What is the best renewable energy source?

Question

Please, just answer this if you really KNOW :) For a country that has sun, wind and geothermal areas, and lots of it all, in which order should these resources be used as energy sources, considering cost of production, land use and amount of energy production

Answer 1

This answer is not as simple as which one is best... There are many factors that would largely be based on geographical Location. For instance it would not make much sense to install solar energy collection systems in areas that too far north because they simply do not get enough direct sunlight to be viable. Likewise placing a wind system in an area where sustained winds are rare would do no good. The other thing to consider is where are the consumers for the energy located in comparison to the locations of the energy system. Placing large wind farms in the Dakotas ( two of the states with the largest wind sources in the nation ) really doesn't do the nation any good because you cannot transport the energy very far. The neighboring states is about all the further the benefit would reach. The same goes for placing large solar collection stations in Arizona or Nevada. You could power nearby cities but you really can only transfer the energy so far.

That is based on large scale energy collection systems. If you are interested in something residential then it is a different story.


Currently the best of the 3 options may surprise you... it is GeoThermal. But not geothermal energy production... merely usage. If you were to install a Ground-source heat-pump in your home you would save up to 70% on the energy you currently use. These systems are proven and have been around a long time. The price range is reasonable NOW unlike other options. Prices can range from $2500 + for install depending on the situation and if you need to tear-out an existing system. The land usage is underground so you just need space to have a crew come in and dig. The unit would pay for itself in savings within a few years. Total amount of energy that the system would save is much more than the amount it takes to put the system in place (thus giving it a smaller Carbon footprint). Even though this system does not produce energy it uses existing energy and greatly reduces the amount of energy that a residence requires.

Photoelectric solar panels are very inefficient and very expensive to produce. The amount of energy that it takes to produce a solar panel is actually MORE than the amount of energy that the panel will be able to produce within it's lifetime. ( given an average lifespan of the panel and current technology ) While the panel may save YOU money and energy, it costs the enviroment more energy than it can recoupe.

A Wind system costs less in money and energy to produce than solar but still has some of the same draw backs. Both systems require battery banks and extra wiring systems before something could be used. Wind and sun are both non-consistent sources so days when the sun is weak or the wind is down you receive no benefit.

All three systems are currently only supplimentary at best. We don't have the technology to use any single source by itself completely. Solar and Wind both require better energy storage techniques to suppliment days of low production. Geothermal heat/cooling systems still require another source of energy. Solar systems need to become much more efficient before they are truly viable except for providing power in very remote locations.

In terms of providing large scale benefits to the masses using industrial sized verions of these energy sources we need to find ways to transport energy over greater distances with better super-conductors or microwave technology or something new.

currently I would list the three sources in order of energy benefit in this order.

geothermal
Wind
Solar

Answer 2

Sun mixed with wind is the best of the three. Geothermal is a great way to go but Joe Public don't have a backhoe in their backyard that they can use to dig the trenches required for geo. Solar and wind on the other hand can be shipped in a box and about anyone can open a box and tie a wire on a solar module and too a battery. Wind is a little harder because it requires two or more people to install and a larger amount of land because of the guy wires, makes noise etc...

So

1. Solar
2. Wind
3. Geo.

Answer 3

All the sources you mention may not be able to meet all the energy needs of a sizeable country of 20 million and over. Solar can have little use with present level of technology beyond household lighting and heating; it is not suitable for industrial use at the moment. The ultimate energy for all the world would be to use the abundant solar energy of the world's deserts to split water into hydrogen and oxygen by the process of electrolysis and then transport the hydrogen for use similar to how fossil fuels are now made available to its many users. This form of energy will last for as long as the sun shines on earth and the seas do not dry up.

Answer 4

Water by far. Sunlight is good only for clear days, and for only 6-8 hrs at the most. Plus it is too expensive to buy the solar panels for electricity. Under glass tubing is less expensive but still too short a day light time source. Wind is cheaper mechanically, and probably more hours of production overall. But still depends on sufficient air movement. Water from river flow is the most constant 24/7 production. Dams, are expensive but are multipurpose. Electricity, irrigation, drinking, recreation, flood control. Paddle wheels anchored along rivers or streams also produce continuous electricity and are cheap. They can be smaller or larger. Ocean waves and tides are being looked at as a continuous source also. All water sources of renewable energy are by far and away the most efficient. Water is heavy at 8+ lbs per gal. it does not take very much flow on a lever arm to multiply its effect dramatically.

Answer 5

I would say that all three are important but the solar energy is the best. because it is used to make solar cooker,solar water heater,to make electricity,even wind energy is good but to establish a wind farm is very expensive but once it is established it costs very less to generate electricity same is for solar energy

Answer 6

all three sources are good but the cost of production is still to high in time the most cost effective energy source is the use of waist

Answer 7

The best technically feasible method is geosynchronous orbiting solar collectors above the atmosphere that can collect sunlight and microwave it back to an earth based receiving station.

Answer 8

Solar is the best, in a few years when the cost is down we will all go solar

Answer 9

I would say geothermal now. In a few years it will be solar. :)

Answer 10

The fossil fuel is the best as the earth recycles the fossil fuels. The plants do it for us. If u start another fuel will the plants recycle it also???