Renewable Energy Sources for the mCCHP-SE-RES Systems - Design for Micro-Combined Cooling, Heating and Power Systems - page 93

Infrared
radiation

Solar water heaters
Solar buildings
Solar dryers
Ocean thermal energy

Reflected
to space
50 000

80 000

Sensible
heating

Latent heat
and potential
energy

40 000

Hydropower

From
Sun

Solar
radiation

120 000

Absorbed on
Earth

300

Kinetic energy Wind and wave turbines

100 Photon

processes

Biomass and biofuels
Photovoltaics

30

From
Earth

Geothermal heat
Geothermal power

Heat

Geothermal

From
Planetary
motion

3

Tidal range power
Tidal current power

Gravitation,
orbital motion

Tidal motion

Fig. 2 Natural energy currents on the Earth, showing a renewable energy system [ 5 ]. Note Units
are terawatts (10 12 )

Whereas the principal form of the energy comes from the Sun and the secondary
source from the Earth itself, the third type of energy input to the Earth system
comes chiefly from the Moon. The Moon has more influence over the movements
of our planet s ocean waters. The gravitational pull of the Moon (and, to a lesser

extent, that of the Sun) on the Earth causes the oceans to bulge outward on the side
of the Earth closest to the Moon. At the same time, the oceans on the opposite side
of the planet bulge in response. This gravitational pull creates a torque that acts as a
brake on the Earth

'

is rotation, producing a relatively small amount of energy that is
dissipated primarily within the waters of the ocean.
Thus, renewable energy is obtained by capturing the energy of solar irradiation,
of winds, of running waters, of biological processes, or of geothermal heat.
One of the most interesting components of the entire energy picture is the
relationship of energy input, energy output, and the human beings. Human beings
are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature and are at the
center of concerns for sustainable development. In essence, sustainable develop-
ment [ 6 ] is a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction
of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional
change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet
human needs and aspirations.
The right to development must be ful

'

lled so as to equitably meet developmental
and environmental needs of present and future generations. Human beings shall
cooperate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect, and restore the health
and integrity of the Earth

'

s ecosystem.