Effat Tyeba
Our environment is getting worse day by day. Environmental degradations are happened by many factors increasing urbanization, population, and economic process, increase in energy consumption, and agricultural intensification. The utilization of fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas) has increased with the event of civilization. The increased amount of greenhouse gases have caused temperatures to rise, which are causing catastrophic events everywhere on the planet and if we continue burning fossil fuels at our current rate, it’s generally estimated that each one of our fossil fuels is going to be depleted by 2060.
Earth is turning into an uninhabitable planet. The planet is facing an enormous number of man-made problems like pollution, heatwave, soil degradation, deforestation, acid rain, natural resources depletion, and ecological collapse, etc. So, we are mainly liable for this environmental crisis and ruining the environment in both direct and indirect ways. But most of these problems are creating for rapid utilization and use of natural resources in an unsustainable way.
Global climate change has already had a noticeable impact on the environment. As per a replacement study, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are often helpful in preventing up to three million premature deaths yearly by the year 2100. Other statistics show that aggressive reduction in these dangers can help in preventing 30,000 to 700,000 premature deaths yearly by the year 2030. If the recession continues, it could prevent 800,000 to 1.8 million premature deaths a year by 2050.
Renewable energies can play a crucial role in reducing pollution generally, especially when using biomass for energy. Renewable Energy refers to an energy that’s sustainable – something that can’t run out or is endless just like the sun that comes from natural processes which are constantly replenished. There are some sources of renewable energy i.e. solar power, wind energy, hydro energy, geothermal, tidal energy, biomass energy. Using clean renewable energy is one of the foremost important steps we fancy to reduce our impact on the environment. Renewable energy reduces harmful smog, toxic build-ups within the air and water. Renewable energy reduces harmful impacts due to coal mining and gas extraction.
Solar
The sun is the largest source of energy as the world receives a large amount of energy from it. It is inexhaustible. Solar energy is limitless and clean energy, the whole world depends on it. Basically, by the conversion of sunshine into electricity, solar energy is made. The sun provides an excellent resource for generating clean and sustainable electricity without toxic pollution or heating emissions. The most common way is by installing and using photovoltaic panels in areas where huge ranges of rays are captured or through concentrated solar power systems.
Hydropower
Hydropower is the process of energy transformation that converts the kinetic energy of falling or fast running water into electrical or mechanical energy which is suitable for the uses of human beings. Hydropower plants can generate power to the grid immediately, they provide essential backup power during major electricity outages or disruptions. In addition to a sustainable fuel source, hydropower efforts produce a number of benefits, such as flood control, irrigation, and water supply.
Wind
Wind generation has been in one form or the other for many years – think conventional sailboats and agricultural windmills that pump water. Lately, the wind facility is getting wont to urge electricity, using huge, three-bladed, horizontal-axis turbines that substitute tall towers like 20-story buildings. Uses the K.E. of the moving air. The first application of relevance to global climate change mitigation is to provide electricity from large wind turbines located on onshore or offshore. Offshore wind production technology has greater potential for continued technological advancements. The International Energy Agency predicts wind power could meet 9% of global electricity demand.
Ocean/Tidal
Ocean or flowing or tidal energy is another sort of energy that folks are utilizing for quite a while. There are three distinct approaches to handling tidal energy-
Flowing streams: where turbines are put in the quick streaming waterway.
Blasts: where turbines are put in dams. The entryways are open because the tide rises and shuts when the dam is full, catching an abundance of water that’s then skilled the turbines.
Flowing tidal ponds: where turbines are put in pools of ocean water trimmed in by common or man-made hindrances
One of the main drivers for tidal stream power generation combats global climate change. It helps to reduce CO2 emissions by being: 100% renewable, 100% reliable, and 100% predictable energy source. Every kWh of power generated by ‘tidal’ saves ~1,000g CO2, compared to an equivalent power generated by diesel.
Geothermal
Geothermal energy is the heat that arrives from the sub-surface of the earth. Geothermal power plants produce electricity without burning fuel. Though they don’t burn fuel, they produce 97% less amount of sulfur dioxide and 99% less CO2. As indicated by the Union of Concerned Scientists, ”Below Earth’s covering, there’s a layer of hot and liquid stone, called magma. Warmth is consistently delivered during this layer, for the foremost part from the rot of normally radioactive materials like uranium and potassium. The measure of heat inside 10,000 meters of surface contains multiple times more energy than all the oil and flammable gas assets within the world. Geothermal offices created around 68 billion kilowatt-long periods of power, enough to satisfy the yearly requirements of more than 6 million commonplace U.S. families. Geothermal plants represent in more than 25% of the facility created in both Iceland and El Salvador .”
Biomass
Biomass is plant or animal material used as fuel for electricity or heat generation. Examples are wood, energy crops, and waste from forests, yards, or farms. The biomass discharges energy (as warmth) when copied. Overall focal points for making biomass energy include shops in wood and forest areas; Non-destructive material (like biodegradable junk). The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) defines bioenergy as a renewable form of energy. Researchers have disputed that the utilization of forest biomass for energy is carbon neutral. This reduces the overdependence on fossil fuels. By burning solid waste, the amount of garbage dumped in landfills is reduced by 60 to 90 percent and reduces the cost of landfill disposal and the amount of land required for landfills. Biomass production adds a revenue source for manufacturers.
Benefits of renewable energy
No damage to the environment: Non-renewable energy sources are causes of the exploitation of the earth, releases toxic gases into the atmosphere which is harmful for human beings and the environment. But renewable sources are uses without environmental degradation.
Lower emission or, no emission: Non-renewable energy contributes to climate change. Most renewable energy sources result in little to no emissions. The consumption of renewable energy sources brings down the carbon emission as it requires no burning no extraction.
Prevention of global warming & climate change: Most renewable energy sources leave little or no global warming emissions. When it emits that is very low and has less impact on the environment. Renewable sources are clean energy that aids in bringing down residual waste. Waste to energy process decrease in the rate of carbon footprints, leading to a greener and cleaner environment.
Affordable for all: Renewable energy comes at low costs so we can keep energy prices at affordable levels. In urban communities in the creating scene, environmentally friendly power is the best way to grow energy admittance to all occupants, especially those living in metropolitan ghettos and casual settlements and in rural and peri-metropolitan zones. Renewable energy is accessible to all. That’s good for development.
Wildlife protection: Dams and reservoirs are used for various purposes like rural water systems, flood control, and amusement, and influence antagonistically the wildlife. Tackling fuel sources from here represents another threat to them and their natural surroundings. By picking sustainable sources, we can give assurance to them and their habitats also.
Renewable energy sources are Inexhaustible, they don’t pollute, Reduce the use of fossil fuels, Reduce energy imports, Create wealth and local employment, Contribute to sustainable development. Conventional energy sources based on coal, gas and oil are very helpful for the betterment of a country’s economy, but on the other hand, some of the ill effects of these resources in the environment have forced us to use these resources within certain limits and turned our thinking towards renewable energy resources.
Social, environmental and economic problems can be eliminated by using renewable energy sources, as these resources are considered eco-friendly, with no or little emissions of exhaust and toxic gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, etc. Renewable energy is going to be an important source for power generation in the near future as we can use these resources again and again to generate useful energy.
Author is a student at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh
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