Types of Renewable Energy

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In this article, we will explore different types of energy, renewable energy, non-renewable energy, types of renewable energy, and some fun facts about renewable energy.

If You look around, you will find that energy is present everywhere. For example, cars run on the road because they get energy from gasoline. We get energy from food and carbohydrates, similarly, sunlight gives plants energy to grow; the blades of mills move due to wind energy, etc.

It’s important to note that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it simply transfers from one form to another.

There are two different sources from which we get energy: renewable energy sources and non-renewable sources. But in this article, we will learn about renewable energy.

Also Read: Types of Energy

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy: Re + new + able means capable of being renewed. This means renewable energy doesn’t deplete when used and has an endless supply. Renewable energy refers to all those limitless energy sources present in nature that are naturally replenished. For instance, solar power from the sun is a renewable source of energy because the sun’s sunlight is an everlasting source of energy.

Types of renewable energy

The following are the major types of renewable energy sources:

Solar Energy
Wind Energy
Hydropower
Geothermal Energy
Ocean Energy
Biomass

Solar Energy

Solar power is the primary source of energy utilized by plants, animals, and humans. We use solar panels to trap sunlight energy and transform it into usable energy, such as heating water, buildings, pools, etc.

A photovoltaic cell, also known as a cell, directly converts sunlight into power.

Fun facts about solar energy

The Noor Complex solar power farm is the world’s largest concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, located in the Sahara Desert in Morocco. (source)
Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel, a 19-year-old French physicist, made the discovery of solar energy in 1839 while conducting an experiment on photography.
Solar energy technologies and power plants do not produce air pollution or greenhouse gases when operating. (source)
Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource on earth; 173,000 terawatts of solar energy strike the Earth continuously. That’s more than 10,000 times the world’s total energy use. (source)
The International Space Station is entirely solar powered.

Also Read: Energy Conservation Tips

Wind Energy

Large turbines in windy areas generate electricity through air currents. Depending on its size, an individual wind turbine can provide the required electricity for a single home or business, while large-scale wind farms can produce power for the entire city.

Fun facts about wind energy

Wind turbines are huge. The average length of a wind turbine is 210 feet, while turbine towers average height is up to 295 feet. (source)
The United States has installed over 144,000 megawatts of wind capacity. (source)
Federal data indicates wind-turbine service technician is the fastest-growing job in the USA. (source)
Wind energy was first developed with windmills in 200 BC in Persia and China. (source)
Prof. James Blyth built the first wind turbine for the purpose of generating electricity in Scotland in July 1887.(source)

Hydropower

Just as we produce wind energy by using the wind to move giant turbines, similarly, we generate hydroelectric power by using the water from dams, rivers, and reservoirs to move the turbines. The powerful flow of water moves the turbines, which, in turn, generate electricity.

Fun facts about Hydropower

Hydropower is one of the oldest power sources on the planet.
Three Gorges Dam, China, is the world’s largest hydroelectric facility. (source)
Over 70 percent of Washington State’s electricity comes from hydropower. (source)
At Cragside in Northumberland, England, William Armstrong created the first hydroelectric power system in history. (source)

Geothermal Energy

The term “geothermal” originates from the words “geo,” meaning ‘earth ‘ and “Therme,” meaning ‘heat.’ Geothermal energy is harnessed from the heat stored within the Earths core. This form of energy is employed for heating homes and buildings and for generating power.
Geothermal energy reaches the Earth’s surface in three ways:

Volcanoes and fumaroles (openings in the earth where volcanic gases are released).
Hot springs
Geysers

Fun facts about Geothermal Energy

Scientists have discovered that the temperature of the earth’s inner core is about 10,800 degrees Fahrenheit (°F), which is as hot as the surface of the sun.
Most geothermal resources are near the boundaries of the earth’s tectonic plates.
One of the most active geothermal areas in the world is called the Ring of Fire, which encircles the Pacific Ocean. (source)

Ocean Energy

Energy from the ocean is generated by harnessing the movement of waves, currents, and tides. Devices such as buoys and turbines are used to convert this movement into energy. Certain components of these devices move with the water, producing electricity.

Biomass

Biomass is an organic material that comes mainly from plants and animals. Biomass energy is a renewable type of energy that turns biomass into heat and electricity.

Fun facts about biomass energy

Biomass is the largest form of renewable energy in Europe.
A paper mill in Brazil illustrates the effect that biomass can have on climate protection. After replacing a gas boiler with a biomass boiler, it saves over 48,000 metric tons of CO2 every year. (source)
Biomass provided about 5% of U.S. energy in 2022.
Animal poop and human sewage can be used to produce biogas (renewable natural gas) through anaerobic digesters. (source)

Types of renewable energy: Helpful Resources

https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy-sources/geothermal/
www.eesi.org
https://www.energy.gov/articles/top-6-things-you-didnt-know-about-solar-energy
earth.org/facts-about-wind-energy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_wind_power