Renewable Energy

Biomass

Biomass Energy is derived from living or recently living organisms and is used to generate electricity or produce heat. Both plant and animal matter can be used to produce biomass. There are several forms of biomass energy.

Geothermal

Geothermal energy is energy obtained from the Earth’s core and is seen in the form of volcano eruptions and geysers. Geothermal energy has been used since the ancient Roman times when they would use geothermal heated waters for hot baths.

Although geothermal power is cost effective, reliable and environmentally friendly it has been limited to areas near tectonic plate activity. In recent years technological advances have allowed researchers to find ways to harness this energy and make it accessible in other parts of the world.

Hydro Power

Hydropower is energy that comes from harnessing moving water such as rivers and waterfalls. The force of the water as it moves downstream powers generators. Waterwheels are examples of early forms of hydropower.

Solar Power

Most renewable energy is either developed directly or indirectly from the sun’s energy. Solar power can be classified as either active or passive. Active solar power comes from the use of manmade tools such as solar panels (photovoltaics) to convert the sun’s energy into a usable form.

Passive solar power techniques include designing a building for optimal sunlight coverage, orienting a space to circulate the air naturally or using building materials that help disperse light and heat.

Other forms of renewable energy such as wind and wave power also use solar power in their conversion process. Many instruments people commonly use are solar powered such as watches and calculators.

Wind Power

Wind energy is formed by the movement of air and has been around for hundreds of years in the form of windmills. Wind turbines look like huge windmills and harness the wind power to generate electricity.

Wind energy is formed by the movement of air and has been around for hundreds of years in the form of windmills. Wind turbines are huge windmills that harness the wind power to generate electricity.