RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Renewable energy is becoming an increasingly important issue in

todays world. In addition to the rising cost of fossil fuels and the threat of
Climate Change, there has also been positive developments in this field which
include improvements in efficiency as well as diminishing prices. All of this has
increased the demand for alternative energy and accelerated the transition
towards cleaner, more sustainable methods of electrical power.
There are many kinds of Renewable Energys. Those are:

Biomass
Solar Energy
Tidal Energy
Geothermal Power

BIOMASS:

The most widely used form of renewable energy is biomass. Biomass

simply refers to the use of organic materials and converting them into other
forms of energy that can be used. Although some forms of biomass have been
used for centuries such as burning wood other, newer methods, are focused
on methods that dont produce carbon dioxide. For example, there are clean
burning biofuels that are alternatives to oil and gas.

Unlike fossil fuels, which are produced by geological processes, a biofuel is

produced through biological processes such as agriculture and anaerobic
digestion. Common fuels associated with this process are bioethanol, which is
created by fermenting carbohydrates derived from sugar or starch crops (such as
corn, sugarcane, or sweet sorghum) to create alcohol. Another common biofuel
is known as biodiesel, which is produced from oils or fats using a process
known as transesterification, where acid molecules are exchanged for alcohol
with the help of a catalyst. These types of fuels are popular alternatives to
gasoline, and can be burned in vehicles that have been converted to run on
them.

SOLAR ENERGY:

Solar power is one of the most popular, and fastest-growing, sources

of alternative energy. Here, the process involves solar cells (usually made from
slices of crystalline silicon) that rely on the photovoltaic (PV) effect to absorb
photons and convert them into electrons. Meanwhile, solar-thermal power
(another form of solar power) relies on mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large
area of sunlight, or solar thermal energy (STE), onto a small area (i.e. a solar
cell).

Initially, photovoltaic power was only used for small to medium-sized

operations, ranging from solar powered devices (like calculators) to household
arrays. However, ever since the 1980s, commercial concentrated solar power
plants have become much more common. Not only are they a relatively
inexpensive source of energy where grid power is inconvenient, too expensive,
or just plain unavailable; increases in solar cell efficiency and dropping prices

are making solar power competitive with conventional sources of power (i.e.
fossil fuels and coal). Today, solar power is also being increasingly used in gridconnected situations as a way to feed low-carbon energy into the grid. By 2050,
the International anticipates that solar power including STE and PV operations
will constitute over 25% of the market, making it the worlds largest source of
electricity (with most installations being deployed in China and India).

WIND POWER:

Wind power has been used for thousands of years to push sails, power
windmills, or to generate pressure for water pumps. Harnessing the wind to
generate electricity has been the subject of research since the late 19th century.
However, it was only with major efforts to find alternative sources of power in
the 20th century that wind power has become the focal point of considerable
research and development.

Compared to other forms of renewable energy, wind power is considered

very reliable and steady, as wind is consistent from year to year and does not
diminish during peak hours of demand. Initially, the construction of wind farms
was a costly venture. But thanks to recent improvements, wind power has begun
to set peak prices in wholesale energy markets worldwide and cut into
the revenues and profits of the fossil fuel industry.

According to a report issued this past March by the Department of

Energy, the growth of wind power in the United States could lead to even more
highly skilled jobs in many categories. Titled Wind Vision: A New Era for
Wind Power in the United States, the document indicates that by 2050, the
industry could account for as much as 35% of the US electrical production.
In addition, last year, the Global Wind Energy Council and Greenpeace
International came together to publish a report titled Global Wind Energy
Outlook 2014. This report stated that worldwide, wind power could provide as
much as 25 to 30% of global electricity by 2050. At the time of the reports
writing, commercial installations in more than 90 countries had a total capacity
of 318 gigawatts (GW), providing about 3% of global supply.

TIDAL POWER:

Similar to wind power, tidal power is considered to be a potential

source of renewable energy because tides are steady and predictable. Much like
windmills, tide mills have been used since the days of Ancient Rome and the
middle Ages. Incoming water was stored in large ponds, and as the tides went
out, they turned waterwheels that generated mechanical power to mill grain.
It was only in the 19th century that the process of using falling water and
spinning turbines to create electricity was introduced in the U.S. and Europe.
And it has only been since the 20th that these sorts of operations have been
retooled for construction along coastlines and not just rivers.

Traditionally, tidal power has suffered from relatively high cost and
limited availability of sites with sufficiently high tidal ranges or flow velocities.
However, many recent technological developments and improvements, both in
design and turbine technology, indicate that the total availability of tidal power
may be much higher than previously assumed, and that economic and
environmental costs may be brought down to competitive levels.

The worlds first large-scale tidal power plant is the Rance Tidal Power
Station in France, which became operational in 1966. And in Orkney, Scotland,
the worlds first marine energy test facility the European Marine Energy
Center (EMEC) was established in 2003 to start the development of the wave
and tidal energy industry in the UK.
In 2015, the worlds first grid-connected wave-power station (CETO,
named after the Greek goddess of the sea) went online off the coast of Western
Australia, this power station operates under water and uses undersea buoys to
pump a series of seabed -anchored pumps, which in turn generates electricity.

GEOTHERMAL:

Geothermal electricity is another form of alternative energy that is considered to

be sustainable and reliable. In this case, heat energy is derived from the Earth
usually from magma conduits, hot springs or hydrothermal circulation to spin
turbines or heat buildings. It is considered reliable because the Earth contains
1031 joules worth of heat energy, which naturally flows to the surface by
conduction at a rate of 44.2 terawatts (TW) more than double humanitys
current energy consumption.

One drawback is the fact that this energy is diffuse, and can only be
cheaply harnessed in certain locations. However, in certain areas of the world,
such as Iceland, Indonesia, and other regions with high levels of geothermal

activity, it is an easily accessible and cost-effective way of reducing dependence

on fossil fuels and coal to generate electricity. Countries generating more than
15 percent of their electricity from geothermal sources include El Salvador,
Kenya, the Philippines, Iceland and Costa Rica. As of 2015, worldwide
geothermal power capacity amounts to 12.8 gigawatts (GW), which is expected
to grow to 14.5 to 17.6 GW by 2020. Whats more, the Geothermal Energy
Association (GEA) estimates that only 6.5 percent of total global potential has
been tapped so far, while the IPCC reported geothermal power potential to be in
the range of 35 GW to 2 TW.

One problem with many forms of renewable energy is that they

depend on circumstances of nature like wind, water supply, and sufficient
sunlight which can impose limitations. Another issue has been the relative
expense of many forms of alternate energy compared to traditional sources such
as oil and natural gas. Until very recently, running coal-fired or oil-powered
plants was cheaper than investing millions in the construction of large solar,
wind, tidal or geothermal operations.
However, ongoing improvements made in the production of solar
cells, wind turbines, and other equipment, not to mention improvements made
in the amount of energy produced has resulted in many forms of alternative
energy becoming competitive with other methods. All over the world, nations
and communities are stepping up to accelerate the transition towards cleaner,
more sustainable, and more self-sufficient methods.

CONVENTIONAL FOSSIL FUELS:

The group of conventional energy sources is one of the three main

type of energy sources. We are using the conventional / nonrenewable energy
sources every day in different form: coal, natural gas, petroleum,
electricity. The conventional sources are not able to recreate in a short period
of time. Energy sources help us, through the different ways, to get energy
generate power. Most of the energy we used is from nonrenewable energy
sources: oil, natural gas, and coal. We know them as fossil fuels because they
were formed over millions and millions of years by the action of heat from the
Earth's core and pressure from rock and soil on the remains (or "fossils") of
dead plants and animals. Another nonrenewable energy source is the
element uranium, whose atoms we split (through a process called nuclear
fission) to create heat and ultimately electricity. Nitrogen is a chemical element
and it is a common element in the universe and also is used as energy source.
Here are some of the conventional fossil fuels:
WOOD FIRED TECHNOLOGY
In Scandinavia HDS Energy has extensive experience in the design and
development of proven wood fired combustion technology. The boiler range,
including tube cleaning technology combined with the HDS/Euro Them step
grate stoker is specifically designed for the combustion of bark, chips, sawdust,
swart, and off-cuts to generate steam or hot water for use in space heating,
process or power generation applications. Variations in liquid content and
calorific values demand proven combustion technology, customized handling

and flue gas cleaning in order to meet ever increasing environmental emission
legislation.
GAS FIRED TECHNOLOGY:
Over the last number of years there has been an increasing use of gas as
a fuel, mainly natural gas but also LPG, landfill gas and refinery fuel gas. In
response to this we have embarked on an extensive program of in-house
research and development resulting in a diverse range of boiler plant to meet
customers requirements in the use of gas.
This boiler range, includes single furnace, two pass and three pass plate and
shell construction, as well as twin furnace shell designs. Also available for high
pressure applications are a number of water tube configurations.
OIL FIRED TECHNOLOGY:
HDS has been involved in oil fired turnkey projects for many years.
Our expertise and experience using oil as a fuel is extensive and allows us to
custom design and build energy plants to customers special requirements.
COAL FIRED TECHNOLOY:
HDS Energy is a market leader in design, construction, installation and
commissioning of industrial coal fired boiler plant. These plants utilize unique
boiler designs in both plate and water tube construction incorporating such
special features as automatic tube cleaning, modularized ignition arches and
water cooled guillotine doors. A typical system comprises of a travelling grate
stoker, computerized crane handling for coal feeding and de-aching, multicellular cyclones and computerized combustion control.

OIL FORMATION/EXTRACTION:

Extracting oil and natural gas from deposits deep underground isnt as
simple as just drilling and completing a well. Any number of factors in the
underground environment including the porosity of the rock and the viscosity of
the deposit, it can impede the free flow of product into the well. In the past, it
was common to recover as little as 10 percent of the available oil in a reservoir,
leaving the rest underground because the technology did not exist to bring the
rest to the surface. Today, advanced technology allows production of about 60
percent of the available resources from a formation.
Primary recovery first relies on underground pressure to drive fluids
to the surface. When the pressure falls, artificial lift technologies, such as
pumps, are used help bring more fluids to the surface. In some situations,
natural gas is pumped back down the well underneath the oil. The gas expands,
pushing the oil to the surface. Gas lift technology is often used in offshore
facilities. Primary recovery often taps only 10 percent of the oil in a deposit.
Secondary recovery is the most widely applied enhanced recovery
technique. Water that is produced and separated from the oil in the initial phase
of drilling is injected back into the oil-bearing formation to bring more oil to the
surface. In addition to boosting oil recovery, it also disposes of the wastewater,
putting it back where it came from. This can bring an additional 20 percent of
the oil in place to the surface.
Enhanced recovery techniques are used to mobilize the remaining
oil. There are three common approaches: thermal recovery, gas injection or
chemical flooding.

HYDRAULIC FACTURING:

Hydraulic fracturing is a well-stimulation technique in which rock is

fractured by a pressurized liquid. The process involves the high-pressure
injection of 'fracking fluid' (primarily water, containing sand or
other proppants suspended with the aid of thickening agents) into a wellbore to
create cracks in the deep-rock formations through which natural gas, petroleum,
and brine will flow more freely. When the hydraulic pressure is removed from
the well, small grains of hydraulic fracturing proppants (either sand
or aluminium oxide) hold the fractures open. Hydraulic fracturing is highly
controversial in many countries. Its proponents advocate the economic benefits
of more extensively accessible hydrocarbons. However, opponents argue that
these are out-weighed by the potential environmental impacts, which include
risks of ground and surface water contamination, air and noise pollution, and
potentially triggering earthquakes, along with the consequential hazards to
public health and the environment.
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING USED:
Experts believe 60 to 80 percent of all wells drilled in the United States
in the next ten years will require hydraulic fracturing to remain operating.
Fracturing allows for extended production in older oil and natural gas fields. It
also allows for the recovery of oil and natural gas from formations that
geologists once believed were impossible to produce, such as tight shale
formations in the areas shown on the map below. Hydraulic fracturing is also
used to extend the life of older wells in mature oil and gas fields.

ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION DUE TO FOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANT :

Fossil fuels, which include coal, natural gas, petroleum, shale oil and
bitumen are the main sources of heat and electrical energy. All these fuels
contain besides the major constituents other materials including meal, sulfur and
nitrogen compounds. During the composition process different pollutions like
fly ash, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds are
emitted. Fly ash contains different trace elements. Gross emission of pollutants
is tremendous all over the world. These pollutants are present in the atmosphere
in such conditions that they can affect and his environment.
Air pollution caused by particulate matter and other pollutants not only
acts directly on the environment but by contamination of water and soil leads to
their degradation. Wet and dry deposition of inorganic pollutants leads to
acidification of environment. These phenomena affect the health of the people,
increase corrosion, and destroy cultivated soil and forests. Most of the plants
especially coniferous trees are not resistant oxides. Following longer exposure
leaves wither and fall. Widespread forest damage has been reported in Europe
and North America. Many cultivated plants are not resistant to those pollutions,
especially in the early period of vegetation.
The mechanisms of pollutant transformation in the atmosphere are descried by
environmental chemistry. Photochemistry plays an important role in these
transformation. SO2 and NOx are oxidized and sulfuric and nitric acids are
formed in the presence of water vapours, fog and droplets. Other problems
discussed, connected with human activities are the emission of volatile organic
compounds to the atmosphere. These emissions cause stratospheric zone
depletion, ground level photochemical ozone formation, toxic or carcinogenic
human health effects and growth of the global greenhouse effect, accumulation
and persistence in the environment.

OIL RIG DISASTERS:

The accident was caused by a storm which occurred while the rig was
being towed. Fierce winds broke the ventilator pump of the platform causing a
puncture hole in the deck resulting in extensive flooding. The loss of stability
due to flooding coupled with severe weather conditions eventually led to the
capsizing of the jack-up. The accompanying tow boat could not rescue the crew
members, who were also believed to lack proper training on emergency
evacuation procedures and the use of lifesaving equipment. The post-disaster
investigations reported a failure in correctly stowing the deck equipment prior
to towing. It was also reported that standard tow procedures were not followed
given the bad weather conditions. The sunken jack-up rig was eventually
salvaged with explosives by the Yantai Salvage Company in April 1981.

OIL SPILL EFFECT:

Spilled oil poses serious threats to fresh water and marine environments. It
affects surface resources and a wide range of subsurface organisms that are
linked in a complex food chain that includes human food resources. Spilled oil
can harm the environment in several ways, including the physical damages that
directly impact wildlife and their habitats (such as coating birds or mammals
with a layer of oil), and the toxicity of the oil itself, which can poison exposed
organisms. The severity of an oil spill's impact depends on a variety of factors,
including the physical properties of the oil, whether oils are petroleum-based or
non-petroleum based, and the ultimate fate of the spilled oil.

POTENTIAL OF SOLAR ENERGY:

The technology required to harness the power of the sun is available
now. Solar power alone could provide all of the energy Americans consume
there is no shortage of solar energy. The following paragraphs will give you the
information you need to prove this to yourself and others. You do not need
advanced math skills to follow and perform the arithmetic examples shown
below. Anyone who can balance a check book or calculate the total square feet
of floor space in his or her home, and understand why an area measuring 10
yards by 10 yards equals 100 square yards, can perform the following arithmetic
examples and prove that American energy independence could be achieved with
solar energy alone.
PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS:
Photovoltaic (PV) devices generate electricity directly from sunlight
via an electronic process that occurs naturally in certain types of material, called
semiconductors. Electrons in these materials are freed by solar energy and can
be induced to travel through an electrical circuit, powering electrical devices or
sending electricity to the grid. PV devices can be used to power anything from
small electronics such as calculators and road signs up to homes and large
commercial businesses. Photons strike and ionize semiconductor material on the
solar panel, causing outer electrons to break free of their atomic bonds. Due to
the semiconductor structure, the electrons are forced in one direction creating a
flow of electrical current. Solar cells are not 100% efficient in Diagram of a
typical crystalline silicon solar cell. Solar cells are not 100% efficient in part
because some of the light spectrum is reflected, some is too weak to create
electricity (infrared) and some (ultraviolet) creates heat energy instead of
electricity.

SOLAR POWER PLANTS:

The United States conducted much early research in photovoltaics
and concentrated solar power. The U.S. is among the top countries in the world
in electricity generated by the Sun and several of the world's largest utility-scale
installations are located in the desert Southwest. The oldest solar power plant in
the world is the 354-megawatt (MW) SEGS thermal power plant, in
California. The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is a solar thermal
power project in the California Mojave Desert, 40 miles (64 km) southwest
of Las Vegas, with a gross capacity of 392 MW. The 280 MW Solana
Generating Station is a solar plant near Glia, Arizona, about 70 miles (110 km)
southwest of Phoenix, completed in 2013. When commissioned it was the
largest parabolic trough plant in the world and the first U.S. solar plant
with molten salt thermal energy storage.
SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTORS:

A solar thermal collector collects heat by absorbing sunlight. A

collector is a device for capturing solar radiation. Solar radiation is energy in the
form of electromagnetic radiation from the infrared (long) to
the ultraviolet (short) wavelengths. The quantity of solar energy striking the
Earth's surface (solar constant) averages about 1,000 watts per square meter
under clear skies, depending upon weather conditions, location and orientation.
The term "solar collector" commonly refers to solar hot water panels, but may
refer to installations such as solar parabolic troughs and solar towers; or basic
installations such as solar air heaters. Concentrated solar power plants usually
use the more complex collectors to generate electricity by heating a fluid to

drive a turbine connected to an electrical generator. Simple collectors are

typically used in residential and commercial buildings for space heating.

LOW TEMPERATURE UNGLAZED COLLECTORS:

This type of collector is mainly used for swimming pool heating and
consists of black colored matting or tubes made from rubber or plastic based
materials through which the pool water is circulated. Such panels are effective
at heating large volumes of water by a small temperature rise (perfects for pool)
during warm sunny conditions.

In hot sunny regions such panels have also

been used for domestic hot water supply. As this type of collector is not
insulated it can't efficiently operate in cooler conditions or when hotter water
(showering temperature) is required. Such collectors are often referred to as
"unglazed" as they dont have a glass cover like flat plate or evacuated tube
collectors. This name, however, can cause confusion with the next type of
collector "concentrating" outlined below which also are "unglazed", but very
different in structure and operation.

CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS:

When high temperatures (>120 oC / 250oF) are required, such as for

steam production, concentrating collectors are often used. A concentrating
collector uses mirrors to concentrate the sunlight onto an absorber tube or panel,
allowing much higher temperatures to be reached.

Such collectors normally

require 1 or 2 axis tracking to follow the sun and ensure optimal reflection

angle. Due to the size and complexity of these systems they are primarily used
for large scale projects.
FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS:
Flat plate collectors are the most common and widely used style of
solar term. All collector for domestic hot water applications. The design is very
simply an insulated box with a absorber sheet welded to copper pipe that the
heat transfer liquid circulates through. While the basic design concept is fairly
consistent amongst manufacturers, there are differences in aspects of the design
that can improve performance, make the panels lighter, easier to install and
suitable for different installation formats, and ultimately impact on the cost,
efficiency and longevity. Flat plate collectors perform well in warm climates
and when achieving temperature for basic domestic hot water use (<60 oC /
140oF). No insulation above the absorber is an inherent disadvantage of the
design and leads to high heat loss. This heat loss means flat plates are unable to
deliver hot efficiently at higher temperatures (>70 oC / 160oF), and performance
is greatly reduced in cold weather.

EVACUATED TUBE COLLECTORS:

Evacuated tubes are comprised of an array of single or twin wall glass

tubes with a vacuum that provides excellent insulation against heat loss. The
design is very similar to a glass hot water flask used to keep hot water in. Single
wall evacuated tubes normally have a fin that has the absorber coating, similar
to that used in the flat plate collector. Twin wall evacuated tubes have the
absorber coating on the inner tube and the space between the two tubes is
evacuated to form the vacuum.

SOLAR POWER TOWER:

Solar power towers consist of a large field of sun tracking mirrors

called heliostats, which focus solar energy on a receiver atop a centrally located
tower. The enormous amount of energy, coming out of the sun rays,
concentrated at one point (the tower in the middle), produces temperatures of
approx. 550 to 1500 degree centigrade. The gained thermal energy can be used
for heating water or molten salt, which saves the energy for later use. Heartened
water gets to steam, which is used to move the turbine generator. This way
thermal energy is converted into electricity. As already mentioned there are two
main fluids which are used for the heat transfer, water and molten salt. Water for
example is the oldest and simplest way for the heat transfer, but the difference is
that the method in which molten salt is used, allows to store the heat for the
terms when the sun is behind clouds or even at night. Molten salt better: the heat
of it can be used until the next dawn when the sun will e back to heat the cooled
down salt again.

WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS:

Wind turbines are the best examples for wind energy system. The wind
turbine, which is installed on top of a tall tower, collects wind energy and
converts it into electricity. The turbine output is then made electrically
compatible with the utility and the output is fed into the household wiring at the
breaker panel. The home is served simultaneously by the wind turbine and the

utility. If the wind speed is below 7 mph there will be no output from the wind
turbine and all of the needed power is bought from the utility. As the wind speed
increases the turbine output increases and the amount of power purchased from
the utility is proportionately decreased. When the turbine output is more than
the house needs, the extra electricity is sold to the utility. All of this is done
automatically. There are no batteries in a modern residential wind system.

Small wind electric systems can

Lower your electricity bills by 50%90%.

Help you avoid the high costs of having utility power lines extended to a
remote location.

Help uninterruptible power supplies ride through extended utility outages.

HORIZONTAL AXIS WIND TURBINE:

Horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT) have the main rotor shaft and
electrical generator at the top of a tower, and may be pointed into or out of the
wind. Small turbines are pointed by a simple wind vane, while large turbines
generally use a wind sensor coupled with a servo motor. Most have a gearbox,
which turns the slow rotation of the blades into a quicker rotation that is more
suitable to drive an electrical generator. In general, annual average wind speeds
of 5 meters per second (11 mph) are required for grid connected applications.
Annual average wind speeds of 3 to 4 m/s (7-9 mph) may be adequate for nonconnected electrical and mechanical applications such as battery charging and
water pumping. Wind resources exceeding this speed are available in many
parts of the world. A useful way to evaluate the wind resource available at a
potential site is the wind power density.

VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE:

Vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are a type of wind

turbine where the main rotor shaft is set transverse to the wind (but not
necessarily vertically) while the main components are located at the base of the
turbine. This arrangement allows the generator and gearbox to be located close
to the ground, facilitating service and repair. VAWTs do not need to be pointed
into the wind, which removes the need for wind-sensing and orientation
mechanisms.

Major

drawbacks

(Savonius, Darrieus and giromill)

included

for
the

the

early

designs

significant torque variation

during each revolution, and the huge bending moments on the blades. Later
designs solved the torque issue by providing helical twist in the blades. Vertical
axis wind turbines are advocated as being capable of catching the wind from all
directions, and do not need yaw mechanisms, rubbers or downwind coning.
Their electrical generators can be positioned close to the ground, and hence
easily accessible. A disadvantage is that some designs are not self-starting.
There have been two distinct types of vertical axis wind turbines. The Darrius
and the savonius types. New concepts of vertical axis wind machines are being
introduced such as the helical types particularly for use in urban environments
where they would be considered safer due to their lower rotational speeds
avoiding the risk of blade ejection and since they can catch the wind from all
directions.

WIND FARM:
Wind farms are created when multiple wind turbines are placed in the
same location for the purpose of generating large amounts of electric power.
Due to rising energy prices and the resultant search for alternatives, there are
now thousands of wind farms in many countries around the world. There is still
a lot of controversy surrounding the pros and cons of wind power and its local
impact. The articles listed on this page explore news and information about
wind farms. A windfarm or wind park is a group of wind turbines in the same
location used to produce electricity. A large wind farm may consist of several
hundred individual wind turbines and cover an extended area of hundreds of
square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or
other purposes. A wind farm can also be located offshore.

BIOMASS:

Biomass is biological material derived from living, or recently living

organisms. In the context of biomass as a resource for making energy, it most
often refers to plants or plant-based materials which are not used for food or
feed, and are specifically called lignocellulosic biomass . As an energy source,
biomass can either be used directly via combustion to produce heat, or
indirectly after converting it to various forms of biofuel. Conversion of biomass
to biofuel can be achieved by different methods which are broadly classified
into: thermal, chemical, and biochemical methods. Biomass can be converted to
other usable forms of energy like methane gas or transportation fuels

like ethanol and biodiesel. Rotting garbage, and agricultural and human waste,
all release methane gas also called landfill gas or biogas. Crops, such as corn
and sugar cane, can be fermented to produce the transportation fuel, ethanol.
Biodiesel, another transportation fuel, can be produced from left-over food
products like vegetable oils and animal fats Also, biomass to liquids (BTLs) and
cellulosic ethanol are still under research.

BIODIESEL:

Biodiesel is a form of diesel fuel manufactured from vegetable oils,

animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. It is safe, biodegradable, and
produces less air pollutants than petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel can be used
in its pure form (B100) or blended with petroleum diesel. Common blends
include B2 (2% biodiesel), B5, and B20. Most vehicle manufacturers approve
blends up to B5, and some approve blends up to B20. Check with your owners
manual or vehicle manufacturer to determine the right blend for your vehicle,
since using the wrong blend could damage your engine and/or void the
manufacturer's warranty. Biodiesel can be used in pure form or may be blended
with petroleum diesel at any concentration in most injection pump diesel
engines. New extreme high-pressure common rail engines have strict factory
limits of B5 or B20, depending on manufacturer] Biodiesel has
different solvent properties than petro diesel, and will degrade
natural rubber gaskets and hoses in vehicles (mostly vehicles manufactured
before 1992), although these tend to wear out naturally and most likely will
have already been replaced with FKM, which is nonreactive to biodiesel.
Biodiesel has been known to break down deposits of residue in the fuel lines

where petro diesel has been used. As a result, fuel filters may become clogged
with particulates if a quick transition to pure biodiesel is made. Therefore, it is
recommended to change the fuel filters on engines and heaters shortly after first
switching to a biodiesel blend.

BIOFUEL:

A biofuel is a fuel that is produced through contemporary biological

processes, such as agriculture and anaerobic digestion, rather than a fuel
produced by geological processes such as those involved in the formation
of fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum, from prehistoric biological matter.
Biofuels can be derived directly from plants, or indirectly from agricultural,
commercial, domestic, and/or industrial wastes.[1] Renewable biofuels generally
involve contemporary carbon fixation, such as those that occur in plants or
microalgae through the process of photosynthesis. Other renewable biofuels are
made through the use or conversion of biomass (referring to recently living
organisms, most often referring to plants or plant-derived materials). This
biomass can be converted to convenient energy containing substances in three
different ways: thermal conversion, chemical conversion, and biochemical
conversion. This biomass conversion can result in fuel in solid, liquid,
or gas form. This new biomass can also be used directly for biofuels.

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY PLANTS:

A biofuel is a fuel that is produced through contemporary biological

processes, such as agriculture and anaerobic digestion, rather than a fuel
produced by geological processes such as those involved in the formation
of fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum, from prehistoric biological matter.
Biofuels can be derived directly from plants, or indirectly from agricultural,
commercial, domestic, and/or industrial wastes. Renewable biofuels generally
involve contemporary carbon fixation, such as those that occur in plants or
microalgae through the process of photosynthesis. Other renewable biofuels are
made through the use or conversion of biomass (referring to recently living
organisms, most often referring to plants or plant-derived materials). This
biomass can be converted to convenient energy containing substances in three
different ways: thermal conversion, chemical conversion, and biochemical
conversion. This biomass conversion can result in fuel in solid, liquid,
or gas form. This new biomass can also be used directly for biofuels.
Geothermal power is cost effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally
friendly, but has historically been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries.
Recent technological advances have dramatically expanded the range and size
of viable resources, especially for applications such as home heating, opening a
potential for widespread exploitation. Geothermal wells release greenhouse
gases trapped deep within the earth, but these emissions are much lower per
energy unit than those of fossil fuels. As a result, geothermal power has the
potential to help mitigate global warming if widely deployed in place of fossil
fuels.

HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION:

Hydro-electric power, using the potential energy of rivers, now

supplies 17.5% of the world's electricity (99% in Norway, 57% in Canada, 55%
in Switzerland, 40% in Sweden, 7% in USA). Apart from a few countries with
an abundance of it, hydro capacity is normally applied to peak-load demand,
because it is so readily stopped and started. It is not a major option for the future
in the developed countries because most major sites in these countries having
potential for harnessing gravity in this way are either being exploited already or
are unavailable for other reasons such as environmental considerations. Hydro
energy is available in many forms, potential energy from high heads of water
retained in dams, kinetic energy from current flow in rivers and tidal barrages,
and kinetic energy also from the movement of waves on relatively static water

masses. Many ingenious ways have been developed for harnessing this energy
but most involve directing the water flow through a turbine to generate
electricity. Those that don't usually involve using the movement of the water to
drive some other form of hydraulic or pneumatic mechanism to perform the
same task.

A TECHNICAL REPORT ON
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

By
Tejaswini. Korrapati
A00432253