In simple terms, it is energy from a source that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power. Renewable energy can be very beneficial to us humans and the world we live in. It replaces the fuels we use in electricity generation, the heating and cooling of air and water, motor fuels and other types of energy services. It benefits us as a whole because of it's availability everywhere we go. While nonrenewable energy comes from specific countries and is shared from there, renewable energy is available in every country so long as it's given the chance to be used.
The use of renewable energy is increasingly resulting in positive changes in climate, economic benefits and securing a source of energy as our current nonrenewable source is quickly being depleted. Due to these benefits and many more, the people's support for a shift to renewable energy is growing stronger and stronger. Since the 1970's, environmentalists have strongly promoted the use of renewable energy to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels. People were reluctant at first due to the high costs of solar power, however the costs have been decreasing and the what the world gets in return is worth the price. |
How do wind turbines work? It's simple. Wind turbines require wind and so they are placed in areas where wind is strong and constant, such as sites of high altitude or offshore areas. After they are placed in the ideal wind farm, the wind flows and turns the blades, making them spin a shaft. The blades and shaft are connected to a generator which,all together, converts the kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. So the stronger and faster the wind, the more power and electricity is created.
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Due to the suns constant appearance in everyday life, it is inexhaustible. By switching our main source of energy to renewable energy such as solar power, the world benefits. We will no longer be completely dependent on oils, our resources are secured, there will be less pollution and harm to our planet, and we will become economically more secure as fossil fuel prices decrease with our dependence on it.
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Solar energy is the use of light and heat from the sun to generate power and electricity. This is possible due to new technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, solar architecture and artificial photosynthesis. There are two categories for solar energy: passive solar and active solar.
Passive solar is placing a building towards the sun and using objects disperse lights. Active solar is collecting solar energy and converting it into electricity through photovoltaics or concentrated solar power. Photovoltaic systems transforms the light energy into mechanical energy and concentrated solar power systems use lenses and mirrors to make large areas of sunlight into small beams. |
Hydropower is the use of water to yield energy. Because water is much denser than air, it creates more energy. There are multiple forms of hydropower: hydroelectric dams, micro hydro systems, and run-of-the-river hydroelectricity systems. Hydroelectric dams is the potential energy of the dammed water driving water turbines and generators.. Micro hydro systems are hydroelectric power installations that produce power in water rich areas. Run-of-the-river hydroelectric systems work together with micro hydro systems to take kinetic energy from rivers and oceans without having to make large reservoir.
Other forms of hydropower include wave power and tidal power. Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves and capturing that energy to do generate electricity. Tidal power is similar to wave power but instead of using waves, it uses tides (it is also much more predictable than wind or solar power). |
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Geothermal Energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. The geothermal energy of the Earth's crust comes from the original formation of the planet (20%) and from radioactive decay of materials (80%).
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Renewable organic materials, such as wood, agricultural crops or wastes, and municipal wastes, especially when used as a source of fuel or energy. Biomass can be burned directly or processed into biofuels such as ethanol and methane
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Heat pumps are devices that provide heat energy from a source of heat to what is called a "heat sink". They are designed to move thermal energy opposite the direction of heat flow by absorbing heat from a cold space and releasing it to a warmer one.
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