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RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES By Name Course Instructor Institution City/State Date Renewable Energy Sources Back ground information about Iceland Taking into account Iceland northerly location, its climate without a doubt is much milder as to what is anticipated, particularly in the areas of the southern coast, which are intensely impacted by the Atlantic Gulf stream’s warm waters. Iceland weather is exceedingly unpredictable and is regularly impacted by the so-called ‘Iceland-lows’, which according to the Official Gateway to Iceland (2011) is the atmospheric depressions that cross the North Atlantic. The depression passage (southwards) results in moderately dry as well as cold weather, particularly in southern districts, while the north one passing between Greenland and Iceland results in moderately dry and mild weather, particularly in the northern districts. Basically, Iceland weather is very coastal and mild, originating from the Gulf Stream, and its weather is as well impacted by the polar current of East Greenland that curves around the east and north coasts. Averagely, the Reykjavik summer temperature is 10.6 degrees Celsius during the mid-year, especially July, zero degrees Celsius during the winter season (The Official Gateway to Iceland, 2011). As mentioned by the Official Gateway to Iceland (2011), Iceland climate is very changeable and regularly changes instantly. Besides that, Iceland is very rich in natural resources, which symbolizes both growing and traditional sectors of its financial system. In the Iceland, environment conservation is highly prioritized, and the country heavily relies on natural resources as well as their sustainable handling. Considering the Iceland’s high economic reliance on fisheries and seafood exports, the country has prioritised the sustainable living marine resources harvesting for environmental and economic benefits. Iceland is encircled by a number of the most productive and richest fishing grounds, and so for decades, fisheries have been the Icelandic economy backbone. Presently, fish accounts for 40 per cent of Iceland’s export revenues and 7 per cent of the Icelandic employees are employed in the fish industry. Another natural resource that Iceland boasts is renewable energy, given that the country has wide-ranging resources of geothermal energy as well as hydroelectric power. Iceland is considered unique in Europe for the reason that it generates almost all of its electrical power from sustainable natural resources, which are emission-free. Water is another notable natural resource in Iceland, and the country’s water is considered pure and abundant. Geographically, Iceland an Atlantic Ocean island, positioned close to the Arctic Circle, between Norway as well as Greenland. The country is almost 40,000 square miles; which is almost the same size as Portugal and Hungary. Basically, Iceland follows Great Britain as the second biggest European island and ranked as 18th biggest island globally. With almost 3088 miles coastline, Iceland maintains an exclusive economic zone of about 200 nautical miles. Moreover, Iceland is considered the youngest island in the world and subsequently home to a number of the most active volcanoes in the world. Iceland existence is indebted to a big Mid-Atlantic Ridge volcanic fissure, where the American, as well as Eurasian tectonic plates, converge (The Official Gateway to Iceland, 2011). Until now, Iceland is increasing by almost five centimeters annually while it continues splitting wider at the points where American and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. The country recently experienced volcanic eruption in Grímsvötn (2011) as well as Eyjafjallajökull (2010). Renewable Energy Resources Iceland relies on hydro power and geothermal energy as the main source of energy, and the country is currently considered the world leader in effectively using renewable energy resources. Whereas numerous cities are still struggling with increasing costs of energy as well as the pollution burdens, because of overreliance on energy sources like coal and oil, almost 90 per cent of Icelandic homes are warmed with geothermal water. Geothermal Energy Iceland is the forerunner in space heating through geothermal energy, and generating electrical power using geothermal energy has recently risen significantly. As mentioned by National Energy Authority of Iceland (2010), facilities for geothermal power are presently generating 25 per cent of Iceland total produced electricity. In the 20th century, Iceland evidently developed from a poorest country in Europe that relied on imported coal and peat for its energy to a nation with a high living standard wherein power is sourced from renewable resources (National Energy Authority of Iceland, 2010). Currently, 99 per cent of electrical energy in Iceland according to the country’s National Energy Authority is generated from renewable sources, and 30 per cent sources from geothermal facilities. When taking into account electricity production, heating and transportation all together, geothermal offers 50 per cent of the total main energy utilised in Iceland. In consequence of a fast growing energy industry in Iceland, electricity demand according to National Energy Authority of Iceland (2010) has significantly increased. In 2013, the installed geothermal power plants generation capacity totalled 665 Megawatts and the total electricity generation was 4,600 Gigawatt Hour; therefore, geothermal energy equalled a 24.5 per cent of the Iceland's total production of electricity (National Energy Authority of Iceland, 2010). Hydrogen power Hydrogen has recently been explored as the substitute for gasoline in passenger vehicles, and may be utilised in fuel cells for powering electric motors. Without a doubt, hydrogen is eco-friendly fuel, which can intensely reduce people reliance on imported oil; however, a number of considerable challenges have to be solved prior to its extensive utilisation. In 1998, Iceland’s government announced its plan to use hydrogen in replacing the fossil fuels. In cooperation with Shell, Daimler AG, Norsk Hydro, as well as research institutions and local utilities, Icelandic New Energy was created and was tasked with making the plan feasible (Woodard, 2009). Consequently, in 2003, a hydrogen Shell station was opened so as to serve the hydrogen power needs of three experimental buses that were powered by hydrogen fuel-cell, and which plied the Reykjavík streets for 36 months with no any major incident. In consequence, hydrogen-fuelled vehicles were introduced towards the end of 2007, and in 2009 this technology was also introduced to a passenger vessel. For decades, Iceland has manufactured hydrogen from water through electrolysis, and prior to its introduction in the transportation sector as a substitute fuel, the produced hydrogen was utilised for fertilizers. According to ClimateWire (2009), for Iceland to power its entire transportation as well as fishing fleet, the need between 80,000 and 90,000 tons of hydrogen annually, and this in consequence, can assist Iceland reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 65 per cent (ClimateWire, 2009). Since the introduction of hydrogen-cell to power vehicles in Iceland, more than sixteen passenger vehicles have been powered by hydrogen, and currently twelve of these are still operational. Solar Power Basically, solar power is generated through sunlight collection and its conversion into electrical energy. This is achieved through utilisation of solar panels, and although it was widely utilised in the remote locations, it is presently turning out to be popular in urban locations. Solar power are considered renewable energy source because it emits no greenhouse gases and is eco-friendly, is cheap, and has helped a number of countries like Germany and China shift toward reliable, cleaner, as well as inexpensive electricity sources. Most solar installations are based on solar small photovoltaic (PV) systems, usually installed on roofs, and concentrating solar power (CSP) and large PV systems that make up the general solar capacity to generate electricity. In Iceland case, solar power is not extensively utilised due the fact that the country has somewhat low insolation, because of its latitude. Different from geothermal, sola-based energy is a renewable energy source that cannot be dispatched because of the fact that sun only follows a probable path, and weather cannot be manageable. Therefore, solar power is a variable renewable energy source, and so in Iceland solar power generated during summer is stored to be utilised during the winter. This is achieved through net metering, and besides that, a number of Icelandic people have installed small-scale PV that they use during the summer season to power their appliances. Wind Power Wind power is generated when the natural atmospheric wind is captured and converted into mechanical energy and later into electrical energy. Wind power is not a latest innovation since it was widely utilised some centuries in the form of windmills, for ground graining, pumping water as well as other activities. Windmill evolved into a contemporary turbine, which harness the kinetic energy of the wind before converting it into an electric energy. The majority of wind turbines used have steel tubular tower, three blades and can consequently power more than one hundred homes. Utilisation of wind power to generate electricity in Iceland has largely been limited to small wind turbines for using in off-the-grid, and until now there exists no large operating wind turbines in Iceland. Despite the verity that Iceland has a good climate to generate wind power, Nawr et al. (2014, p.292) posit that the potential of wind power potential in Iceland is somewhat new. Basically, wind power is a crucial renewable energy source, particularly when collectively utilized with hydroelectric power that is widely used in Iceland. In Iceland, during winter the wind speeds that is exceedingly high match with low sunshine hours and stream flow. Different from solar energy, Nawr et al. (2014, p.293) believes that wind power is applicable in Iceland all through the year, and this can consequently reduce the looming water regulation. References ClimateWire, 2009. Sinking Finances Throw Iceland's 'Hydrogen-Based Economy' Into the Freezer. [Online] Available at: HYPERLINK "http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/07/01/01climatewire-sinking-finances-throw-icelands-hydrogen-bas-47371.html?pagewanted=all" http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/07/01/01climatewire-sinking-finances-throw-icelands-hydrogen-bas-47371.html?pagewanted=all [Accessed 1 May 2015]. National Energy Authority of Iceland, 2010. Geothermal. [Online] Available at: HYPERLINK "http://www.nea.is/geothermal/" http://www.nea.is/geothermal/ [Accessed 1 May 2015]. Nawr, N. et al., 2014. The wind energy potential of Iceland. Renewable Energy, vol. 69, pp. 290–299. The Official Gateway to Iceland, 2011. Nature & Environment. [Online] Available at: HYPERLINK "http://www.iceland.is/the-big-picture/nature-environment/" http://www.iceland.is/the-big-picture/nature-environment/ [Accessed a May 2015]. Woodard, C., 2009. Iceland strides toward a hydrogen economy. [Online] Available at: HYPERLINK "http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Energy/2009/0212/iceland-strides-toward-a-hydrogen-economy" http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Energy/2009/0212/iceland-strides-toward-a-hydrogen-economy [Accessed 1 May 2015]. Read More