Solar energy
Pros of solar energy
- Solar energy is a renewable energy. It is available every day and can be harnessed from anywhere on earth.
- Solar energy are very long-lasting source of energy. A quality solar energy can last up to 40 years and more.
- It reduces electricity bills and can be used for diverse applications.
- It requires low maintenance costs.
- It increases real estate values.
Cons of solar energy
- The initial cost of buying a solar energy system is expensive.
- As solar energy is dependent on sun, it cannot be effective during cloudy and rainy days.
- In case of smaller roof, it cannot be functional as solar panels require a lot of space.
- People cannot install solar panels themselves. It requires professionals. Thus, transportation and installation of solar systems have been associated with the emission of greenhouse gases.
Recent development in the field of solar energy.
Perovskite crystal coated panels
Perovskite is a lightweight calcium titanium oxide mineral, as well as a group of compounds that have the same type of crystal structure. The synthetic perovskite crystals are both more efficient and cheaper to produce than crystalline silicon for solar panel technology.
Insolight panel coating
This is technology that uses hexagonal lenses in the protective glass that coats solar panels to concentrate light and produce more energy. The technology has reached an efficiency of 30% to 40% for solar developers.
Hetero junction technologies
Hetero junction technology applies layers of thin-film silicon on both sides of a silicon solar cell. The layers increase the light conversion and can bring the efficiency of the silicon cell up to 25%.
Floating solar farms
They have the advantage of not using land or requiring installation on buildings as they are installed in a lake or seas.
Hydropower Energy
Pros of hydropower energy
- Hydropower energy is renewable energy. Water is its main element, and it can be found almost everywhere.
- It is one of the most efficient energy resources in the world, as it is 90% efficient at converting water into electricity.
- Hydropower plants are a stable source of energy, unlike intermittent energy sources like wind and solar.
- Although the initial cost can be high, once a hydroelectric dam is up and operating, it is easier and cheaper to maintain.
- Hydropower creates greater energy independence for countries. This means it helps countries who struggle to receive fuel from international sources and minimizes conflict and improve economic concerns.
Cons of Hydropower Energy
- People cannot simply build a dam anywhere they please, as the conditions necessary to build a dam in a water resource are limited.
- Hydropower have quite a large impact on communities, as it can displace people as well as animals.
- Many hydropower plants require huge fund as they are massive infrastructure projects that include the construction of a dam, a reservoir, and turbines that generate electricity.
- It has an environmental impact. Dams have the potential to harm or otherwise disrupt the ecosystem during the construction process. To construct a dam, additional roads and electrical lines must be built, causing environmental degradation.
Recent development in the field of hydropower energy.
Generators with current-controlled rotors
Electronics with current-controlled power supplies can ensure better control of electrical machines.
Fish-friendly hydropower technologies
Fish-friendly turbines include Archimedes hydrodynamic screws, water wheels and Vox turbines for low head applications.
Hydropower digitalization
The collection and processing of real-world data to adjust the actual working conditions of hydropower turbines can provide advanced grid supporting services.
Variable speed turbines
They help in operating in a wider head range, increasing the availability of the plant.
Wind power Energy
Pros of wind power
- Wind energy is a renewable and clean source of energy. It does not pollute air or emit greenhouse gases.
- It has low operating costs compared to other renewable source of energy.
- Likewise, it is space efficient as land used for air turbines can be used for other purpose such as farming.
- Due to the availability of turbines in wide range of sizes, people can install them according to their need and usage.
Cons of wind power
- Wind energy causes noise pollution as wind turbines can be noisy while operating.
- Wind turbines can be a killer machine for the birds and insects that fly right into them.
- It is unpredictable as it depends on the speed of wind. In case the wind speeds would be low, the turbine’s rotor won’t spin, and no energy is produced on that day.
- The initial placement of wind turbines can be expensive.
Recent development in the field of wind energy.
Active pitch controls to maintain energy capture at very high wind speeds
Hydrogen Energy
Pros of Hydrogen Energy
- It is renewable energy source and are found in plenty in nature.
- It does not require large areas of land to produce, unlike hydropower energy.
- It does not have adverse environmental impact during operation as it does not have a carbon footprint while in use. Thus, it is a clean source of energy.
- Hydrogen fuel cells do not produce noise pollution. For example, hydrogen powered vehicles are much quieter than other vehicles.
- It can provide energy for a range of stationary and mobile applications. Hydrogen powered vehicles are just one example, while larger scale heating systems are another.
Cons of Hydrogen Energy
- The two main processes of hydrogen extraction i.e. electrolysis and steam reforming are extremely expensive.
- Despite hydrogen has a minimal environmental impact, its separation from oxygen requires other non-renewable sources such as coal, oil and natural gas.
- It brings understandable safety concerns, as hydrogen is a highly flammable fuel source.
- Storage and transportation of hydrogen is more complex than that required for fossil fuels.
- Hydrogen fuel cells have a higher cost per unit of power than other energy sources.
Recent development in the field of Hydrogen fuel cell
The first hydrogen station in the United States received the seal of approval for commercial sale of hydrogen fuel in California.
Released first-of-its-kind hydrogen resource.
A free online best practices and national hydrogen safety training resource for emergency responders calledH2Tools has been launched.
Achieved more than 6.3 million driving miles.
More than 6.3 million driving miles was achieved using hydrogen cell
Demonstrated the world's first hydrogen fuel cell airport GSE fleet.
Zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered airport ground support equipment (GSE) trucks at the Memphis airport was demonstrated
Biofuel energy
Pros of Biofuel energy
- It is a renewable form of energy that can be constantly freshened by nature.
- It helps to keep the environment clean with low level of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Biofuel energy is as efficient as gasoline and LPG.
- It helps to improve utilization of land and waste.
- The per-unit cost of biofuel energy is quite low.
Cons of Biofuel energy
- Biofuel requires high water demands to produce biofuels
- It is only limited to household stoves. It is not compatible with vehicles and machines
- It requires high amounts of raw materials for its production.
- Likewise, it requires the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
- It might lead to global decline in food production as more land is directed towards biomass production.
Synthetic fuel
Pros of synthetic fuel
- Synthetic fuels are compatible with existing engines, there is no need for engine modifications.
- Synthetic fuels are compatible with conventional diesel (comparable energy density, can be mixed with petroleum diesel, can be transpod as liquid in existing petroleum infrastructure).
- The fuels can be designed to have very good properties for both engine performance and emissions.
- Synthetic fuels can be used neat or as a valuable blending stock, to improve the properties of petroleum fuels.
- The sulfur content is practically zero, making synthetic fuels compatible with a range of sulfur-sensitive exhaust gas after treatment technologies, such as NOX absorbers or catalytic particulate filters.
Cons of synthetic fuel
- Synthetic fuel emits higher Carbon dioxide gas than coal.
- They require 50% more coal mining with increased land disturbance, water pollution and water use.
- They contain only one third of the energy content of solid coal.
- May cause leakage in some instances. Additive stability in cold temperatures for extended periods of time may be a problem.
- They may not be suitable where moisture accumulation is a problem and may not bear API service classification marks.