Renewable Energy
Sustainable energy is energy that is not depleted by continuous use, does not cause environmental damage for future generations and does not involve substantial health hazards or social injustice.
Renewable energy sources are mainly obtained from the power of the sun’s radiation. Directly or indirectly, this provides us with bio-energy, solar, water and wind power. These offer a long term option for the UK to remain self-sufficient in its use of fuel (excluding transport).
The benefit of renewable energy is the reduction of fossil fuels usage and the minimisation of levels of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. The increased use of burning fossil fuels has caused a rise of carbon dioxide levels, with the overall effect of global warming bringing higher rainfall, and freak weather conditions of storms and flooding; or the extreme high temperatures as experienced in 2003.
Bio-Energy
There are two main biomass energy crops:
- Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) - the periodic cutting of wood (often willow or other fast growing trees).
- Miscanthus - a grass plant.
This wood is used to provide fuel and replaces the use of gas. Biomass is a useful resource for rural areas and can overall have a zero carbon emissions as it offsets carbon during its production. The use of biomass is best suited to a level fuel demand, not peaks and troughs as typically found for domestic purposes.
Landfill Gas
The digestion of municipal waste disposal in landfill produces methane, which can be used to provide heat or be converted into electricity and sold to the national grid. Bracknell's landfill site contains an array of perforated pips which go down to depths of 20 metres into the refuse and collect this gas. This is then used to provide heat to a local school, which has reduced its heating costs by more than 50%. Excess energy is sold to the grid.
 |
Listen |  |
Feedback |  |
