By Desmond Igwe
Electricity is a remarkable discovery that has become one of the cornerstones of the industrial revolution. By harnessing this powerful energy source, human beings have been able to transcend what once seemed impossible.
In the past, coal and other fossil fuels were used to generate electricity. When burnt, these fuels release a significant amount of energy, which is used to heat water, turning it into steam that powers turbines. The movement of the turbines then generates electricity to power homes, industries, and cities.
Today, we have developed more advanced ways of generating electricity. Scientists now understand that electricity can be produced whenever there is a flow of electrons. With this knowledge, multiple forms of energy generation and storage have emerged.
Among these forms, solar energy is one of the most popular. It is highly accessible because it harnesses the power of the sun to produce electricity with minimal human intervention. However, solar energy has a limitation—it only works when the sun is shining.
In a world that operates 24/7 and has immense energy demands, this limitation presents a challenge. Fortunately, there are other methods of electricity generation, including piezoelectricity, thermoelectricity, nuclear reactors, wind turbines, water turbines, and even moisture-generated electricity. While these alternatives may overcome solar’s limitation, solar energy still stands out for the sheer amount of power it can produce.
To address the issue of intermittent energy sources, new methods of energy storage have been developed. Gravity storage, sand storage, and other innovations are proving to be critical components of the sustainable future we are working towards.
Although we are still some distance from fully realising industrial-scale sustainable electricity generation, we are steadily transitioning from nonrenewable sources, such as fossil fuels, to renewable energy sources that have the potential to power our lives indefinitely.
Desmond is of Premier International School, Wuse 2, Abuja
