Renewable Energy Definiton Renewable energy is energy made by natural resources such as the sun, wind and water, and is constantly renewed by nature. These energy resources are “unlimited”, and they are used in various ways that are not dangerous to the environment, unlike non-renewable energies. So Renewable Energies are the best alternative energies so far discovered.

Renewable energy resources : - Solar energy (from the sun) - Wind power - Hydropower (from water moving) - Biomass (from leftover crops and wood) - Bio-fuel (a lot like biomass) - Geothermal energy (from heat inside the earth)

Solar Energy Solar energy is the energy derived from the sun through solar radiation. Solar panels are how we harvest this resource. The technology we invent and make to harvest solar power is improving. Whenever we improve it with a new invention, we can make more power for us out of solar energy. We can also build a building so that it faces the Sun to make the building warmer in winter. This is also using solar energy.

Solar panels like the one to the right are still in use, but are being replaced by newer, better versions. New technology solar panels

Solar Techniques

Wind Power To make energy from wind, we have to attach a motor to a windmill. When the wind spins the windmill, the windmill spins the motor, which makes energy in the motor. Then that energy is sent to houses and buildings. To power a boat, instead of using gas in a boat motor, we can use sails on a boat to move across the water. In Denmark, 19% of their power for electricity for homes and buildings comes from wind power. 13% of the electricity in Spain and Portugal comes from wind power.

Wind Power

Hydropower Hydropower, hydraulic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of moving water. Tidal power (from the changing of the tide) Wave power

Hydropower Facility Plant

Biomass Biomass, is biological material derived from living, or recently living things. Biomass is usually plant matter leftovers that can be burnt or used to make electricity or heat. Some plants can also help make electricity while still alive. The most popular way to use biomass to make energy is to burn it.

Bio-fuel Bio-fuels are similar to biomass. A few examples of bio-fuels: ethanol Biodiesel Vegetable oil Bio-gas

Geothermal Energy Geothermal power is the power extracted from heat stored in the earth itself. This geothermal energy comes from the heat inside the planet, from radioactive decay of minerals, and from solar energy absorbed at the surface.

Geothermal Facility Plant

Growth of renewables Solar panels made after 2008 can gather six times more energy from the sun than the type of solar panels we could make in 2004. Our technology that harvests wind power can gather two and a half times more energy than the technology we had in 2004. New inventions to harvest more renewable energy are made every year now. Scientists who create and build these technologies have fun at their job and make a very nice paycheck!