Types of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy sources can make a significant impact on the future of energy. Many countries are launching renewable energy projects to protect the environment and help communities shift to sustainable energy.
Renewable or clean energy originates from natural sources such as the sun, wind, and water. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources replenish continuously. Another difference is that fossil fuels, whether oil, gas, or coal, are not found in equal amounts in all countries. Renewable energy sources are equally accessible in all nations.
The sun can fuel various applications, including agriculture, electricity, and heating. For example, solar panels (photovoltaic cells) capture sunlight during the day to generate electricity for homes and businesses. Today, the sun fuels around 1 percent of all electricity in the United States.
People first used wind energy to turn windmills. Today, massive turbines capture high-speed winds to generate electricity. California, Texas, and Iowa are among the top states using wind power. Wind power accounts for over 6 percent of electricity generation in the US.
Rushing water from rivers and waterfalls turns turbine blades to generate electricity. This hydroelectric power is the largest renewable source of electricity in the US, but wind power may soon surpass it as the top source.
Geothermal energy is another type of renewable energy that uses the natural warmth of the earth to create electricity. Geothermal energy accounts for approximately 0.4 percent of electricity generation in the US.
Additionally, wave energy is rising as an alternative green energy source. Due to the moon’s impact on ocean waves, harnessing tidal energy may be tricky. Nevertheless, many projects including the $7 billion Ghana Wave Power Project highlight the potential of tidal wave energy and its future.
As a result of rapidly evolving environmental concerns about nonrenewable energy, many countries have invested in clean energy as a power source. In 2021, nations in Europe, Asia, and Africa dedicated multi-billion-dollar budgets to renewable energy projects.
In 2015, China announced plans for one of the world’s tallest hydroelectric dams, the Wudongde Hydropower Station. The station is located along the Jinsha River and stands out as the first to use sustainable, smart construction techniques, such as low-heat cement and intelligent grouting equipment. Costing over $18 billion, the station became fully operational in June 2021.
Similarly, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the government announced the construction of the Inga 3 project along the River Congo. The hydroelectric dam is Africa’s largest electricity project and is a joint investment with China and Spain.
With the rising popularity of wind power, the United Kingdom began constructing the Hornsea Project 2 in 2015. This offshore wind project is off the coast of East Riding, Yorkshire. It consists of over 150 turbines installed underwater and connected to a transmission station in North Lincolnshire.
In October 2021, New York governor Kathy Hochul announced the construction of North America’s largest green hydrogen plant in Genesee County. Led by Plug Power, the hydrogen fuel production facility will use low-cost hydropower from the Niagara Power Project to produce hydrogen gas. The state expects the plant to produce a daily total of 45 metric tons of green liquid hydrogen.