Sustainable Water Power and Global Energy Solutions

Harnessing the Power of the Oceans

1. Currently, the planet is covered by 75% water. This 75% always stays in motion, which is significant because of the tides and the rotation of the Earth. It can be used to generate clean electric power from renewable resources that produce no pollutants, such as radioactive gases or solids.

Power can be generated using the tides; this energy is called tidal energy and results from the gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Earth. This is because boats use this energy to get from one place to another.

How Hydroelectric Plants Generate Electricity

2. A hydroelectric plant is used to generate electricity by harnessing the potential energy of water stored behind a dam located at a higher level than the plant.

The water is guided through a discharge pipe to the engine room of the plant, where huge hydraulic turbines produce alternative electric power generation.

The Importance of Sustainable Energy Sources

3. Humans need energy for any function that we develop. Houses must be heated, energy is needed for the development of industry and agriculture, and even within our bodies, there is a constant flow of energy. All processes that provide us with luxury and comfort in our daily lives require energy expenditure.

This industrial process can be developed through the use of different sources. These sources can be renewable or non-renewable. Renewable energy sources are replaced over time and, therefore, do not easily disappear. However, non-renewable energy sources are threatened and may disappear if usage is high.

The Environmental Impact of Fossil Fuels

The most commonly used fossil fuels in our country are:

• Oil
• Natural Gas

While these allowed for a productive development never before seen in human history, they also produced a very negative impact on the environment. Burning such fuels produces emissions of gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other gases that have contributed and still contribute to building and enhancing the greenhouse effect, acid rain, and the pollution of air, soil, and water.

Pollution effects are not only linked to their combustion but also to transport (such as oil spills) and the products that originate from them (hydrocarbons and toxic byproducts). The situation worsens when one considers the increasing demand for energy, goods, and services due to the increasing world population and consumption patterns.