Renewable Energy Vocabulary

Biomass Energy that is produced from organic materials

Biofuel Fuel from organic sources

Biopower Electricity generated by the combustion of organic materials

Ground Source Heat Pump A network of pipes that circulates water from the ground (for heating) back into the ground (for cooling)

Hydropower Electricity generated from the energy of moving water

Tidal Energy Electricity generated from the energy of moving water

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion The process of changing solar energy stored in the ocean to electric power

Passive Solar Heating Using the design of a building to collect, store, and distribute the sun’s energy

Active Solar Heating The use of technology to collect, store, and distribute the sun's energy

Flat-Plate Solar Collector A metal box that absorbs the sun’s energy to heat water or air

Photovoltaic Cell A device that converts solar energy directly into electricity

Concentrating Solar Power A technology that uses the heat of the sun to generate electricity

Wind Turbine A device that converts the wind’s kinetic energy into electrical energy

Electrolysis A process that releases hydrogen by using an electric current to break down water molecules

Fuel Cell A device that converts hydrogen or another fuel into electricity