Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Thelastgreatenergytransformation ofthetwentieth centurywasthediscovery,orrather
rediscovery, of renewable energy. Until the Industrial Revolution, all the external energy
sources used by humans - animal power, biomass, wind and water - were renewable.
The rediscovery began with waterpower and the construction of large dams with turbines
to produce electricity. In many countries hydropower played a major role in industrial
developmentandurbanisation.Followingtheoilcrisesofthe1970s,therewasalsoconcern
about energy independence and the future viability of fossil fuels. This greatly boosted
research into energy alternatives. As a result, technologies such as wind turbines and
photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which had until then only been used for very specific
and limited purposes (such as satellites), were developed for commercial use. By the late
twentieth century, an additional impetus for renewable energy had emerged: concern about
global warming and climate change.
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