With the depletion in oil resources, other sources of energy which can be replenished either artificially or naturally are gaining prominence. Renewable energy as it is termed, is obtained from natural sources which will not get depleted. Some examples include wind, sunlight, hydropower, geothermal heat and even tidal. These energy sources have slowly been introduced into the electricity grids wherever possible and statistics show that 18% of energy consumed in 2006 was from renewable sources. Of this, Bio-mass sources held the major stakes at 13%. Hydropower generation provided for 3% of energy consumption globally and 15% of the electricity generated.
A major growth segment as long as alternative energy sources are concerned is the harnessing of wind energy. In 2008, the global installed capacity was estimated to be around 121,000 megawatts (MW) and is seeing a 30% growth rate annually. The United States and most of Europe have taken to this form of power generation pretty seriously. Energy generation from solar power is another area of interest especially in Spain and Germany. Photovoltaics have reached a capacity of 6900 MW. The largest solar thermal power station exists in Mojave Desert with an operating capacity of 354 MW. The biggest geothermal power generator is an installation in California known as they Geysers. It is rated at 750 MW.
Renewable energy programs are gaining much interest in developing countries with Brazil at the forefront of this. Brazil uses Ethanol as automotive fuel with this providing for 18% of its total consumption. Renewable energy solutions are generally developed for high capacities. But there have been several developments to meet applications that exist of the electricity grid, especially in remote regions. Kenya has keenly promoted self energy sufficiency with the use of solar generation and boasts of the highest household solar applications and sells nearly 30,000 setups every year.
Renewable energy sources are criticized upon for being irregular and highly dependant on uncontrollable conditions, but with the current scenario in mind it is obvious the renewable energy sources are the way forward. Governments and organisations are realising this and slowly increasing spending, providing incentives and legislative benefits for those who embrace renewable energy.
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