RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Renewable energy are in-exhaustible energy.

Renewable energy sources derive their energy from existing flows of energy, from on-going natural process.

Renewable energy sources is captured from an energy resource that is replaced rapidly by a natural process such as power generated from the sun or from the wind.

TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

Solar energy.

Wind energy.

Geo-thermal energy.

Hydro power energy.

At present, solar energy and wind energy are most important and popularly used renewable sources of energy of electricity generation.

SOLAR ENERGY

Solar Energy is the energy from the Sun. 

The Sun is a big ball of heat and light resulting from nuclear fusion at its core.  The nuclear reaction releases energy that travels outward to the surface of the Sun. 

Solar energy is often called "alternative energy" to fossil fuel energy sources such as oil and coal.

The light energy from the sun is converted into useful energy forms such as electrical energy, heat energy, etc.,

HOW IT WORKS?

It works on the principle of Photo-voltaic effect.

The process of converting light (photons) to electricity (voltage) is called the photovoltaic (PV) effect.

This effect was first discovered by the French physicist Edmund Becquerel in 1839.

The photo effect describes the conversion of light into an Electric current.

SOLAR CELLS

The solar cells are made of thin layers of material, usually silicon. 

Photo Galvanic cell is the one, which converts the solar energy directly into electrical energy.

An array of solar cells converts solar energy into a usable amount of direct current(DC) electricity.

SOLAR CELL PROCESSING

MERITS AND DEMERITS

MERITS

Solar energy makes use of a renewable natural  resource that is readily available. 

No fuel transportation problem

DEMERITS

Solar thermal systems are not cost-effective in areas.

Batteries need periodic maintenance and replacement.

Its installing cost is very high

APPLICATIONS OF SOLAR ENERGY

Solar cells are used in calculators, electronic watches, radios and Tv’s.

Solar cells can be used to drive vehicles.

Now a days electric street lights are replaced by solar street lights.

Solar cells , made of silicon, are used as a source of electricity in space craft and satellites.

WIND ENERGY

Moving air is called Wind. Energy recovered from the force of wind is called Wind energy.

Wind energy is a clean and renewable source of power.

The Wind energy is harnessed by making use of wind mills.

WIND FARMS

When large number of wind mills are installed and joined together in a definite pattern it forms a wind farm. The wind farms produce large amount of electricity.

MERITS AND DEMERITS

MERITS

It does not cause any air pollution

It is very cheap and economic

It is renewable

Power production at low cost

DEMERITS

Wind farms produce unwanted sound

Wind turbines interfere with electromagnetic signals( TV, Radio signals)

GEO THERMAL ENERGY

HYDRO POWER ENERGY

CONCLUSION

As we know that the fossil fuels like coal, oil, petrol, diesel are consumed at a high rate , so there is a chance of scarcity for these non-renewable sources.

So it is better to find an alternative method of replacing these non-renewable energy by renewable energy sources .

So awareness must be created among the students and public.