What is renewable energy? Exploring the types of renewable energy

Home » What is renewable energy? Exploring the types of renewable energy

Renewable energy refers to a group of energy sources that come from nature, such as sunlight and wind, and are naturally renewable; that is, they do not run out when consumed and are always available. These types of energy have a wide range of applications, from electricity generation to heating, cooling water, and even transportation.

According to a report published by REN21 in 2016, the share of renewable energy in global energy consumption increased from 19.2% in 2014 to 23.7% in 2015. This significant growth reflects the global trend towards sustainable sources. In the same year, global investment in renewable energy reached nearly $286 billion. Most of this investment was in wind, solar, hydroelectric and biofuels.

In contrast, non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels have limited reserves and the process of replacing them is very slow and time-consuming. To learn more about these new energy sources and their applications, join us on the blog of Adak Company, a manufacturer of electrical panels in Iran.

What is renewable energy?

Those energy sources in the world that are naturally regenerated after use and there is no concern about their depletion are called renewable energies. In the current situation, natural energy resources on earth are rapidly decreasing, and the use of sustainable energies is the only effective solution to preserve the environment and meet the needs of future generations.

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Types of renewable energy

Resources such as biomass, geothermal energy, sunlight, water flow, and wind are natural resources that can be converted into clean, usable energy. Because they are renewable, these resources play a key role in a sustainable energy future. A more complete list of these types of new energies includes the following:

Biomass (biomes)
Geothermal energy
Hydrogen
Hydroelectric energy
Energy from the seas
Solar energy
Wind energy

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Solar energy

As long as the Sun shines in the sky—which is estimated to last for another 4.4 billion years—humanity will be able to benefit from its light and heat energy. Solar energy is typically harnessed in two very different ways: electrical and thermal.

In the electrical form, sunlight is captured by solar cells and converted into an electrical current. This process, which is carried out electronically, is known as photovoltaic (PV) technology, a combination of the words “photo” meaning light and “voltaic” meaning electricity. In simple terms, photovoltaics refers to the generation of electricity from sunlight.

In contrast, solar thermal energy – also known as passive energy – directly captures the sun’s heat and uses it to heat water in solar systems or increase the internal temperature of buildings through designs such as large, glass windows.

Wind energy

Depending on where you live, you’ve likely seen wind turbines dotting your landscape in recent years. For example, they have been widely installed in European countries and the United States.

Turbines are devices that capture the kinetic energy of a flowing fluid—such as a gas or liquid—and convert it into another form of energy. Windmills have been used for centuries in various parts of the world based on the same principle.

In today’s versions of wind turbines, a large blade, much like an airplane propeller, is turned by the wind. This rotation drives a generator housed in a metal housing (called a nacelle), which ultimately produces electricity.

It would take thousands of wind turbines to produce as much energy as a large fossil fuel power plant. Interestingly, wind is also a form of solar energy, as the uneven distribution of solar radiation across different parts of the Earth causes temperature differences, which in turn causes wind currents to form on the planet’s surface.

Hydroelectric power

The word “hydro” originally means water, so “hydroelectricity” refers to the production of electrical energy through the power of water. In this process, the water itself is not directly consumed, but rather the kinetic energy in river flows is harnessed.

Rivers usually originate in highlands and flow towards seas and oceans. By building dams along their course, large reservoirs of water can be created. After being released from the dam, this water passes through turbines, causing them to rotate, and ultimately, the mechanical energy produced is converted into electricity.

In the Middle Ages, water wheels were used to power mills, which were early examples of hydroelectric power plants. In this mechanism, the power of water was transmitted to the system through a set of wheels and gears; therefore, this type of energy can be considered a form of “hydromechanical” energy.

Like wind energy, hydroelectricity derives indirectly from solar energy, as solar radiation drives the cycle of evaporation, precipitation, and water flow across the Earth, causing a continuous dynamic between water resources on Earth and the atmosphere.

Ocean energy

The oceans are a vast source of untapped energy that can be harnessed in three main ways: wave energy, tidal energy, and thermal energy.

Wave energy, which uses mechanical devices that move up and down or back and forth with the movement of waves, captures the kinetic energy of water and converts it into electricity. This technology has been recognized and used in various regions for many years.

Tidal energy is harnessed by building small dams at the points where rivers meet the sea (estuaries). As the water level fluctuates daily due to the tides – which occur at least twice a day – large volumes of water enter and leave the river. Dams equipped with turbines can harness this continuous movement to generate electrical energy. One of the best-known examples in this field is the Rance tidal power plant in France.

Ocean thermal energy is generated by the temperature difference between the warm surface water and the cooler, deeper layers. In a specific type of system called ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), warm surface water is pumped up a massive vertical structure (about 450 meters high). At the same time, cold water from the depths moves down, and in the process, the hot water turns turbines and generates electricity. The cold water is then recycled. Estimates suggest that the oceans have enough thermal capacity to generate energy to meet human needs, although only a small fraction of this capacity has been tapped so far.

Biomass energy

Biomass is a modern term for organic matter, such as plants and other living things, that can be used as fuel after their life cycle ends—especially those grown for energy. For example, the wood that people in some parts of Africa collect for cooking or heating is a type of biomass. So are biofuels, such as ethanol, which is used to make biodiesel for cars. Even chicken manure is considered biomass when it is burned in power plants to produce heat.

The great thing about biomass is that it is a renewable energy source. The process is that plants grow by absorbing solar energy and converting it into chemical energy, which they store in their various parts – such as leaves, stems and roots. When biomass is burned, this chemical energy is released in the form of heat. This heat can be used to heat buildings, generate electricity or fuel vehicles.

Biomass has several important advantages in terms of environmental and sustainability compared to fossil fuels such as coal:

1. Unlike coal, which takes millions of years to form, biomass can be produced in a much shorter time frame. Plants and trees can be easily replanted to replace those used in the energy production process. For this reason, biomass has great potential to become a sustainable energy source.

2. Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow and release the same amount of gas when they burn. So, ideally, the net carbon emissions would be zero. Biomass is therefore sometimes referred to as a carbon-neutral energy source. However, it should be noted that the planting, harvesting and transportation of biomass may require the use of fossil fuels (such as diesel for agricultural machinery and trucks), which can reduce some of its environmental benefits. Also, young trees that replace felled trees may not be as effective at absorbing carbon dioxide.

3. Another advantage of biomass is its ability to be produced from waste materials. For example, burning wood residues or animal waste not only provides a source of energy, but also helps reduce the volume of waste that needs to be disposed of. In this way, biomass helps both with waste management and the production of clean energy.

Geothermal energy

We may sometimes think of the Earth as a very cold place, but deep down, there is a layer of molten rock with a temperature of about 4500 degrees Celsius (8000 degrees Fahrenheit). By using technologies such as heat pumps, which send cold water deep into the Earth and then return the heated water to the surface, this vast source of geothermal energy can be easily harnessed. It has been estimated that the total geothermal energy reserves on Earth are equivalent to the generating capacity of about 25,000 large power plants.

Nuclear energy

Conventional nuclear power is not considered a renewable energy source. It is produced by splitting heavy, unstable atoms of the element uranium, which is found naturally in the earth. Because uranium is the primary fuel in most nuclear power plants and requires digging into the earth to extract it, traditional methods of nuclear fission (which means splitting heavy atoms) cannot be classified as renewable energy. However, scientists are researching a new technology called nuclear fusion, a process in which light atoms are joined together to produce energy. This method holds promise for cleaner, safer, and truly renewable energy in the future.

Benefits of renewable energy

The benefits of renewable energy are vast and have positive impacts on the economy, the environment, national security, and human health. Here are some of the most important benefits of using this type of energy:

The country’s electricity grid is being strengthened in terms of reliability, security, and flexibility.
New job opportunities are being created in industries related to renewable energy.
Producing energy with these sources reduces carbon emissions and air pollution.
The country’s energy independence increases by reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Many types of renewable energy have been developed to compete with traditional energy sources in terms of cost and have become more affordable.
Access to clean energy will improve for remote communities, coastal or island areas that are not connected to electricity grids.

The difference between renewable energy and clean energy

The term “renewable energy” is often used interchangeably with “green energy” or “clean energy,” but there are subtle differences between the terms. Some energy sources, such as wind, which is considered the best renewable energy source, fall into all three categories. Green energy is usually defined as energy that is generated from natural sources such as wind, sunlight, or water. Clean energy, on the other hand, refers to energy that does not cause any air pollution during its production process and also reduces the risk of environmental disasters. While all green energy is considered clean, not all renewable sources are necessarily clean or green. For example, some large hydroelectric dams may be technically renewable, but they cannot be considered completely green or clean due to their negative environmental and social impacts. Also, energy sources whose extraction or drilling leads to activities that threaten ecosystems are not usually considered “green energy.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the future of renewable energy look like?

The increased focus on sustainability in recent years has made renewable energy seem like a modern innovation. However, humans have long used nature to meet their daily needs, and new technologies have simply made these methods more advanced and up-to-date. The annual Global State of Renewable Energy report by think tank REN21 shows that while renewable energy use in electricity generation has become widespread and mainstream around the world, significant changes are also needed in the heating, cooling and transportation sectors to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable future.

What is renewable energy? Exploring the types of renewable energy

Table of Contents

What is renewable energy?

Types of renewable energy

Solar energy

Wind energy

Hydroelectric power

Ocean energy

Biomass energy

Geothermal energy

Nuclear energy

Benefits of renewable energy

The difference between renewable energy and clean energy

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What is renewable energy? Exploring the types of renewable energy

Table of Contents

What is renewable energy?

Types of renewable energy

Solar energy

Wind energy

Hydroelectric power

Ocean energy

Biomass energy

Geothermal energy

Nuclear energy

Benefits of renewable energy

The difference between renewable energy and clean energy

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Centred office:

Office 2:

Response time:

Petro Imen Sharif Knowledge-Based Engineering Company (Pishco)

Contact us

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