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Renewable energy

Prospects and Problems

-MOHAMMED NIZAR.NThe ever increasing price of fossil fuels exepted with high pollutioncaused by plans using fossil fuels has made the world concern about the veryfeature of our planet. For instance, economic activity in countries across theworld which were depended heavily on imported petroleum and petroleum products was thrown out of gear by a sudden increase in petroleum pricesince 2000. Although the supplies of these fossil fuels such as coal, oil, andnatural gas are vast out they are not unlimited. And more important, theearth's atmosphere and biosphere may not survive the environmental impactof burning such enormous amounts of these fuels. Carbon stored over millions of years is being released in a matter of decades, disrupting theearth's carbon cycle in unpredictable ways. There is thus increasingrecognition of the role of renewable energy in ensuring energy security,sustainable development, decentralized energy supply and growth without

Renewable energy?

Now what is renewable energy? Why is everyone out there concerned aboutthe future of renewable energy? Well, the answers are not as tough as wewould have expected, nor do they require a lot of action in order to succeed.Our planet is dependent upon us to keep it thriving, and the best way to dothat is to switch over to renewable energy.

Renewable energy

isenergygenerated fromnatural resources —such as sunlight,wind,rain,tidesandgeothermal heat —which arerenewable

(naturally replenished). Renewable energy technologies includesolar power ,wind power ,hydroelectricity,micro hydro, biomassand biofuels. According to IEA,

"Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that arereplenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun,or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the definition iselectricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower,biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen derived fromrenewable resources."

Renewable energy from all sources accounts for onlyabout 8% of global energy production. Nuclear makes upanother 6% of global energy production. This leavesabout 86% of global energy coming from fossil fuels,which are both non-renewable, and also the major causeof global climate change.

Renewable energy sources1. WindWind power

is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form, such aselectricity, usingwind turbines. At the end of 2007, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was 94.1gigawatts.

Although wind produces about1% of world-wide electricity use, it accounts for approximately 19% of electricity production inDenmark , 9% inSpainandPortugal, and 6% in Germanyand theRepublic of Ireland(2007 data). Globally, wind power generation increased more than fivefold between 2000 and 2007. Windenergy has a huge potential for electricity generation. The power output of aturbine is a function of the cube of the wind speed, so as wind speedincreases, power output increases dramatically. Areas where winds arestronger and more constant, such as offshore and high altitude sites are preferred locations for wind farms.

India

ranks fourth amongst the wind-energy-producing countries of the world after Germany, Spain and USA

More than 95% of installed capacity belongs to Private Sector in sevenstates. It is learnt that Tata power would be investing Rs. 500Crs for additional 115 MW wind project in Gujrat and Karnataka states. The order for the turbine have already been placed .This project shall be in addition of