Katerina Swanson
Fossil fuels are the leading non-renewable energy sources worldwide. Examples of fossil fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas. They are drilled or mined and then burned to produce electricity. However, burning fossil fuels releases harmful greenhouse gases and contributes to climate change. As a result, there is a growing emphasis on developing and utilizing renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. Two examples of non-fossil fuel energies are solar power and hydropower. Solar power captures sunlight on solar panels to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect, while hydropower uses the movement of flowing or falling water in hydroelectric power plants to generate electricity through underwater turbines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Two non-fossil fuel energies | Solar energy and wind energy |
| Sources of solar energy | Sunlight |
| Sources of wind energy | Moving air |
| How solar energy is generated | Through photovoltaic panels or mirrors that concentrate solar radiation |
| How wind energy is generated | Through wind turbines |
| Advantages of solar energy | Solar panels are affordable, have a lifespan of roughly 30 years, and can be used in most countries |
| Advantages of wind energy | The world's technical potential for wind energy exceeds global electricity production |
| Disadvantages of solar energy | The amount of sunlight available depends on location, season, and time of day |
| Disadvantages of wind energy | The best locations for generating wind power are sometimes remote |
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What You'll Learn
Solar power
There are two main types of solar energy technologies: photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP). PV systems use solar panels to convert sunlight directly into electric power. PV systems are the more common of the two, and they work by absorbing the sun's energy through PV cells, which create an electrical charge that flows as electricity. On the other hand, CSP systems use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight and convert it into extreme heat to produce steam, which is then converted into electricity by a turbine.
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Wind power
The electricity generated by wind turbines can be used to power individual homes, farms, or communities, or it can be fed into the electric grid to power homes, businesses, and schools with the help of transmission and distribution cables. The wind is an abundant and consistent natural resource, making wind energy a reliable and affordable source of renewable energy.
Wind farms can be installed on land or offshore, taking advantage of wind currents across the United States and along its coastlines. The use of wind energy provides financial benefits, such as reduced utility bills, tax credits, and financial incentives, as well as contributing to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.
Wind turbines have come a long way since their predecessors, the windmills, which were used to mill grain rather than generate electricity. Modern wind turbines use sleek, modern materials and advanced technologies to efficiently capture kinetic energy and convert it into electricity.
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Hydroelectric power
Hydropower, or hydroelectric power, is a renewable source of energy that harnesses the power of water to generate electricity. It is one of the oldest sources of energy, with a history dating back to ancient times when it was used for grinding grain. The first industrial use of hydropower to generate electricity was in 1880 in the United States, and it has since become a significant source of renewable energy worldwide.
The amount of electricity generated by a hydropower plant depends on the volume of water flow and the change in elevation, also known as the head. A higher volume of water flow and a greater change in elevation can result in increased electricity production. Pumped-storage hydroelectric systems are used to balance the varying demands for electricity at different times of the day. During off-peak periods, excess electricity is used to pump water into elevated reservoirs. Then, during peak demand periods, the stored water is released, flowing through the turbines to generate additional electricity.
In 2019, hydroelectric power accounted for more than 18% of the world's total power generation capacity, showcasing its significant contribution to global energy production. However, as of 2022, hydroelectricity's share of total US electricity generation has decreased, mainly due to the increasing use of other energy sources. Nevertheless, hydroelectric power remains an important component of the renewable energy landscape and is expected to play a crucial role in the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
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Nuclear power
The history of nuclear power began with military applications, but the 1950s saw optimism for its potential as a cheap and abundant energy source. In 1951, electricity was first generated by a nuclear reactor, marking a pivotal moment. The "Atoms for Peace" speech by President Dwight Eisenhower further emphasised the peaceful utilisation of nuclear power, leading to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which encouraged private sector development. The U.S. Navy was the first organisation to harness practical nuclear power, propelling submarines and aircraft carriers.
However, nuclear power has faced controversies and concerns. The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011 highlighted the risks associated with nuclear power, including radiological hazards and potential accidents. These incidents influenced a decrease in new plant constructions and sparked debates about the role and safety of nuclear power.
Despite the debates, nuclear power has made a significant contribution to global energy production. France, for example, has heavily invested in nuclear power, with 71% of its electricity generated by nuclear power in 2019, the highest percentage worldwide. Nuclear power remains a crucial component in the transition to clean and renewable energy sources, offering a reliable and low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels.
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Hydrogen power
Hydrogen is a clean fuel that, when consumed in a fuel cell, produces only water. Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of resources, including natural gas, nuclear power, biogas, biomass, and renewable power like solar and wind.
Today, about 95% of all hydrogen is produced from steam reforming of natural gas, known as steam methane reforming (SMR). This process accounted for 1.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. Low-carbon hydrogen, which is made using SMR with carbon capture and storage (blue hydrogen), or through electrolysis of water using renewable power (green hydrogen), accounted for less than 1% of production. Green hydrogen is produced by using electricity to power an electrolyser that splits the hydrogen from water molecules, producing pure hydrogen with no harmful by-products.
Hydrogen has many applications, including use in cars, houses, and for portable power. Hydrogen is also a lightweight fuel option for road, air, and shipping transportation. In the future, hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in the rail and heavy truck energy sectors, particularly for long-distance travel.
The concept of a hydrogen economy, where hydrogen is the primary means of energy storage, was first theorized by geneticist J. B. S. Haldane in 1923. Haldane proposed using wind turbines to produce hydrogen and oxygen for long-term energy storage through electrolysis, addressing the variable output of renewable power sources. The term "hydrogen economy" was later coined by John Bockris in 1970, who envisioned hydrogen as an energy carrier to address concerns about fossil fuel depletion and environmental pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
Two examples of non-fossil fuel energy sources are solar power and hydropower. Solar power generates electricity by capturing sunlight on solar panels, while hydropower uses the movement of flowing or falling water to generate electricity through underwater turbines.
Non-fossil fuel energies, also known as renewable or green energies, are important because they are in much more plentiful supply compared to fossil fuels and produce little to no harmful emissions. Examples of harmful emissions include carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change and global warming.
Other examples of non-fossil fuel energies include nuclear energy, hydrogen fuel, ethanol, and biodiesel. Nuclear energy is considered non-renewable due to its reliance on mined uranium, a non-renewable resource, but it only contributes to a small proportion of the world's energy and electricity.
