Renewable Energy Sources – A Review

Abstract

The development of technology combined with the surge in population has led to a new era of living that has increased energy demand. Fossil fuel has been the main energy source for so many years, but it is no longer sustainable with its depletion and negative consequences. A need has arisen for a replacement resource to replace the depleting fossil fuels using right now. This need is what pushes us towards renewable energy. An examination of renewable energy sources: their uses, potentials, and limitations, as well as their effects on the climate and human health, is presented in this work. As final recommendations, the paper outlines policies and strategies to address climate change and fully integrate renewables as a sustainable energy source. Renewable energy means collecting energy from natural resources that are replenished over time, like sunlight, wind, tides, waves, etc. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are being used far faster than they are being replenished. While the majority of renewable energy is considered sustainable, there are some that are not, for instance some biomass.     In addition to their major advantages, renewable energy sources also have some disadvantages. The initial setup costs are very high. High storage costs pose a problem for storing energy. Renewable energy is dependent on weather conditions that may be unpredictable, causing energy shortages. There is a need for a large area for installing renewable energy technologies.

         Fossil fuels are depleting gradually and negatively impacting the environment. Switching to renewable energy sources is necessary to limit their negative impact. These are the energy sources that do not deplete with time and provide nearly unlimited energy According to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), 65% of total greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2) emission that comes from fossil fuels. Among the key factors in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels in recent years is renewable energy. Shortly, renewable energy sources will grow rapidly and will potentially become the primary source of energy, reducing over-dependence on fossil fuel. Wind energy is the use of wind to provide electric power using a wind turbine to turn generators.