From natural resources to energy: a journey through renewable sources

19 December 2023 - 16:56

Energy is the engine of life. It is everywhere: in plants, rivers, the atmosphere, homes and even our bodies. Try to imagine a world without any form of life, cold and motionless: this is how the Earth would be if there was no energy.

Kinetic, thermal, chemical, and light are some of the different forms of energy. However, when we turn on a computer, a light bulb or a household appliance, we are using a specific form of energy: electricity.

A paradigm shift is needed

Fighting climate change, safeguarding natural resources and environmental integrity are urgent needs that must be addressed by a paradigm shift.

To protect the planet and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, it is essential to pursue the energy transition, i.e. the transition from today’s fossil-centred energy production system to one focused on renewable energies, which do not run out and can quickly regenerate.

In addition to the use of renewables, it is essential to develop new technologies, such as energy storage, and to implement smart grids that can efficiently produce and distribute energy.

A virtual tour to spread knowledge

To spread knowledge and awareness about the world of renewables, we have created a virtual tour dedicated to wind and solar energy, illustrating the importance of these sources, delving into how plants work, as well as opportunities and challenges for the future in this field.

Energy from the wind

The first element is wind: its kinetic force is converted into electrical energy thanks to wind turbines and blades. This technique is rooted in antiquity: windmills for grinding grain and sails for navigation. Today, windmills have evolved into massive wind turbines that can capture the wind’s kinetic force through their blades and convert it first into mechanical energy and then into electricity. This is ultimately fed into the electricity grid.

There are other renewable sources

In addition to sun and wind, nature also offers other sources to produce electricity: we can tap into water energy to drive turbines in hydroelectric power plants, harness the energy of sea currents and capture heat from the deepest layers of the Earth. Furthermore, it is also possible to obtain electricity from substances of organic plant or animal origin.

Other periods of history have experienced transitions in industry and economics: in the past, we witnessed the transition from wood to coal and later from coal to oil.

What distinguishes today’s energy transition from previous transitions is the speed and urgency with which it must be achieved to safeguard the planet and life on Earth. Natural elements are essential allies in achieving this sustainability goal.

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