Renewable Energy Grants

Renewable energy is also called non-conventional sources of energy or alternate sources of energy. These are relatively new techniques developed by man and an alternate to the non-renewable sources of energy which soon will be exhausted. Some of these are:

Solar energy – Man has only recently learnt how to harness solar energy. The sun will be there for billions of years to come and therefore this energy cannot be exhausted easily. We can use the sun’s energy directly. One way is to concentrate its heat, by using mirrors. In sunny places, this is used to make furnaces or to generate electricity.

Solar panels that are made up of special material that absorb sunlight convert the solar energy into chemical and electrical energy which is further used for various purposes like lighting, cooking and heating.

Biomass and bio-energy – Wood, wood waste, animal excreta like cow dung etc. fall under the category of biomass. Biomass has chemical energy stored in it. Hence, it is burnt to provide heat or electricity or converted to liquid or gaseous bio-fuels. Bio-gas plants are very common in rural areas. Here, the inexpensive and easily available cow dung is collected and processed in a special manner to release a gaseous fuel which is primarily used for lighting purposes and cooking. This is bio-energy. This is much less polluting and more efficient than the traditional cow-dung cakes.

Hydel energy – The flowing water of rivers is constantly replenished by the water cycle. So, hydroelectric power is a renewable source of energy. Hydel energy is used to run machines, turbines and to produce electricity. Water is collected in dams and allowed to fall from a height on turbines. These turbines are connected to generators which produce electricity.

Wind energy - Wind is used to run windmills which converts the wind energy to mechanical or electrical energy. The wind speed is high in coastal areas where it is harnessed and converted to electrical energy.

Nuclear energy – The nucleus of atoms of specific materials undergoes fission or is split in a controlled environment. This fission gives out tremendous amount of energy. Even fusion of nucleus produces tremendous energy. This energy is converted to electrical energy. The energy released in this process is so high that devastating bombs are also made on the same principle. The same energy can be used by mankind to help itself or to destroy itself. The choice lies in the judicious decision of mankind.

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