What are the most ecological energy sources?
- Ecology, News
Author: M.A Martyna Marlikowska
Substantive support: Dr. Eng. Krzysztof Bartczak
Spis treści
What are the green energy sources?
We have several renewable sources that are already bringing a veritable revolution to the global energy market – eco heating and electrical installations powered by renewable energy are setting an innovative direction in the development of energy environmentally friendly.
Wind energy
Wind turbines to obtain electricity from the wind are erected on land and sea. Wind turbines can also be used to drive water pumps for irrigation and drainage of agricultural fields. More and more private investors are also opting for their own small wind turbines. This type of RES is cheap to operate.
Water energy
Hydroelectric power plants using the energy of flowing or falling water are an extremely efficient source of renewable energy. Poland has very good conditions for the development of this type of RES. Households located near water reservoirs can also obtain energy by investing in this type of RES.
Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is also a good energy direction for Poland and many other countries whose location guarantees access to such groundwater resources. A ground source heat pumps in such conditions are the best solution. Iceland using geothermal heat pump or ground source heat pump is taking full advantage of its potential by investing in geothermal energy due to its numerous geothermal areas.
Aerothermal energy
Aerothermal energy, or air heated by the sun’s rays (warm air), is used by air-to-air source heat pump to heat or cool domestic spaces.
Solar energy
Popular photovoltaic systems installed to generate electricity are installed on roofs, land, water, farm fields and vehicles. Solar collectors also use the sun’s energy to produce thermal energy.
Bioenergy
Biomass created from plant and animal waste or agricultural/forestry production is processed into solid, liquid and gaseous fuels ideal for combustion – thus producing heat or electricity. It is important to use in biomass boilers existing waste for biomass production, not biocomponents created for this purpose.
What benefits do renewable energy sources bring us?
The advantages of RES cannot be overestimated. Thanks to them:
- we pay much less for electricity,
- we have them in abundance – they are inexhaustible,
- we do not emit a significant amount of dust, gases and heavy metals into the atmosphere,
- we can expect a quick return on investment (usually within a few years),
- we use them maintenance-free (they are fully safe and almost failure-free),
- we have an efficient source of electricity,
- we gain greater energy independence,
- subsidies for green home heating available on the market make them affordable to more and more people.
What challenges does the RES industry face?
Renewable sources of electricity also have their drawbacks. These include:
- high investment costs (which, however, will pay for themselves in a short time; it is also worthwhile to obtain subsidies for ecological home heating),
- the problem of disposing of wind turbines and photovoltaic panels (although there are ideas to use them for other purposes),
- dependence on the weather,
- occupation of large areas of land (agrophotovoltaics and photovoltaics on water somewhat solve this problem),
- some aspects of RES are not fully ecological, such as the construction of a hydropower dam.
Europe's climate neutrality by 2050
How to heat the house ecologically?
Forget about coal or oil fired boilers. It’s better to opt for RES like a wood boiler or heat pump. Each of us wants to have cheap, ecological heating instalation saving money and paying lower heating bills and utility bills. By making a decision, we have a chance to reduce air pollution and the effects of climate catastrophe. Ecological heating and electricity installations are, in our opinion, the most sensible choice. Green home heating system, such as a heat pump, combined with photovoltaics and energy storage is the ideal set for a modern home.
Eco heating options and green electricity for business are also becoming increasingly important. The energy revolution affects not only private investors, but also large companies that want to take a part in energy revolution.
