The top 6 of renewable energies

The engineer Mark Jacobson has valued the different sources of renewable energy according to their ecological footprint, their impact on climate change and their benefits for human health. And he has prepared an interesting ranking that places wind energy in first place.

The American engineer Mark Jacobson , from Stanford University, has valued the different sources of renewable energy according to their ecological footprint , their impact on the terrestrial global warming and their benefits for human health. And he has prepared an interesting ranking that places wind energy as the most desirable.

Second place is occupied by concentrated solar power (CSP) , followed by geothermal energy , tidal energy , photovoltaic solar panels and, in sixth position, wave energy .

Let’s see each of them in detail:

1.Wind Energy: Wind energy is obtained by taking advantage of the force of the wind to move the blades of wind turbines. It is one of the most mature and profitable sources of renewable energy, with a relatively low environmental impact, since it does not emit greenhouse gases. Its position in the first place is due to its efficiency, availability and low cost.
2.Concentrated Solar Power (CSP): CSP uses mirrors to focus sunlight onto a central point where heat is generated, which in turn produces electricity by a generator. Although it requires a large amount of space and has higher initial costs, it offers clean and efficient power generation.
3.Geothermal Energy: This energy source takes advantage of the heat stored under the Earth’s surface. It is highly efficient and constant, since it does not depend on weather conditions, but its implementation can be more complex and expensive, depending on the geographical location.
4.Tidal Power: Tidal power captures the energy of tides and ocean currents. Although it is a reliable and predictable source, its development is still relatively new, resulting in higher costs and technological challenges.
5.Photovoltaic Solar Panels: Photovoltaic solar panels directly convert sunlight into electricity. They are widely used and offer a great form of decentralized power generation. However, its efficiency can be affected by the weather and it requires a significant amount of space.
6.Wave Energy or Wave: This energy is derived from the movement of sea waves. Although it has great potential and is a constant source of power, it is still in the early stages of development, leading to its ranking in sixth place.
Jacobson, who publishes his findings in the latest issue of the journal Energy and Environmental Science, says that “good energy alternatives are not the ones that have been talked about the most.” “The philosophy that we should try a little of everything is wrong,” he adds. And he recommends “focusing on the technologies that provide the greatest benefits now that we know what they are.

Their analysis also suggests that ethanol-based biofuels would cause more harm to human health, biodiversity, and water supplies than current fossil fuels.

Regarding the new generation of ecological vehicles , the researcher concludes that the best option is the use of electric batteries as a power source, closely followed by hydrogen cells.