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Development Of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy refers to energy with sources that are naturally replenishing, such as wind, sunlight, water sources (rain and tides) as well as geothermal energy. This natural replenishment is what makes renewable energy so promising and desired: it would mean not just an end to energy dependence on other nations, but more importantly, it would mean a healthier, cleaner environment. It also does not require any deep exploitation of the earth, avoiding land subsidence and other issues plaguing traditional forms of energy.

Currently, renewable energy makes up less than twenty percent of all of our combined, global energy consumption. It is growing, though, especially with regard to wind and solar power. Solar panels and wind farms are being constructed and put into service in many places around the globe. However, there are still problems and challenges facing further adoption to renewable energy sources.

First, there are political challenges. Traditional energy companies, such as those focused on coal energy or oil production, are a major political obstacle when it comes to the development and adoption of renewable energy. With limited funding and lobbying to determine which industry benefits, renewable energy companies and research institutions are lagging behind traditional sources. However, this can change rapidly, if we are all willing to support the increased research and development of renewable energy sources.

Second, there are scientific and technological challenges. For example, there are issues with solar cell efficiency. Currently, solar cells are only able to handle either high energy electrons or low energy electronics, not both at the same time. This means that solar panels are currently has as efficient as they could be -- which also means that current solar energy is twice as expensive as it could be. Biofuels have similar efficiency concerns, as the science and technology involved with the conversion process from biomass sources into consumable energy are still in their infancy.

But there is hope: with increased funding and attention on renewable energy, the science and technology behind all of the possibilities will increase. With that increase in science and technology will come increased efficiency and cleanliness? And with increases in those areas will come increased adoption, as well as a decrease in costs. This could ultimately result in a much larger reliance on reliable, renewable energy rather than traditional, nonrenewable energy. The benefits of such a switch would be enormous.

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ExxonMobil is an American gas, and oil company. It became a company in late 1999 when two oil companies merged into one. Exxon and Mobil. The company descended from the former Standard Oil company founded by John D Rockefeller. The merger of Exxon and Mobil to...

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