Renewable energy in France by Laura, Sidonie et Manon

Renewable energy in France

There are 5 renewable energy sources which have one main advantage: almost none of them produce waste or pollute the environment. In other words they are « clean ». Using renewable energy is part of the project to struggle against greenhouse gases and reduce the amount of CO2 emissions. Renewable energy can be produced and managed at a local level thus reducing loss of energy caused by transporting electricity from distant power stations to the place where it is needed. Developing renewable energy creates jobs. There is no limit to the supply of renewable energy. If we compare it to petrol, to coal, to natural gases, it's better to use renewable energy if we want a sustainable future for our world.

Wind power
Wind turbines generate mechanical forces or electric forces. In the past windmills were used for grinding wheat into flour. Wind power has become an important producer of renewable energy, produced by wind farms which capture wind energy thanks to blades.

Wind farms now form an integral part of the French countryside.

Biomass energy
Biomass includes 3 principal families which are wood energy or solid biomass, biogases and biofuel. They are materials of organic origin used for heat production, electricity or fuel.

Geothermal science
Geothermal science corresponds to the cultivation of heat stocked in subsoil. The use of geothermal sources is composed of two families: electricity production and heat production. Depending on the sources, techniques and needs are varied. Geothermal is qualified as « high energy » (more than 150°C), « medium energy » (from 90 to 150 °C), « low energy » (from 30 to 90°C) and « very low energy » (less than 30°C).

Solar power
Renewable energy uses the sun in different ways : it's solar power. First, there is photovoltaic solar energy. It comes from conversion of sunlight into electricity in specifics materials. Performances of photovoltaic installations depend on the orientation of solar panels and on the weather in the different areas. Electricity produced is immediately available or is stocked using batteries. There is also solar thermal low temperature. It consists in recovering sunlight in order to create hot water or underfloor heating.

Hydroelectricity
Water propels turbines, creating electricity. It represents 19% of total production of electricity in the whole world and 13% in France.

Conclusion
Our society still uses a high amount of fossil fuels which were formed over thousands of years to. If we continue to consume them at the current rate, these fuels will be exhausted in less than two centuries. Renewable energies are for us, the best way to act so as to protect the planet.


Laura, Sidonie et Manon