Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, Vol. 2, No.

1, January 2014

Renewable Energy Types

Nada Kh. M. A. Alrikabi

grow. The organic matter that makes up those plants is

Abstract—The rapid increase in energy consumption known as biomass. Biomass can be used to produce
particularly in the past several decades has raised fears of electricity, transportation fuels, or chemicals. The use of
exhausting the globe’s reserves of petroleum and other biomass for any of these purposes is called bio energy.
resources in the near future. The huge consumption of fossil
fuels has caused visible damage to the environment in various Hydrogen also can be found in many organic compounds,
forms. Approximately 90% of our energy consumption comes as well as water. It's the most abundant element on the Earth.
from fossil fuels. Due to industrializations and population But it doesn't occur naturally as a gas. It's always combined
growth our economy and technologies today largely depend with other elements, such as with oxygen to make water.
upon natural resources, which are not replaceable. Once separated from another element, hydrogen can be
burned as a fuel or converted into electricity.
Index Terms—Renewable energy, solar energy, Not all renewable energy resources come from the
sustainability, wind energy.
sun. Geothermal energy taps the Earth's internal heat for a
variety of uses, including electric power production, and the
heating and cooling of buildings. And the energy of the
I. INTRODUCTION
ocean's tides come from the gravitational pull of the moon
The United States currently relies heavily on coal, oil, and the sun upon the Earth. In fact, ocean energy comes
and natural gas for its energy. Fossil fuels are non- from a number of sources. In addition to tidal energy, there's
renewable, that is, they draw on finite resources that will the energy of the ocean's waves, which are driven by both
eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too the tides and the winds. The sun also warms the surface of
environmentally damaging to retrieve. Every year human the ocean more than the ocean depths, creating a
activity dumps roughly 8 billion metric tons of carbon into temperature difference that can be used as an energy source.
the atmosphere, 6.5 billion tons from fossil fuels and 1.5 All these forms of ocean energy can be used to produce
billion from deforestation [1] The huge consumption of electricity [2].
fossil fuels has caused visible damage to the environment in
various forms.. It creates lot of environment problem and
finally our ecological cycle will be affected. The energy II. RENEWABLE ENERGY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE
industry needs to get more from existing fields while BENEFITS IT PROVIDES
continuing to search for new resources. Due to
A. Environmental Benefits
technological advancement vehicles are made with
improved fuel efficiency and also perfect hybrid vehicle are Renewable energy technologies are clean sources of
made. Also the improvements are needed so that wind, solar energy that have a much lower environmental impact than
and hydrogen can be playing more valuable sources in the conventional energy technologies.
energy field. The many types of renewable energy B. Energy for Our Children's Children (Sustainability)
resources-such as wind and solar energy-are constantly
Renewable energy will not run out. Ever, other sources of
replenished and will never run out that is one benefit .Most
energy are finite and will some day be depleted.
renewable energy comes either directly or indirectly from
the sun. Sunlight, or solar energy, can be used directly for C. Jobs and the Economy
heating and lighting homes and other buildings, for Most renewable energy investments are spent on
generating electricity, and for hot water heating, solar materials and workmanship to build and maintain the
cooling, and a variety of commercial and industrial uses. facilities, rather than on costly energy imports. Renewable
The another advantage using renewable resources is that energy investments are usually spent within the United
they are distributed over a wide geographical area, ensuring States, frequently in the same state, and often in the same
that developing regions have access to electricity generation town. This means your energy dollars stay home to create
at a stable cost for the long-term future. The sun's heat also
jobs and fuel local economies, rather than going overseas.
drives the winds, whose energy, is captured with wind
Meanwhile, renewable energy technologies developed and
turbines. Then, the winds and the sun's heat cause water to
built in the United States are being sold overseas, providing
evaporate. When this water vapor turns into rain or snow
and flows downhill into rivers or streams, its energy can be a boost to the U.S. trade deficit.
captured using hydroelectric power. D. Energy Security
Along with the rain and snow, sunlight causes plants to After the oil supply disruptions of the early 1970s, our
nation has increased its dependence on foreign oil supplies
Manuscript received January 29, 2013; revised June 29, 2013.
Nada Kh. M. A. Alrikabi is with Baghdad University, Iraq (email: instead of decreasing it. This increased dependence impacts
nada715kh@yahoo.com). more than just our national energy policy [3].

DOI: 10.7763/JOCET.2014.V2.92 1
 Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, Vol. 2, No. 1, January 2014

III. AVAILABILITY OF RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES

Renewable Energy sources are not depleted, and it is
distributed over a wide geographical area, these resources
are quickly renewed through natural process. It won’t create
any environmental pollution problems. The main advantage
of using renewable resource is it is available throughout the
year. By an one time investment we can drew energy for
many decades without affecting the environment.
A. Solar Energy
Solar Energy has the greatest potential for providing
clean, safe, and reliable power. The solar energy falling on
the Earths continents is more than 200 times the total annual
commercial energy currently being used by humans  The Fig. 2. Solar energy at small unıt
government started solar power adoption with subsidies. A
consumer who installs a solar panel array on a house can B. Wind Energy
sell surplus energy to the local utilities. The solar panel cost, Wind, ultimately driven by atmospheric air, is just
reduced to 50%, which would make solar Powered another way of collecting Energy. Sun also heats the
Electricity cost comparable with other types of fuel, is atmosphere, which produces wind. It works on cloudy days
possible within the next decade . Solar Energy can be and Rainy season also. The location of wind turbines is a
classified as two types 1. Passive solar and 2. Active solar. very important factor, which influences the performance of
Passive solar energy is making direct and indirect use of the machine. The windmills are generally located at the top
thermal energies from the sun. Indirect use of Energy is of a tower to heights approximately 30 m. To avoid
possible only in building (or) structures (as shown in Fig. 1). turbulence from one turbine affecting the wind flow at
A southern exposure of a building guarantees the maximum others it is located at 5-15 times blades diameter. Windmills
exposure of the sun’s rays. Special metal leaf covering over are working both in horizontal axis and vertical axis.
windows and roofs can block out the sun during the summer The basic mechanics of the two systems are similar.
months. Special thermal solar collectors can circulate water Wind passing over the blades is converted in to mechanical
through the collection unit that collect the sun’s thermal power, which is fed through transmission to an electrical
energy for the purpose of heating the water for use . generator. Wind turbines will not work in winds below 13
Active Solar Energy is the use of the sun’s Electro magnetic km an hour. They work best where the wind speed averages
22 km an hour. The majority of wind turbines produced at
radiation in generating Electrical Energy. Generally semi-
the present time are horizontal axis turbine with three blades,
conductor silicon Boron solar chips are used for this. The
15-30 m diameter, producing 50-350 Kw of Electricity.
problem of these chips one that they have low Efficiency
Wind energy produces no air or water pollution, involves no
ratio and can only be used in supplying Energy needs of
toxic or hazardous substances, and poses no threat to public
small devices (i.e. calculators, watches, radio etc.)as shown
safety.
ın Fıg.2 .
C. Biomass Energy
Biomass is the most important source for energy
productions supplied by agriculture. Effective harnessing of
bio-energy can energize entire rural milieu in a country like
India where nature offers various types of biomass. This
energy is also available in the form of biodegradable waste,
which is the rejected component of available biomass [7].
Biomass energy refers to fuels made from plants and animal
wastes. The Biomass resource is, organic matter in which
the energy of sunlight is stored in chemical bonds. When the
bonds between carbon, hydrogen and oxygen molecules are
broken by digestion, combustion (or) decomposition these
substances release stored energy. Biomass energy is
generated when organic matter is converted to Energy. In
alcohol fermentation, the starch in organic matter is
converted to sugar by heating. This sugar is then fermented
and finally ethanol is distiller and then blended with another
fuel. An aerobic digestion converts biomass, especially
waste product such as municipal solid waste and market
waste. In this process, the facultative bacteria breakdown
Fig. 1. Solar energy mechanism at the unıt the organic material in the absence of oxygen and produce
methane and carbon dioxide. Bioconversion is a
62
 Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, Vol. 2, No. 1, January 2014

non- polluting, VS added/day at the clean and sustainable. miles beneath the Earth's
environmentally feasible optimum organic loading Resources of geothermal surface, and down even
and cost effective process rate of 2.9 kg of VS / m3/d. energy range from the deeper to the extremely
[8]. The effluent and In Chennai the shallow ground to hot water high temperatures of molten
digester residues are rich in government set up a power and hot rock found a few rock called magma.
nitrogen and phosphorus, plant using vegetable waste Almost everywhere, the
which can be recycled back as fuel. Daily 40 tones of shallow ground or upper 10
to the soil as a fertilizer [9]. market waste is going to be feet of the Earth's surface
By using this method we used for the power plant. maintains a nearly constant
can derive 70% of the The power plant will temperature between 50°
energy. The biomass is generate about 4800 units and 60°F (10° and 16°C).
mixed with water and of electricity/day. The gas Geothermal heat pumps can
stored in an airtight tank. tap into this resource to heat
comprises 65% of methane
The organic wastes and cool buildings. A
and 35% of carbon di oxide,
(Municipal Solid Waste) geothermal heat pump
and is transferred into a
are collected separately and system consists of a heat
dried natural method and gasholder and finally
electrical energy is pump, an air delivery
shredded to the maximum system (ductwork), and a
particle size of 2 – 4 mm. produced. The power
generated from the plant heat exchanger-a system of
This was stored in a plastic pipes buried in the shallow
container at room will be sold at Rs.3.15/unit
ground near the building. In
temperature and was D. Tidal Power the winter, the heat pump
characterized and it was removes heat from the heat
Oceans cover Two Thirds
used during all anaerobic exchanger and pumps it
of the Earth’s surface. This
digestion treatment. into the indoor air delivery
Domestic sewage was water is vast reservoir of
renewable energy. India is system. In the summer, the
collected from a college process is reversed, and the
campus before disposal. It naturally located in seashore
side and covered 3 sides by heat pump moves heat from
was used in all anaerobic the indoor air into the heat
digestion experiment for sea. The movement of the
water at the coastal front in exchanger. The heat
diluting the feedstock to removed from the indoor
achieve the required total kinetic energy that can be
air during the summer can
solids concentration for the converted into Electrical
also be used to provide a
present investigation. energy. The energy spread
free source of hot water
Experiments were carried out along the thousand of
[10].
out in 5 lit. Capacity batch km of coasts, in favorable
type reactor operating in location, the energy density
semi continuous mode with can average 65 MW/mile of IV. ENVIRONMENTA
daily feeding. The digester coastline an amount which L
was operated at room can lead to economical wave PRO
temperature at a constant generated Electricity. The BLE
MS
hydraulic retention time of cheapest method to draw IN
25 days with different tidal power is that the NON
organic loading rate. To oscillating water columns -
start with, the digester use the force of waves RENE
WAB
was initiated by charging entering a fixed device to LE
with generate Electricity. The ENE
2.75 lit. of feed stocks (2% waves entering the anchored RGY
TS) along with 2 lit. of feed compress air in a vertical RES
sludge. The digester was OUR
pipe. This compressed air CES
maintained anaerobic ally can be used to simply derive
and stabilization was to Fossil fuels are coal; oil
a turbine generator and natural gas, have
take place for two weeks. producing Electricity. The
During this stabilization originated from the
main problem of wave decomposition of organic
period, pH was maintained
power plants is cyclone and matter in or on the Earth.
in the range of 6.5 to 7.5 by
severe storms. During this Coal is the worst offender
adding sodium hydroxide.
period the plant is not among fossil fuels in terms
The pH and gas production
working. of CO2 per unit of energy
were measured every day.
It was found that the E. Geothermal Energy generated. Industrialized
maximum biogas countries generate 20% to
Geothermal energy is the
production is 0.36m3/kg of 30% of their energy from
heat from the Earth. It's
63
 Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, Vol. 2, No. 1, January 2014

coal. Petroleum is derived of the green house effect. alternate energy resources.
from rich organic This is mainly emitted VI. ECONO Hence, it is necessary to
molecules in the sediments from burning of coal and MICAL
encourage and emphasize
form. It emits sulphur BENEFI
natural gas leaks, natural TS the research and
contents and carbon gas associated with oil
Problems with renewable development activities
monoxide and finally
production and spillage of covering abroad spectrum
leads Acid rain. Natural energy sources are non-
petrol. In Thermal power of possible renewable
gas is combustible mixture availability at a reasonable
of methane and other plants the coolant water is cost, limited supplies and resources, as their
hydrocarbons. Methane is discharged into rivers (or) lack of cost Effective means contributions are
highly corrosive one. The lakes. The water body for capturing and substantial. Renewable
fossil fuels are producing suddenly increases the concentrating the renewable Energy sources are not
following gaseous temperature and losing its Energy. By Effective steps depleted. These resources
pollutants in the oxygen holding capacity to eliminate these importing are quickly renewed
atmosphere. i.e., Dissolved oxygen is of fossil fuel (oil and through natural process. It
reduced, so it is directly Natural gases) can be won’t create any
A. Carbon Dioxide
affecting the aquatic minimized the country’s environmental pollution
Carbon Dioxide is
economy will increase [8]. problems.
responsible for 55% of organisms 
The production cost of The main advantage of
global warming. The main using renewable resource is
sources are fossil fuel renewable source is reduced
it is available throughout
V. EXISTING AVAILABLE by subsidies. For some
burning (77%) and the year.
RENEWABLE RESOURCES years, the World Bank has
deforestation (23%). The By a one time
IN IRAQ been sold Electricity in
atmospheric Carbon di- investment we can drew
In limited available developing countries at an energy for many decades
oxide already presents
technology and economical average only 40% of the without affecting the
nearly a 30% change in
consideration to trap and cost of its production. The environment. Successful
the world. Ultimately, this government by introducing
store the renewable implementation of
could increase the average subsidies in the form of
energies when we are in renewable energy sources
global temperature by abundant supply in the area relaxing duties, taxes and our country economy is
about 1-5 C. Every year where other have to installation charges, the increased [1].
the average global surface concentrate much. The prices can be drastically
temperature rises production of fuel reduced and it will came
approximately 0.3-0.6C. increases. equal to fossil fuel rate [9]. VII. CO
NC
The Nitrogen oxides are That alternative energy A. World Energy LU
responsible for about 35% sources in Iraq is limited Conservation SIO
of acid rain use and production .The N
Predicted estimation
. Methane is reason is the presence of The renewable sources
about the rate of utilization
responsible for about 20% oil and the lack of are cost effective, user-
of energy resources shows
friendly, so that they can
environmental awareness. Basra) [11]. that the coal deposits will easily beat the fossil fuels.
And a few investment in deplete within the next 200 By promoting renewable
the field of renewable to 300 years and petroleum energy sources we can
energy. deposits will deplete in next avoid, Air pollution, soil
The types of renewable few decades. Now, the pollution and water
energy in Iraq are world is looking for pollution. Country’s
hydropower dams and Economy will increase.
reservoirs (LIMITED) Throughout the year these
.Solar energy for street sources are available
lighting (as shown in without affecting the
picture bellow Fıg. 3). And Environment
wind power projects under
implementation, but in R
E
limited locations depending F
on the potential availability E
R
of wind and these sites on
E
the west side, the south- N
west and north-west of the C
Fig. 3. Solar E
country and near the coastal energy uses in S
areas (specific space in Iraq Iraq
[1] I. G. Malkivia–pyh and Y. A.
in the southern city of Pyh, Sustainable energy

64
 Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, Vol. 2, No. 1, January 2014

Resources, Technology
and Planning, WIT Press,
pp. 24-29, Boston, 2002.
[2] T. Tieten and L. Lewise,
Environmental and
Natural Resources
Economic"s, 8th edition, pp.
59-62, 2000.
[3] D. E. Booth, The
Environmental
Consequences of Growth,
London and New York, pp.
88-90, 1998.
[4] Ashokverghese, “New and
Renewable Energy
Resources,” Proceedings of
International conference on
Alternate Energy
resources, Asian Institute
of Technology, Thailand,
pp. 403 – 410,1998.
[5] J. H. Gibbons et.al,
“Strategies for energy use,”
vol. 261, pp. 136-143,
1989.
[6] W. R. Cline, The
Economics of Global
Warming, Washington D.
C, pp. 45-55, 1992.
[7] Popular Mechanics
Magazine, pp. 10- 12,
September 2005.
[8] Time Magazine, pp. 32-33,
August 2005.
[9] Journal of Innovations in
Renewable Energy, vol. 2,
pp. 24-25, June 2005.
[10] Renewable Energy
World. [Online].
Available:
http://www.renewableener
gyworld.com/rea/tech/geot
hermal-energy, 2012.
[11] National Geographic
Magazine, pp. 35-40, August
2005 .
[12] N. Khaleefah and S. Jabir,
“The use of solid waste to
produce energy,” Proc.3ed
Conference of Planning,
Dohok & Dortmund
University, pp. 12-15,
2012..

Nada Kh.
M. A.
Alrikabi was
born in Iraq
in1971. She
has PhD in
Urban &
environmenta
l planning,
2005. She is
now working
in Baghdad
University.
She is the
assistant
Professor in
the Institute
of Urban &
regional
planning for
post graduate
studies.

65