At alternative energy sources bring together the forms of energy production that cause less environmental impact on the planet, therefore, it does not pollute. Alternative energies are derived from renewable energy sources (or clean energy) as they do not cease and renew themselves in nature spontaneously.
They are increasingly used in the world as alternative sources in relation to the most that often cause a strong environmental impact, such as burning fuel fossils.
In this sense, it is worth remembering that non-renewable energy sources (dirty energy) and natural resources, if exploited indefinitely, are exhausted in nature.
In Brazil, the most used energy source is hydraulic, however, current problems such as the scarcity of rain and consequently the evaporation of water from rivers has led to the development of other alternative energy sources, for example, solar and wind power.
Advantage and Disadvantage
The main advantage of using energy sources alternatives is, without a doubt, the low environmental impact they generate. In general, as a disadvantage of choosing alternative energy sources, we can mention the high costs for implementing and maintaining such systems.
Below are the main types of alternative energy sources:
Hydraulic energy
Hydraulic or hydroelectric energy uses water as the main source of energy production. They are used by the force of the water bodies of rivers, lakes and seas.
At hydroelectric plants are examples of the use of hydraulic energy that is transformed into mechanical energy by turbines and, finally, by electricity. It is one of the most used energy productions in the world and although it is considered an alternative, it can generate some impacts.
Thus, it can cause a great environmental impact, for example, with the construction of dams and flooding of areas, which leads to the loss of the natural habitat of several animals. In addition, they can also generate social impacts, for example, with the flooding of territories where there are riverside peoples.
ocean energy
In addition to the hydraulic energy of rivers and lakes, the force of the sea water is the so-called force of the driving tide. This type of energy comes from the strength of the Ocean currents (tides, waves), generating electrical energy.
Solar Energy is produced by the energy of the sun's rays and, therefore, is inexhaustible in nature. It is one of the most explored today as a clean and non-polluting alternative energy source.
Solar panels and photovoltaic cells are being used extensively in homes, so that they capture solar energy (light), and then transform it into electricity. They are also used for heating water (thermal energy).
Another important alternative energy source is wind energy, produced by the force of the winds. Used to pump water and produce electricity, many countries are choosing wind energy, as it is a clean source and easy to implement. Although it is unrepresentative in relation to other energy sources, it has been gaining ground on the world stage.
Wind energy transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy through wind turbines, species of weathervanes or windmills, located in open spaces that have a high incidence of air currents (wind). Some of the impacts it causes is the visual pollution and noise pollution.
Biomass, produced from organic matter residues (usually of vegetable origin), becomes a great alternative, for example, for the production of thermal energy and fuels: alcohol, biogas and biodiesel.
The main materials used are sugar cane, beetroot, corn, cassava, eucalyptus, firewood and vegetable oils (castor, oil palm, soy, etc.). It is interesting to note that it can be produced by reusing municipal waste (garbage) and other debris, which through combustion generates fuel. Note that combustion releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, harming the environment.
know more about The Characteristics of Carbon Dioxide.
Unlike other alternative energy sources that have high implementation and maintenance costs, biomass is of low cost, and therefore it is considered one of the important energy sources of the century and also a great alternative to non-renewable sources such as oil and coal, as it produces low impact environmental.
Geothermal or geothermal energy is obtained by heat coming from the interior of planet Earth. It is an alternative energy source that produces electricity through geothermal power plants that drill through the ground until reaching the Earth's interior.
It is a very old energy source, that is, it was already used by ancient peoples, either for cooking or heating houses. Although it is a clean energy (renewable energy) if used improperly, it can cause various damages to the planet, such as geological alteration.
See too:
- Energy sources
- Energy Sources Exercises (with template)
