Alternative and Renewable Energy Assessment Services

Alternative and Renewable Energy Services

• Bioenergy
  Bioenergy is defined as renewable energy derived from organic matter (excluding coal or petroleum). The term “biomass” refers to the organic materials that are the source of bioenergy. When biomass is burned, the chemical energy inside the organic materials is released as heat. This heat can provide electricity or useful thermal energy. Biogas and biofuels are also forms of bioenergy.
  
  Biomass is a carbon-neutral source of energy and can help us reduce our over-reliance on fossil fuels. It’s also cheaper than fossil fuels and can help us reduce the amount of garbage that ends up in a landfill.
  
  However, bioenergy is not a magical low-cost solution to the energy problem. A few things to consider are the fact that biomass is not as efficient as fossil fuels in energy production. It’s also not entirely clean since it still produces pollutants, such as methane.
• Cogeneration
  Cogeneration, also known as combined heat and power (CHP), is the generation of electricity or mechanical energy and useful thermal power from the same fuel source. Cogeneration improves efficiency by capturing thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted and converting it to additional power. When the electrical and thermal energy services are provided separately (also known as a traditional system), the national average efficiency is 45%.
  
  Cogeneration reduces energy wastage, energy costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. It can also reduce your facility’s dependence on the grid.
  
  The downside is cogeneration is not an energy source. It’s a way to make energy production more efficient and to cut down on wastage, but it’s not a way of producing more energy. You’d still need a source of energy to start the process. It can also be costly to implement, so it’s not a universal solution.
• Geothermal
  Geothermal energy is defined as energy from the earth’s heat. One type of geothermal energy is the use of reservoirs of hot water (at varying temperatures and depths) to produce steam and electricity. Another type of geothermal heat pump is known as a ground source heat pump.
  
  Geothermal heat pumps utilize the fact that the earth’s temperature (below the surface) remains relatively constant. Because of this, the earth serves as a constant heat source year-round. Geothermal systems work in virtually any scenario.
  
  There are many advantages to geothermal energy. It’s a renewable energy source that will last for as long as there’s Earth. It has enormous potential and it’s both stable and sustainable. Best of all – it’s reliable since it doesn’t involve the same fluctuations solar and wind energy do.
  
  Sounds too good to be true, right? There must be a catch. Indeed, there is. Aside from the risk of triggering earthquakes and potential environmental side effects, geothermal power plants are still expensive to build. It’s a very long-term investment that’s not suited for everyone. And it’s location-specific, meaning not just any location will do, although that’s true for many alternative energy sources.
• Hydropower
  Hydropower utilizes the energy of a body of water to power machinery. Typically, in order to produce enough energy to power machinery, a dam is introduced into the body of water to create more potential energy (a large elevation differential). Hydrokinetic power utilizes the kinetic energy of a body of water such as waves, tidal streams, and ocean streams.
  
  Hydropower shares many of the strengths and weaknesses of geothermal energy. While it’s renewable, sustainable, and able to generate lots of energy, it’s also location-specific, can have negative effects on the local environment, and requires a huge upfront investment.
• Solar
  Solar energy uses the sun as an energy source. The two main categories for solar energy are solar thermal and solar photovoltaic (PV). Solar thermal uses the sun’s heat to either heat a building or produce electricity. Solar photovoltaic (PV) uses certain materials (predominantly silicon) that produce a flow of electricity when exposed to sunlight.
  
  Solar is one of the alternative energy sources that’s getting the most attention right now. As a result, the technology is rapidly improving and it’s becoming more accessible. Solar panels can be a good addition to your facility to reduce your power bills.
  
  The downside of solar power is that the power source is nearly 100 million miles away. Anything standing between the panels and the Sun (such as clouds, for example) lowers the efficiency of the panels. They are entirely dependent on the weather, which means they’re not always reliable or even predictable. Energy storage is another thing to think about when it comes to solar.
• Wind
  Wind energy employs the wind to generate mechanical power, which can be converted to electricity using a generator. As such, it’s a great way to generate clean energy. The technology is developing quickly and energy efficiency is growing with each generation. Those are the pros.
  
  However, there are some cons, too. The upfront cost can be quite steep to install the turbines and generators. And then there’s energy storage, as well. Also, just like solar, wind energy is not as reliable as other forms of alternative energy. Finally, the turbines are noisy and can disrupt the migratory paths of certain wildlife (such as bats or birds), which makes them location-specific solutions.