Renewable energy comes from sources that will not be used up in our lifetimes, such as the sun and wind. Contact online >>
Renewable energy comes from sources that will not be used up in our lifetimes, such as the sun and wind.
The wind, the sun, and Earth are sources of renewable energy. These energy sources naturally renew, or replenish themselves.
Solar energy can be captured "actively" or "passively."
Active solar energy uses special technology to capture the sun''s rays. The two main types of equipment are photovoltaic cells (also called PV cells or solar cells) and mirrors that focus sunlight in a specific spot. These active solar technologies use sunlight to generate electricity, which we use to power lights, heating systems, computers, and televisions.
Other examples of passive solar technology are green roofs, cool roofs, and radiant barriers. Green roofs are completely covered with plants. Plants can get rid of pollutants in rainwater and air. They help make the local environment cleaner.
Advantages and DisadvantagesThere are many advantages to using solar energy. PV cells last for a long time, about 20 years.
However, there are reasons why solar power cannot be used as the only power source in a community. It can be expensive to install PV cells or build a building using passive solar technology.
Sunshine can also be hard to predict. It can be blocked by clouds, and the sun doesn''t shine at night. Different parts of Earth receive different amounts of sunlight based on location, the time of year, and the time of day.
People have been harnessing the wind''s energy for a long, long time. Five-thousand years ago, ancient Egyptians made boats powered by the wind. In 200 B.C.E., people used windmills to grind grain in the Middle East and pump water in China.
Today, we capture the wind''s energy with wind turbines. A turbine is similar to a windmill; it has a very tall tower with two or three propeller-like blades at the top. These blades are turned by the wind. The blades turn a generator (located inside the tower), which creates electricity.
Wind farms create electricity for nearby homes, schools, and other buildings.
Advantages and DisadvantagesWind energy can be very efficient. In places like the Midwest in the United States and along coasts, steady winds can provide cheap, reliable electricity.
Wind is not always a steady source of energy, however. Wind speed changes constantly, depending on the time of day, weather, and geographic location. Currently, it cannot be used to provide electricity for all our power needs.
Deep beneath the surface is Earth''s core. The center of Earth is extremely hot—thought to be over 6,000 °C (about 10,800 °F). The heat is constantly moving toward the surface.
We can see some of Earth''s heat when it bubbles to the surface. Geothermal energy can melt underground rocks into magma and cause the magma to bubble to the surface as lava. Geothermal energy can also heat underground sources of water and force it to spew out from the surface. This stream of water is called a geyser.
However, most of Earth''s heat stays underground and makes its way out very, very slowly.
We can access underground geothermal heat in different ways. One way of using geothermal energy is with "geothermal heat pumps." A pipe of water loops between a building and holes dug deep underground. The water is warmed by the geothermal energy underground and brings the warmth aboveground to the building. Geothermal heat pumps can be used to heat houses, sidewalks, and even parking lots.
Another way to use geothermal energy is with steam. In some areas of the world, there is underground steam that naturally rises to the surface. The steam can be piped straight to a power plant. However, in other parts of the world, the ground is dry. Water must be injected underground to create steam. When the steam comes to the surface, it is used to turn a generator and create electricity.
In Iceland, there are large reservoirs of underground water. Almost 90 percent of people in Iceland use geothermal as an energy source to heat their homes and businesses.
Advantages and DisadvantagesAn advantage of geothermal energy is that it is clean. It does not require any fuel or emit any harmful pollutants into the air.
Geothermal energy is only avaiable in certain parts of the world. Another disadvantage of using geothermal energy is that in areas of the world where there is only dry heat underground, large quantities of freshwater are used to make steam. There may not be a lot of freshwater. People need water for drinking, cooking, and bathing.
Biomass is any material that comes from plants or microorganisms that were recently living. Plants create energy from the sun through photosynthesis. This energy is stored in the plants even after they die.
Trees, branches, scraps of bark, and recycled paper are common sources of biomass energy. Manure, garbage, and crops, such as corn, soy, and sugar cane, can also be used as biomass feedstocks.
We get energy from biomass by burning it. Wood chips, manure, and garbage are dried out and compressed into squares called "briquettes." These briquettes are so dry that they do not absorb water. They can be stored and burned to create heat or generate electricity.
Advantages and DisadvantagesA major advantage of biomass is that it can be stored and then used when it is needed.
Growing crops for biofuels, however, requires large amounts of land and pesticides. Land could be used for food instead of biofuels. Some pesticides could pollute the air and water.
Biomass energy can also be a nonrenewable energy source. Biomass energy relies on biomass feedstocks—plants that are processed and burned to create electricity. Biomass feedstocks can include crops, such as corn or soy, as well as wood. If people do not replant biomass feedstocks as fast as they use them, biomass energy becomes a non-renewable energy source.
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