Renewable Energy Systems: Which Is The Best?
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by: KaiScott | Total views: 20 | Word Count: 644
When it comes to trying to choose the best out of all the renewable energy systems, it is no easy task. In fact, an overall best is not really possible to determine, because they are used in different situations. However, some of the factors that affect this will be noted... and there might even be a tentative answer at the end.
Renewable Energy Systems
Before we can answer what sort is the best kind of renewable energy, first of all we have to know what is available. Here, then, is a list briefly describing the main kinds:
- Solar Power. With solar energy you can use it either to heat water with a solar thermal system or to generate electricity with PV solar panels.
- Geothermal Power. There is latent heat in the ground all over the world, and that is what geothermal energy draws on.
- Wind Power. Wind energy, unsurprisingly, comes from the wind. This can be used to spin turbines which generate electricity. There's also air source heat pumps, but that isn't technically wind energy as it takes heat from the air whether it is windy or not.
- Hydropower. This comes in various forms, getting its energy from flowing water.
- Biomass. This energy comes from the burning of plants, which you might not think of as being renewable. It is though, because other plants can be grown to replace what is burned.
Those are the main kinds of renewable energy systems that we have to deal with.
Which Are Most Effective?
In terms of effectiveness, that really does come down to where you are using them. For example, setting up wind turbines in some valley isn't going to be much good because you don't get much wind there. If they're on a hill where it is windy a lot though, then they can be very productive.
Similarly, if you're talking about geothermal energy, that's not going to be much good out at sea. That's somewhere that hydropower can be utilised though in the form of tidal energy. So basically, they all have their uses, depending on where they are situated.
The Best For Individuals
Fortunately when we are just talking about which is the best kind of renewable energy for individual use it's a bit more clear cut. At least, we can remove some of the forms straight away. For example, hydropower requires too much stuff, and takes up too much space, for individuals to use it. Same goes for electricity generated by geothermal energy.
There are realistic options when it comes to renewable electricity though. First of all there are solar panels of course, but you can also get a mini wind turbine installed on your property. While most people will have roofs suitable for solar panels though, few people have a property suitable to get a wind turbine.
It's not just electricity that solar energy can be used for on an individual basis though, you can also get a solar hot water system by having solar thermal panels installed on your roof.
Heating water can also be done effectively with heat pumps though. The air source variety is cheaper and is easier to install. However with a ground source heat pump you'll get a more consistent level of heat as the temperature underground stays pretty much the same all year round.
The Best?
Before the question of which kind of renewable energy systems are going to be the best for you can be answer, you have to answer the question as to what you want to get out of it. If you want the most out of it, with electricity production, then getting PV solar panels is going to be the best way usually.
On the other hand, if what you really want is to use renewable energy for your hot water and central heating, then it's probably going to be a solar thermal system. That is, instead of heat pumps, although they work well too.
About the Author
Harley Moore writes more info on solar energy at renewable energy systems. Discover how much money it's possible to make, as well as the way it all functions. It's also feasible to get a free solarinstallation quote.
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