Renewable and non-renewable energy sources – types of heating and ecology
- Ecology, News
Author: M.A Martyna Marlikowska
Substantive support: Dr. Eng. Krzysztof Bartczak
Spis treści
What is the difference between electricity and heat energy?
Let’s start with the difference between electricity and heat energy. In our opinion, the difference between a photovoltaic module and a solar collector is two different issues that interact with each other.
Electricity is an ordered flow of charges that powers various machines and devices with electricity. Conventional power plants use coal or biomass to generate mechanical energy, which is converted into electrical energy in the so-called generators. An ecological alternative are renewable energy sources, i.e. photovoltaic, wind or water power plants.
Thermal energy, the unit of measurement of which is temperature, is released during the chaotic movement of molecules. It is produced as a result of fuel combustion (e.g. gas boiler), but it can also come from solar energy or geothermal energy. An example would be solar collectors, which are used, for example, to heat domestic water.
In combined heat and power plants, thanks to the combined production of heat and electricity in cogeneration, better fuel yields are achieved compared to separate systems.
The homeowner can obtain even greater benefits from the simultaneous use of a photovoltaic installation and the so-called solar panels, i.e. solar collectors.
Gas and uranium - green energy sources?
Is gas heating ecological?
Exactly, what’s the deal with this gas? Is gas heating ecological? Are greenhouse gas emissions the same as burning coal? Definitely not. Especially condensing boilers, which additionally convert exhaust gases into thermal energy, emit much less harmful substances into the atmosphere. Moreover, in the case of condensing boilers, the annual electricity consumption translates into a lower bill compared to traditional boilers.
However, the release of carbon dioxide, water vapor and nitrogen still occurs. Carbon dioxide emissions for natural gas are 247 g/kWh and for particulate matter 6 mg/kWh. We can only point out that it is a better solution for our planet than other fossil fuels, but its resources are the most limited. Many countries are replacing coal with gas during the energy transition.
Are pellet boilers eco?
Pellet is a biofuel composed of compressed sawdust from deciduous or coniferous trees. When burning pellets, small amounts of carbon dioxide are released – CO2 emissions are 23 g/kWh and dust emissions are 73 g/kWh. Additionally, ash from pellets should be used to fertilize the soil. The disadvantage of this type of boiler is the high installation cost and the need to store fuel, but in terms of ecology they are the leader in the ranking.
Is a heat pump really eco-friendly?
What other sources of renewable energy should we consider?
As we mentioned earlier, the smartest choice is a heat pump combined with photovoltaics. Electricity warehouses in which we can store surplus energy are now becoming more and more justified and are also becoming the third key element of an ecological installation.
There are different types of renewable energy sources. Photovoltaics, i.e. a method of obtaining electricity from solar radiation (generating electricity “in your own garden”) is the future of energy, just like wind energy, hydroelectric power plants (water energy), the use of geothermal energy or the burning of biomass (plant and animal products). The share of renewable energy sources is increasing and Europe is striving to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Current environmental pollution and huge amounts of carbon dioxide are caused by the use of non-renewable energy sources and the burning of fossil fuels. In order not to act at the last minute, it is worth guaranteeing your energy security and building independence in this matter. The answer is renewable energy from land, water, wind and sun.
What types of fossil fuels are there and how long do they last?
According to current documentation, coal will last us 95 years, the rest are estimates that potentially indicate that it is the most abundant on Earth compared to natural gas and crude oil. The latter will end after 42 years, and the optimistic version extends this time only to 63 years.
Let us remember that the extraction and combustion of solid fuels is not neutral to the environment. Especially when burning coal, most harmful substances are released into the atmosphere, including: carbon dioxide, sulfur and others. Gas is the least harmful among fossil raw materials.
The types of fossil and non-renewable fuels are:
- coal,
- lignite,
- Petroleum,
- natural gas,
- peat.
*Uranium is not classified as a fossil fuel, even though it is found underground and its quantity is exhaustible. Uranium is classified as a nuclear fuel.
What heating is the most ecological?
The ranking for the most ecological home heating should be won by a pellet boiler, if we only take into account CO2 emissions. However, when the heat pump is combined with photovoltaics, CO2 emissions also drop to a minimum. Another advantage is the fact that the heat pump is maintenance-free, lower operating costs, and there is no need to purchase and store fuel.
Compared to solid fuel boilers (generally) and gas boilers, a heat pump is the most ecological heating currently available on the market. It is also worth considering subsidies for heat pumps, which significantly reduce their cost.
Which ecological heating installations should you install in your home?
According to the data collected so far, the best option is renewable energy sources to generate electricity and heat. We recommend installing a heat pump with photovoltaics if we are at the stage of building a house. The latest trends also indicate the increasing importance of installing energy storage and intelligent energy management systems, but we will discuss this topic in the next article. There are subsidies for ecological heating available on the market, which will reduce the initial investment cost. In any case, let’s forget about boilers burning fossil fuels.
Many of us live in houses or apartments where options are limited for various reasons. However, when we have to take action in this direction, it is worth choosing a renewable energy source that will actually reduce our bills and be environmentally friendly. In this case, let’s use biomass energy or other renewable energy generation systems. It would be good to find out what energy resources are available for us and make an informed decision.
