What are Inexhaustible Energy Sources?

With the increase in industrial activities, the need for energy has also increased. Due to the energy obtained from the use of fossil fuels, an average of 20 billion tons of carbon dioxide, 100 million tons of sulfur compounds, 2 million tons of lead and many other toxic chemicals are released into the earth’s atmosphere every year. Of course, over time, it was realized that the energy obtained from fossil fuels has negative effects on the environment, climate, nature, and people. Thus, sustainable, and environmentally friendly energy sources started to gain immense importance.

Let us briefly mention the inexhaustible energy sources that can be continuously obtained from nature:

1. Solar Energy

The sun, the primary source of energy on Earth, is also one of the main sources of life on our planet. Since it has an extraordinarily strong energy, it affects all other natural energy sources either directly or indirectly.

Various technologies have been developed to utilize the energy brought to our world by the sun’s rays. Some of these are solar collectors, solar power plants and photovoltaic cells, or solar cells. These technologies are both low-cost systems after installation and allow solar energy to be used directly as heat energy. In addition, electricity can also be obtained indirectly from the sun, which is a clean and renewable energy source. Thanks to these advantages, solar energy also helps to reduce dependence on environmentally harmful resources such as oil, coal and natural gas needed for electricity generation.

2. Wind Energy

Increasing the use of wind energy is significant for the adoption of environmentally friendly and sustainable energy production methods. Wind, which occurs because of the displacement of hot and freezing air in the atmosphere, releases kinetic energy. This energy is first converted into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy. Wind power plants (WPPs) are needed to generate electricity. These plants should be built at a height of 50 m and in places with an average wind speed of at least 7 m/s. Some of the areas where wind energy is used are parks, street and street lighting, irrigation, various institutions, and organizations.

Our country also aims to utilize wind energy efficiently. According to the January 2022 data of the Turkish Wind Energy Statistics Institute, the share of electricity generated by wind energy in total electricity generation in Turkey in 2021 reached 9.84%.

3. Hydroelectric Energy

Hydroelectric energy is electrical energy produced by harnessing the power of flowing water. It is one of the types of energy with the most established technology. People have been utilizing the power of water since the early periods of history. Especially water mills were used in many production activities until the industrial revolution. However, the inability to store the energy produced due to technological inadequacies and the inability to meet industrial needs led people to fossil fuels that harm the environment.

Today, water turbines can generate electricity from the kinetic energy of water. Thanks to water in constant motion, electricity can always generate energy. The energy produced varies according to the power of the flowing water. In the hydroelectric system, water can also be transferred to canals or pipes. Thus, thanks to the water directed to the turbines, the turbines rotate, and the mechanical energy released is converted into electrical energy.

4. Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is the thermal energy contained in hot fluids such as water vapor and gas accumulated deep in the earth and hot dry rocks. It is obtained by converting water vapor obtained from thermal regions into electrical energy through steam turbines. This natural heat source is used both in clean electricity generation and for heating and cooling purposes. One of the important advantages of geothermal energy is that it is not dependent on weather conditions and thus energy can be obtained uninterruptedly throughout the year.

Geothermal energy is a cheap and environmentally friendly energy source that does not cause carbon emissions and air pollution. For this reason, many countries utilize this energy source. For example, Iceland has the cleanest cities in the world because 95 percent of its buildings are heated with geothermal energy. Turkey is also rich in geothermal energy resources and has already utilized more than half of its existing capacity.

5. Biomass Energy

Biomass energy is obtained from substances containing carbohydrate compounds of plant and animal origin. Various fuels such as bioethanol, biodiesel and biogas are produced from this energy source. Bioethanol and biodiesel are produced using plants or animal fats, while biogas is produced by fermenting organic matter in an oxygen-free environment. The biggest difference that distinguishes biomass from fuels is that the carbon dioxide released when they are burned can be consumed by plants during photosynthesis. Thus, it does not cause environmental pollution and global warming. In addition, biomass operation sites are usually built in rural areas. This helps to increase job opportunities in rural areas and reduce migration to big cities.

Thanks to the various advantages provided by biomass energy, the world has started to focus on the agriculture of renewable energy crops in recent years. According to the June 2022 report of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the total economic energy equivalent value of the wastes that can be collected in Turkey is approximately 3.9 MTEP/year.

6. Wave Energy

Wave energy is a large and continuous source of energy as 70% of the world is made up of seas and oceans. These large bodies of water provide high efficiency in energy production by ensuring that the waves are continuous and powerful. Electric energy is generated from the kinetic energy of the waves.

At the same time, seas and oceans are the places that collect the most sunlight and heat. Water on the surface heats up by directly receiving the sun and creates a natural thermal energy by creating temperature differences with the cooler water in the depths. If this energy can be managed properly, even a small portion of it can be enough to meet the world’s entire energy needs.

Why Inexhaustible Energy Sources are Important?

Inexhaustible energy resources have exciting potential for a sustainable and healthy future. The use of these resources is important to ensure energy sustainability and minimize negative environmental impacts. In addition, we can list the importance of renewable energy sources and some of the advantages they offer as follows:

• Environmentally Friendly: Inexhaustible energy sources do not cause carbon emissions, unlike fossil fuels. In this way, it contributes to reducing environmental problems such as air pollution, global warming, and climate change.

• Sustainable: Renewable energy sources are inexhaustible because they are derived from the natural cycle of nature. Thus, it allows energy needs to be met in a long-term and unlimited way.

• Provides Economic Benefits: Energies that can be produced using local resources can also contribute to the economies of countries. In this way, dependence on energy imports can be reduced and energy costs can be reduced.

• Protects the Ecosystem: Inexhaustible energy sources do not produce harmful wastes and greenhouse gases like fossil fuels. This helps protect the ecosystem and human health.

• Provides Energy Diversity: Renewable energy sources that allow the use of various sources such as wind, water and sun in energy production help to eliminate dependence on fossil fuels. Thus, it allows energy needs to be supplied from various sources and in a continuous manner.

• Continuously Developing: Renewable energy technologies are constantly being developed. Energy production is increased through technological advances such as making solar panels, wind turbines and energy storage systems more efficient. Such innovations also contribute to lowering energy costs.

For a much cleaner, healthier, and livable world, we need to reduce our carbon footprint by turning to clean energy sources. As QuickCarbon, we enable organizations to calculate and report their carbon footprint according to ISO 14064-1:2018 standard and GHG Protocol without any consultancy services. If you need a solution partner for carbon emission management and reporting, you can contact us and take a major step for a sustainable future.