Renewable energy comes from resources that can be replenished. It's also a type of energy that will not produce greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants.
Fossil fuels like gasoline and coal aren't renewable resources. These resources take a really long time to make. Some of them can take up to millions of years to replenish.
Countries across the globe are looking more and more into renewable energy resources. Solar energy, hydroelectricity, and bioenergy have been growing in popularity. These industries have been booming for the past decade.
Solar energy is using the sun's light and heat for energy. For thousands of years, people have used the sun to heat up spaces and for drying purposes. We're still using the sun for the same purposes today.
Solar cells are used to capture sunlight. The sunlight is then changed into electrical energy. You may have seen solar cells on top of your calculator. Larger solar cells are also used in remote places to power homes.
It would appear that solar energy has many uses. So why isn’t it used in more commonplace items? Why aren't solar panels abundantly produced?
It can be expensive to install solar panels for personal use. It can also cost a lot to store the energy produced. Depending on how the panels are made, the process can cause pollution. The panels themselves can also take up a lot of space.
Hydropower uses moving water and turns it into another energy form. Hydroelectricity is a form of hydropower. This kind of energy is made when a dam is built to block a water source, such as a river. By doing so, a reservoir filled with water is created. When the water begins to fall or move, it creates a lot of kinetic energy. The water goes down the pipes and moves a turbine. The turbine moves and makes electricity.
This method harnesses the power of moving water. It does not create waste or pollution. It can also make electricity really quickly.
However, building these dams could affect the environment. It's also expensive to build these dams. Due to the role water plays in this method, it is not suitable for areas with droughts. There's also the danger that the dam could break and cause flooding and other damage.
Tidal energy is similar; it makes energy by using the ocean tides. There are different ways to make energy with ocean tides. All of them include using the movement of the ocean to move turbines.
It would seem like a good method, since it uses the waves that already exist. However, this method is expensive to install. The spinning turbines in the ocean can also hurt marine life.
Biomass is the dead plants or animals that can be used for fuel. The energy is released when biomass is burned, eaten, or made into biofuel. Biomass energy can be found everywhere. This can include wood, crops, garbage, and even poop!
How does burning dead matter turn into energy? By burning the dead matter, it can heat up water. The water produces steam, which can then turn the turbines that make electricity.
This is a great way to make energy. Farmers can sell their crops for biomass fuel. It uses waste to make energy. But using biomass energy does have its limitations.
If food crops are being used as energy, it may drive the cost of food up. It can also mean more land would be used for growing those crops. This could lead to forests being cleared and animals losing their homes.
Even with their shortcomings, these new ways to generate clean energy seem promising. Perhaps soon, using non-recyclable and non-renewable resources will be our past.