What are renewable energies?
Renewable energies are those obtained from natural sources, which are constantly renewed and are virtually inexhaustible.
There are several types of renewable energy, such as solar energy, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, biofuels or geothermal, among others.
They contrast drastically with non-renewable energy, classic examples are the use of oil, natural gas and coal to produce electricity. These energy sources are finite, that is, at some point they will end, so it is necessary to look for renewable energy sources and reliable.
The problem of non-renewable energy is not limited to its quantity, but to the harmful effect on nature, to the increase in air pollution and the increase in the production of greenhouse gases.
In fact, renewable energies have experienced remarkable growth in the last three decades, in the face of numerous reports on climate change and the urgency of using renewable energy sources to reduce the risk of destruction of the planet.
This necessarily implies a change in mentality not only of those who manage government institutions in charge of making laws, but of ordinary people who make regular use of energy.
Renewable energies and Society
One of the meters of progress and well-being of a society is, precisely, energy consumption ; If energy sources run out or become more expensive, it has an immediate impact on society.
It is necessary to understand that as societies grow, they demand more and more energy, and that maintaining an economic model based on fossil and non-renewable energies carries a high cost that will be paid by the planet and future generations.
Hence the importance of implementing renewable energy and renewable energy sources that reach all parts of the world.
So, what are renewable energies? They are those obtained from clean, non-polluting and inexhaustible sources, which do not mean a cost to the environment.
Types of renewable energy
To know what are renewable energies we can go to a first classification: the sources they use for their production. Thus, there are renewable energies produced by the wind, the sun, the tides, the heat of the Earth, etc.
Let’s talk about the most important renewable energies.
Hydraulic Energy
Among the types of renewable energy that exist, this is the most widespread and used. It is the energy obtained from the use of the kinetic and potential energy of water currents, waterfalls and rivers.
For centuries, small farms have been built in rivers, where a small dam is built and the current moves paddle wheels, generating movement, traditionally applied to mills and fulling mills.
It is considered within the types of renewable energy because it does not emit pollutants and the waters are not depleted, although there are also unfavorable opinions towards its use: many environmentalists argue that the construction of Dams produce a great environmental impact due to the flooding of large areas of land, and the flow of the river and the quality of the water are modified.
In dams, the kinetic energy of water is transformed into electrical energy thanks to the use of turbines.
Wind Power
It is the energy obtained thanks to the force of the winds, whose currents move large blades and these in turn, through the use of turbines, produce electrical energy connected to an electrical generator.
In our country, it is one of the types of renewable energy most used.
Geothermal Energy
It is the energy obtained by taking advantage of the Earth’s internal heat, which can reach 5,000 ° C, and part of this heat goes out to the crust; In some regions of the planet, groundwater can reach boiling temperatures, which can be used to heat or move electric turbines.
Photovoltaic Solar Energy
Among the renewable energies, photovoltaic solar energy is probably the most efficient. It is obtained directly from the sun (truly inexhaustible) by means of semiconductor devices, called plates or photovoltaic cells.
It is used to produce electricity on a large scale, since it allows distribution networks, but also helps in small levels and domestic uses in isolated homes.
Thanks to the fact that in recent years the demand for renewable energies drove the research, manufacture and commercialization of solar panels, basic for obtaining electricity, both the materials and their price have been improving significantly.
In its beginnings, photovoltaic panels were used to provide electricity to communications satellites, but this technology was soon developed to provide electricity to houses outside the reach of the electrical network.
How does Photovoltaic Solar Energy work
Photovoltaic panels function as solar collectors, which receive light energy and transform it into electrical energy; many of them use not only light, but heat, also producing thermal energy.
A photovoltaic cell is equivalent to a power generator to which a diode has been added, which is an electronic component with two terminals that allows electric current to flow in only one direction, blocking circulation on the opposite side.
In addition, electrical contacts must be added to extract the generated energy, a protective layer that allows light to pass through, another anti-reflective layer that ensures the correct absorption of photons and additional elements to increase its efficiency.
After its initial uses to power satellites and space vehicles, photovoltaic solar energy has significantly improved all its components, and has become one of the renewable energies more reliable.
Research has shown that solar radiation each year represents the equivalent of several thousand times what humanity consumes for the Earth, so knowing how to take advantage of it is more profitable from every point of view.
Environmentally, using photovoltaic solar energy means being able to put aside harmful energies (non-renewable energy, examples such as nuclear or hydrocarbon-based ones) that have already demonstrated their inefficiency and their great power of pollution.
Economically, it will mean energy savings in the medium and long term and the optimization of resources.
Site and Field carries out photovoltaic solar energy projects with total reliability both in civil works (foundations , piling, trenches, drains, etc.) as in structural work, in the case of profile driving or photovoltaic driving, drilling, mounting of metal structures and photovoltaic panels or solar panels.
Site and Field has participated in the construction of solar plants . We have human resources and adequate machinery to collaborate on photovoltaic projects in Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia or any other part of the world.
If you are interested in knowing more about our work, please do not hesitate to contact us info@siteandfield.com
