More renewable power, extra life for earth
The sun, directly or indirectly, is the source of most renewable energy forms. Direct sunlight or solar energy, can be used directly for heating water and lighting premises, for generating electricity from stored power into batteries and for a wide range of commercial and industrial uses. The sun’s heat also drives the winds, whose energy, is captured with wind turbines and can be used for several applications. Renewable power is an intermittent power source. Thus, if you are intending to rely solely on renewable energy for your power supply, or if you are looking to have a backup power source if your electricity is out, then storing electrical energy within reliable battery arrays is a must.
Solar Power
Solar power is the harnessing of radiant heat and light from the sun directly, and converting it to electrical power or heat. This conversion is achieved through crystalline or amorphous silicon photovoltaic (PV) panels. The most popular of the two are the crystalline silicon panels due to their higher output per square inch. They are the most common usage of solar power and are doubling in popularity every two years. The panels are connected in series if you want to increase the amount of voltage supplied, on in parallel in order to increase the supplied DC current enabling it to charge a battery or run any device designed to operate on DC current. To convert DC current into household AC electricity, an inverter is require Saved.
Solar lighting
Solar lighting has become a much popular application for walkways, streets, and entrances to buildings. The system contains a solar panel on the top and a small battery to store the energy throughout the day. The lights, which usually contain LED bulbs, then activate at night to provide lighting well into the nighttime hours. This method saves energy and eliminates the need to turn outdoor lighting on and off.
Solar heating
Solar heating is a popular application of solar energy for the purpose of heating water through solar thermal collectors that move water heated by the sun into a collection tank or an existing hot water heater. Some systems, especially for winter conditions, have a separate pump that moves fluid containing a type of antifreeze into a heat exchanger, which then transfers the heat into the household hot water supply.
Other popular applications of solar energy, in rural areas, include solar ovens that use concentrated sunlight, heat trapping or light to heat conversion methods to cook food, thus saving on cooking gas consumption in sunny days.
China is a world leader in solar power capacity and additions per annum with 130 Gigawatts in 2017 according to the Renewables 2018 global status report REN21.
Wind Power
The best thing about wind power is the benefit of having a source of energy whenever solar energy is unavailable. It is often the perfect complement because when the storm clouds roll in and block out the sun, there is usually wind. Unlike solar energy, it works to produce energy and store it during the night time hours. Offshore and onshore wind power farms have gained popularity over the years.
Wind energy systems include the following major components: the rotor and its blades, the hub assembly, the main shaft, the gear box system, main frame, transmission, yaw mechanism, over speed protection, electric generator, nacelle, yaw drive, power conditioning equipment, and tower.
Wind turbines
Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy found in wind to mechanical energy. The mechanical energy is then converted to electrical energy through use of a DC motor connected directly or indirectly to the mechanical propeller. The wind generator has conductors (wires) that can then be connected to a system for energy storage, a suitable rechargeable battery. An energy storage system is necessary because of the erratic levels of electricity produced by wind power.
According to Renewable 2018 global status report REN21, the maximum share of electricity generation from renewable (wind + Solar) power reached around 55% in Denmark in 2017.
Investments in renewable energy sectors is growing by the year with solar and wind energy being most attractive for investors. China is spending, 86 Billion USD, as much as the rest of the world on solar power according to REN21, the renewable 2018 global status report.
