Renewable energy can be classified as any naturally generated energy, which includes but is not limited to wind, rain, tidal power, sunlight, running water, geothermal energy and bio fuels. The key element of all those sources of power is that they are naturally replenished as opposed to fossil fuels which are diminishing resources.

In addition to being unlimited the main benefit of renewable energy is that its consumption tends to have far less impact on the world’s environment; again unlike fossil fuels which contribute to greenhouse gases and global warming. There are varying estimates on the damage being done to the world’s atmosphere but most scientists agree that CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels is extremely damaging and therefore the sooner renewable energy generation can be increased the better.

There are two classifications of generating renewable energy; either macro or micro. The first method is by developing commercial installations such as wind farms and hydroelectric plants that contribute to the national grid. The micro method is where businesses, communities or individual homeowners generate their own renewable power to supplement or replace what they take from the national grid.

Most of the UK’s more savvy power utility companies are heavily investing in ways to get more renewable energy onto the grid. However, despite an uptake in its usage the UK does not yet get anywhere enough of its energy supplies from renewable sources.

However, individuals can make a difference by installing a wind turbine or solar panels to generate their own renewable energy. Solar panels can heat water directly or be used to generate energy to be used within the home, depending upon the type installed. Most homeowners will not require planning permission but will need building regulations to fix a single solar panel to their roof, but there are a few exceptions. Those livings in flats or other dwellings will need to consult their local authority for advice.

Alternatively, the installation of a wind turbine does involve the prior granting of planning permission in most cases. Those considering buying a wind turbine should first consult their local authority as the details needed on their planning application will vary. However, for the majority of councils information is normally required concerning the visual impact, anticipated vibration and noise levels, the expected impact on electrical interference with TV aerials and last, but not least – the issue of safety.

By installing your own renewable energy source at your property not only will you be making a positive impact on your carbon footprint, you will also see savings in your energy bill; surely two excellent reasons to investigate its feasibility.

Sustainable Energy sources are most often regarded as including all renewable sources, such as biofuels, solar power, wind power, wave power, geothermal power and tidal power. It usually also includes technologies that improve energy efficiency. Sustainable energy is the provision of energy such that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. With modern day concern that global warming is for real there is an increasing demand by business and householders for information on the renewable energy options that are available.

Renewable energy can be described as a form of sustainable energy that is a product of the earth’s natural environment. Any source of energy that can provide an ongoing flow and/or be replaced by nature falls into the category of renewable energy. They are those that are naturally available and replenished. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, hydro (water), geothermal, Tidal power or ocean wave energy, and biomass. Use of renewable energy sources reduces dependence on fossil fuels, diversifies energy resources, and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants associated with fossil fuels. These technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies.

A non-renewable resource is a natural resource which cannot be produced, re-grown, regenerated, or reused on a scale which can sustain its consumption rate. These resources often exist in a fixed amount, or are consumed much faster than nature can recreate them. Reliance on non-renewable resources such as oil, gas and coal is unsustainable since they will run out one day. If we run out of fossil fuels, we will have to use some sort of alternative energy produced from the wind, the sun or from water power. These energy sources can easily be replenished in a short amount of time. Alternate sources such as solar and wind power, are infinite and have the added advantage of being non-polluting. Climate change and the need to manage diminishing fossil fuel reserves are today two of the biggest challenges facing the planet. In order to secure the future for ourselves and generations to follow, we must act now to reduce energy consumption and substantially cut greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide.

Unfortunately, the cost of some of the renewable energy sources is currently above those of the non-renewable sources. However, increased use of the non-renewables increases demand and lowers unit cost, so we are approaching the time where the old, non-renewable sources will be less competitive. There is no shortage of solar-derived energy on Earth. Indeed the storages and flows of energy on the planet are very large relative to human needs.

One of the Earth’s great renewable energy sources is actually the energy that can be found in all the waves of the ocean. Let’s look at this further.

If you have ever been to the ocean, you were probably fascinated by the phenomena of the waves crashing against the shorelines as the tides came in. The ocean’s tides are the product of gravitational pull of the sun and the moon, as well as, the Earth’s rotation. It causes the ocean waters to be raised and lowered from time to time. The tides have cycles of twelve and one half hours, twice per day, and are easily predictable.

The use of tidal power is seen as early as the twelfth century where tidal mills used the force of the tides to grind grain and corn. The eighteenth century brought competition from windmills and waterwheels. Tidal mills pretty much became extinct with the invention of cheap steam engines. In 1967, France became the first to be able to put tidal wave power to work on a large scale to produce electricity.

The generation of electricity from tidal waves is similar to that of hydroelectric power generation. Bigger dams, known as barrages, are built on the bottom of a tidal basin. Gates on the barrage allow the tidal basin to fill during incoming high tides. Likewise, the basin will empty through a turbine during the outgoing tide. This would turn an electric generator for the production of electricity. There are also systems that generate electricity from incoming and outgoing tides. This system can have a negative effect on plants and animals in the area.

Tidal fences are also used to generate electricity. Vertical axis turbines are mounted on fences. Passing water is forced through the turbines. Ideal locations for these are channels between two landmasses. Tidal fences are cheaper than tidal barrages and cause less of an environmental impact on large marine life.

Tidal turbines are a new technology used for tidal energy. They are similar to wind turbines and are arranged underwater in rows. They work best in areas with strong tides. Although they are heavier and costlier to build, they also are capable of capturing more energy. They are also the least environmentally damaging of all the tidal power technologies, since they do not interfere with migration paths.

In order for tidal power to work successfully it requires a tide difference of at least sixteen feet. Unfortunately there are only a few places where this occurs. This means tidal power plants cannot just be constructed anywhere. There are only a handful of sites on Earth with this type of tidal range. At present, France is the only country that has been successful in using tidal power. It is hoped developments in technology, through research, will be made to allow better use of this, what is now, wasted energy. The future of tidal energy seems hopeful. Tidal power has great potential and hopefully we can make better use of it in the future in our quest to find a replacement for fossil fuels.

Today the world is waking up to the use of wood pellets. Being a source of naturally rich biodegradable energy these pellets can be vital once gas and oil fuels have depleted. Here we talk about how wood pellets can be great as a fuel source.

Why it is renewable?

One reason why such pellets are a source of renewable energy is because they are made of wood. While the wood burns the carbon dioxide emissions are very less since the plant would have consumed it during its growing years. This is why even carbon dioxide fossils are being increasingly used in emissions in order to reduce the overall carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

What are wood pellets?

Wood pellets are basically comprised of wasted sawdust in its compressed form. Today several countries such as Sweden, Northern America, Denmark as well as Austria employ the usage of this form of energy. Currently the UK offers a conducive environment for the use of such wood pellets. In fact these are being increasingly used here as a source of biodegradable energy.

Practical and inexpensive

The main benefit of using wood pellets is their relative ease of use, their cost effectiveness as well as being a source of renewable energy. Many hitherto touted sources of fuel like wind power, tidal power as well as solar energy have incurred criticism from many people because of their impracticality and expensive nature. However the beauty of wood pellets is that these can be employed both for electricity generation purposes as well as for fuel purposes.

On demand biodegradable energy

Another significant advantage of wood pellets is that one can derive energy from them as and when the need arises. This is in direct contrast to energy sources like solar power where it is dependant on the weather conditions. Best of all it is a source of easily renewable energy that is relatively cheaper than other energy sources.

Better than wet wood

Wood pellets can provide almost as much as double the energy as a wet wood form can! In fact just 1 kilogram of wood pellets can supply heat in comparison to a electric fire of 1 KW that has been on for over 5 hours! The way the wood pellets are used is that they are heated inside special boilers which one can use inside the home too. Even in large heavy duty industrial purposes this source of biodegradable energy can be easily used.

So on the whole, the benefits of using wood pellets is significantly large. Apart from being a source of fantastic renewable energy this wood is small in size which means it does not take up too much space. Therefore it offers good portability too! In addition it is a combustible item which has originated from nature itself. Therefore it is completely in harmony with the environment as well. It is therefore time that we as individuals started using this fabulous biodegradable energy source.

Renewable energy is not a new concept. While it may appear to be a rather fashionable topic of conversation in certain circles, renewable energy initiatives have been with us since the dawn of man. There is some debate about the accepted definition of renewable energy, but it can be loosely defined as a form of energy that is essentially inexhaustible. Furthermore, the resource is continually replenished by various natural processes identifiable in the natural world.

One key distinction to make when discussing the concept of renewable energy is that of sustainability. One could make the argument that, in the long term, fossil fuels are a renewable energy resource. While the logic stands on its own, this is a failed notion. The central difference between fossil fuels and other forms of renewable energy is that fossil fuels are being depleted at a rate faster than they can be replenished. For this reason, fossil fuels cannot be considered truly renewable. They are simply not sustainable, due to the accelerated rate of consumption.

Some of the more popular renewable energy resources include sunshine, water, and wind. Solar energy refers to the energy that is collected from sunlight. This form of energy is captured using a photovoltaic array, more commonly known as a solar panel. The solar radiation is captured by the photovoltaic array and converted to direct current (DC) electricity. From there, the direct current electricity must be converted to alternating current (AC) for use in most applications. The converted electricity is then stored in a battery for use at a later date.

There are also various forms of energy that exist in water. One of the most commonly acknowledged is that of hydroelectric energy, but there are a number of others including tidal power and ocean thermal energy conversion. Hydroelectric energy generally employs the use of a dam, wherein the energy of the water flow is captured and used to power a turbine. The turbine then generates a supplementary form of electricity. Tidal power attempts to make use of the natural energy potential of tidal activity in the oceans and seas. In simple terms, the high tide is captured and fed through a turbine to generate electricity. Ocean thermal energy conversion attempts to exploit the variances in water temperature, from the warmer surface water to the cooler deep water, resulting in a cyclic heat engine.

Wind power is one of the oldest accepted forms of renewable energy. It has been used for centuries as a source of power, dating back to the creation of the sailboat. The innate potential of wind power was realized a number of years later in the form of a wind mill. In this instance, the kinetic energy of wind is used to drive a turbine which, in turn, generates electricity. Wind energy possesses immense potential for sustainable energy generation, and a number of large-scale development projects are currently underway throughout the world.

One of the greatest challenges facing humanity is to discover a way to reduce our reliance on unsustainable resources, like fossil fuels. Most, if not all, modern industrial societies rely far too greatly on fossil fuels and increasingly, this is becoming an undeniable reality. Wars of conquest are being waged to secure what is left of the world’s oil reserves. If only the resources of the powerful nations were channeled into developing sustainable energy alternatives, as opposed to driving a war machine bent on dominating the oil markets. Our modern way of life is going to undergo some difficult times in the very near future, if this reality continues to be ignored. Ask yourself what you can do to make a difference. You might be surprised at what you can accomplish.

The green movement has created a plethora of buzzwords. One of the more popular phrases is renewable energy. And for good reason. Businesses, traditional and emerging, will soon be affected by how they will respond to the reality of renewable energy depending on where they fall in the supply chain.

Renewable energy is a term that refers to those potential sources of energy that are naturally replenished, which means that using them does not decrease the amount available in the future. This contrasts with nonrenewable sources (fossil-based fuels) that have a limited supply and will eventually be used up. Renewable energy sources include sunlight, hydrosphere/water cycle, geothermal and some types of biomass and biofuels. Think of energy as a source and electricity as an application.

The mechanisms used to generate electricity from these sources vary considerably. For sunlight, there are photovoltaic technologies that generate electricity directly from sunlight. But there are also systems that use the sunlight to heat an intermediate fluid, which is used to turn turbines to generate electricity. There are multiple ways that water can be used to provide electricity, of which the most commonly used is the hydroelectric dam.

Other systems that produce electricity from water include wave power systems that convert the kinetic energy of waves into electricity, tidal power systems that use the kinetic energy of tidal flows in a similar fashion, and systems that take advantage of the temperature differences between surface waters and deeper waters in the ocean to generate electricity. Geothermal systems rely on the heat of the earth’s interior to generate electricity in various ways, depending on the specific nature of the site. Biomass and biofuels consist of fuels derived from plant and other organic matter, which are renewable depending on the sustainability of the agricultural practices that provide the biomass. Examples include ethanol and biodiesel liquid fuels for transportation, and solid biomass from unused portions of other crops for electricity generation.

Presently, renewable energy sources provide only a small fraction of global energy production, and the majority of this is from biomass burning such a wood (which while renewable in the strictest sense is not environmentally friendly) in undeveloped regions of the world. Renewable energy provides less than 1% of the world’s energy production even though its use is expected to grow rapidly amid rising concerns about global warming and the rising price of oil.

The biggest impediment to the widespread use of renewable energy sources in the past has been its price compared to the price of coal, natural gas, and petroleum. At present, wind energy costs $0.04-$0.08 per kWh, while coal costs $0.04 per kWh. Other renewable energy sources are even more expensive, such as solar thermal at $0.12-$0.34 per kWh and solar photovoltaic at $0.25-$1.60 per kWh. Water sources vary in cost from being cheaper than coal to costing three times as much. This cost differential, however, is narrowing as the price of oil rises and new technological innovations are bringing down the prices of renewables.

Looking forward, the increasing likelihood of carbon taxes or emissions trading schemes being implemented in much of the developed world means that the cost of generating electricity from coal, natural gas, and petroleum will rise even more precipitously, which will make renewable energy even more attractive for future development.

The future of renewable energy depends on how government energy policy will develop over the course of the next presidential administration and congress. Will carbon taxes or emissions trading schemes be enacted to limit greenhouse gas emissions? Will green grid technologies become widespread? Will the development of new oil supplies be allowed? All of these possible scenarios will affect the future deployment of renewable energy technologies.

As an example, consider the application of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems. Not only will these systems provide electricity to homes and businesses, but they can even be used to sell energy back to the power utility. Farmers and ranchers can plant wind turbines on land unsuitable for growing crops. The widespread use of smart grid technologies can become a major method of decentralizing power generation.

Similarly, if emissions trading schemes are enacted, then the rising cost of carbon-producing energy sources will force a shift to renewable energy technologies for large portions of our energy needs. This is deemed so likely that many believe that renewable energy technologies will be the next major industrial boom, similar to the computer technology revolution of the 1980s and the internet revolution of the late 1990s. Increasingly, large quantities of venture capital are pouring into renewable energy companies in expectation of just such an outcome.

How you position your firm to take advantage of the probable boom in renewable energy depends on your business’s energy needs and usage. If green grid technology becomes widespread, the opportunity presents itself to businesses to become both an electricity consumer and a supplier. If carbon taxes or emissions trading systems drive the move away from petroleum transport fuels to biomass transport fuels, it is important to be prepared for that as well.

As the renewable energy debate gains momentum, NOW is the time to prepare for its eventual inevitability to help protect your business from rising energy and transportation costs.