Renewable energy sources are one of the most important ways we can help fight climate change. Renewable energy is natural and so many different types of renewable resources exist to power our homes, businesses, and communities.
What are the top renewable energy sources in Texas? There are many different types of renewable energy, and they all have pros and cons. In this article, we’ll cover some of the top renewable energy sources as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
Solar
Solar panels generate electricity when they capture sunlight; they have no moving parts which makes them low maintenance. On average 3 out 5 households consider their rooftop solar systems an investment rather than just another expense because it pays for itself over time. Most energy companies try to be environmentally friendly these days so they give large energy discounts for installing solar panels.
Some electricity providers even make it possible for you to power your home with solar power without having to worry about installing panels on your house. You are able to buy energy plans directly from the provider, or you can choose to use energy generated by a third-party energy company. If you already have energy generated, the energy company will buy that energy from you.
Disadvantage of Solar Power
The disadvantage is that solar panels are expensive, and don’t produce energy at night, or when it’s cloudy.
Wind
Wind turbines harness kinetic energy from the air and generate electricity. The energy is then sent to the electricity grid, reducing energy costs for individual households and businesses while also making an impact on climate change.
The energy generated by wind turbines can vary throughout the day and night. This is why it’s important to work with energy providers who have a plan in place that can help you use energy when you need it most while balancing how much energy is stored on your home or business’s electric vehicle storage system.
Disadvantage of Wind Energy
A disadvantage to wind energy would be that large turbines could make noise and they are also rather unsightly at times. Another issue with wind energy would be if the system were constantly producing too much energy then it wouldn’t actually help the environment if we wasted all of this energy we produced.
Biomass
Biomass energy is generated by burning organic material which releases heat energy in the process. There are many different ways biomass energy can be utilized, such as through wood or pellets for heating your home or standard energy-producing processes like electricity production through co-generation. It’s also possible to use carbon monoxide gas from processing plants, landfill methane gas, biodiesel fuels from recycled oil, and organic waste to produce energy for homes and businesses. Biomass energy may even be able to take advantage of other renewable resources at some point.
Disadvantage of Biomass Electricity
Bioenergy can be used to heat buildings or generate electricity for homes and businesses, but it has some challenges associated with it as well. For example, biomass energy will only become competitive with fossil fuels when the energy is produced without subsidies. This makes it difficult for individuals and small business owners to compete against larger energy producers that receive government subsidies in most cases.
Another challenge is developing the infrastructure necessary to support biomass energy production; this includes special vehicles for harvesting and transporting wood, or maintaining collection sites where organic waste must be sorted before using equipment like anaerobic digesters. However, bioenergy does seem promising; a recent Ontario report found that domestic energy companies are making considerable investments in bioenergy capacity at the same time demand for energy from wind and solar energy is growing.
If you are interested in powering your home with a renewable energy plan, be sure to compare providers to find the right option with the best electricity rates.
