable energy but if we use renewable energy it will offer significant health benefit because it does not cause all the health problems that nonrenewable energy causes. The use of wind, solar, and hydroelectric systems positively impact electricity and water resources which affect daily human lives.

Solar is rapidly becoming one of the desirable options for power across the globe, specifically in developing countries. With proper research and investments, renewable energy is on the verge of becoming a staple source of energy while reducing costs, as consumers continue to recognize the need for clean, renewable energy.