By Desmond Igwe
Electricity is a groundbreaking discovery and a cornerstone of modern civilisation, catalysing the industrial revolution and shaping the development of technology and society.
Through harnessing this powerful energy source, humanity has achieved advancements once deemed unimaginable.
Historically, electricity generation relied heavily on coal and other fossil fuels. When burned, these fuels release substantial energy, which heats water, converting it into steam that drives turbines. The movement of these turbines generates electricity to power homes, industries, and entire cities.
Today, we have developed more advanced methods of generating electricity. Scientists now understand
that electricity can be produced whenever there is a flow of electrons. This fundamental insight has led
to the emergence of various forms of energy generation and storage.
Among these methods, solar energy is one of the most popular due to its accessibility and sustainability.
By capturing the sun’s energy, solar power produces electricity with minimal human intervention.
However, solar energy has a notable limitation—it only functions effectively when the sun is shining.
In a world that operates continuously with immense energy demands, this limitation presents a challenge. Fortunately, other methods of electricity generation, such as piezoelectricity,
thermoelectricity, nuclear reactors, wind turbines, water turbines, and moisture-generated electricity, complement solar energy. While these alternatives mitigate the limitations of solar power, solar energy remains a prominent source due to its substantial power generation capacity.
To address the issue of intermittency in renewable sources, new methods of energy storage have been developed. Innovations such as gravity storage, sand storage, and other cutting-edge technologies are becoming vital components in the transition to a sustainable future.
Although we are still working toward fully achieving industrial-scale sustainable electricity generation,
the transition from nonrenewable sources, such as fossil fuels, to renewable sources is well underway.
These renewable technologies hold the potential to power our world indefinitely, paving the way toward a cleaner, more resilient energy landscape.
Desmond is of Premier International School, Wuse 2, Abuja
