6.2 Types of Renewable Energy
141
Table 6.1 Examples of hydroelectric power plants globally
HEP plant
Location
Gigawatts, GW, produced
Krasnoyarsk
Russia
6.0
Sayanogorsk
Russia
6.4
Longtan
China
6.43
Xiangjiaba Dam
China
6.45
Grand Coulee Dam
US
6.81
Tucurui Dam
Brazil
8.37
Guri Dam
Venezuela
10.2
Xiluodu Dam
China
13.9
Source: Conca (2017)
Geothermal energy is a form of energy that is produced and stored in the Earth.
Ideally, thermal energy ascertains the temperature of matter and uses heated water
as well as steam from the surface of the Earth to fuel power stations that convert
steam into electricity. Despite geothermal energy being a crucial source of Green
energy, some of the challenges that are associated with it are the high costs involved
in building and the limited number of places for active geothermal areas. Contrarily,
hydroelectric power (HEP) makes use of flowing water to move turbines that
generate electricity (Pollet et al. 2012). There are numerous hydroelectric power
plants globally, but the major examples in terms of size are shown in Table 6.1.
The US Geological Survey (2018) estimates that hydropower provides 20%
of the energy needs of the world. There are various issues about the continued
utilization of hydropower that prevent it from being fully exploited. First, rivers
should be dammed, which can pose significant effects on wildlife and the land.
Second, the impact also influences communities relying on fish. Finally, the costs
associated with building such dams are quite high while the return takes an extended
period.
From the sources discussed above, what clean energy source do you believe
has the best potential for mass adoption?
Biomass energy is the other renewable energy and is obtained from plants. It is a
common form of energy globally. However, the most popular form is the use of trees
as sources of fuel for warmth and cooking. The process leads to the release of large
quantities of carbon dioxide into the air and significantly contributes to unhealthy
air in numerous areas. Some modern biomass energy forms are methane generation
as well as alcohol production for fueling electric power plants (Toklu 2017). Energy
obtained from oceans, tides, as well as hot hydrogen fusion, could also be utilized
for generating electricity.
141
Table 6.1 Examples of hydroelectric power plants globally
HEP plant
Location
Gigawatts, GW, produced
Krasnoyarsk
Russia
6.0
Sayanogorsk
Russia
6.4
Longtan
China
6.43
Xiangjiaba Dam
China
6.45
Grand Coulee Dam
US
6.81
Tucurui Dam
Brazil
8.37
Guri Dam
Venezuela
10.2
Xiluodu Dam
China
13.9
Source: Conca (2017)
Geothermal energy is a form of energy that is produced and stored in the Earth.
Ideally, thermal energy ascertains the temperature of matter and uses heated water
as well as steam from the surface of the Earth to fuel power stations that convert
steam into electricity. Despite geothermal energy being a crucial source of Green
energy, some of the challenges that are associated with it are the high costs involved
in building and the limited number of places for active geothermal areas. Contrarily,
hydroelectric power (HEP) makes use of flowing water to move turbines that
generate electricity (Pollet et al. 2012). There are numerous hydroelectric power
plants globally, but the major examples in terms of size are shown in Table 6.1.
The US Geological Survey (2018) estimates that hydropower provides 20%
of the energy needs of the world. There are various issues about the continued
utilization of hydropower that prevent it from being fully exploited. First, rivers
should be dammed, which can pose significant effects on wildlife and the land.
Second, the impact also influences communities relying on fish. Finally, the costs
associated with building such dams are quite high while the return takes an extended
period.
From the sources discussed above, what clean energy source do you believe
has the best potential for mass adoption?
Biomass energy is the other renewable energy and is obtained from plants. It is a
common form of energy globally. However, the most popular form is the use of trees
as sources of fuel for warmth and cooking. The process leads to the release of large
quantities of carbon dioxide into the air and significantly contributes to unhealthy
air in numerous areas. Some modern biomass energy forms are methane generation
as well as alcohol production for fueling electric power plants (Toklu 2017). Energy
obtained from oceans, tides, as well as hot hydrogen fusion, could also be utilized
for generating electricity.