What Are the Renewable Energy Sources

Due to the depleting resources of coal, oil and gas, there is a growing interest in renewable energy sources, which, as the name suggests, do not run out.

What do we count as renewable energy? Why is it worth using them? Where does energy come from? What are the types of renewable sources?

I will tell you how to be eco-friendly in your own home.

What is RES (renewable energy sources)?

Renewable energy sources (RES) are sources whose use does not cause a long-term deficit because the resources are quickly renewed. These include the sun, wind, water, nuclear energy, heat obtained from the ground and air, and bioliquids.

In 2018, renewable energy sources met 17.9% of humanity's energy needs. Since the beginning of the 21st century, investments in renewable energy have started due to the drop in prices and subsidies provided by many countries.

Fossil fuels contribute to environmental pollution and deepen global warming. This speaks in favor of renewable energy sources, which are more ecological. Unlike renewable energy sources, non-renewable energy sources were created on Earth many years ago and for a very long time, and their restoration also involves a long-term process. Taking into account the rate of wear, it can be concluded that they will no longer serve us as before.

The scientific definition of renewable energy

Renewable energy is all resources used to produce electricity and heat. Such sources include, among others, energy from solar radiation, sea currents and tides, wind energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, wave energy, energy obtained from biomass, biogas and bioliquids. The sources do not cause long-term shortages because they are quickly renewed compared to non-renewable sources.

What are the differences?

Renewable energy sources, unlike non-renewable ones, do not run out. Their use does not involve pollution of soil, air, water or natural ecosystems. In recent years, interest in renewable energy sources has been growing due to the need to save our planet.

Ecological fuels are the future of the energy industry, because their acquisition and processing usually do not lead to environmental pollution, and the installations usually do not require complicated operation or maintenance.

Benefits of renewable energy sources

Why is it worth using renewable energy? First of all, its sources are available for free or we can obtain them at low costs. Here are other benefits of using renewable energy in everyday life.

• By using renewable energy sources, we create new jobs - we contribute to reducing unemployment in agricultural areas.
• We contribute to the development of wasteland for agricultural production for the fuel and energy sector.
• We are gradually reducing air pollution emissions related to the processing of fossil fuels.
• We contribute to reducing waste and minimizing the greenhouse effect.
• We limit the number of illnesses related to environmental pollution.
• We create conditions for competition between energy producers.
• Renewable energy sources (RES) are failure-free, self-service and require less maintenance.

Renewable energy examples

Renewable energy sources are based on natural, ecological and inexhaustible resources. What are the sources of renewable energy? Here are some examples:

• hydroelectric power plants – using the gravitational energy of water,
• solar power plants – using energy from the Sun,
• photovoltaic power plants – using solar radiation,
• wind farms – using wind power,
• geothermal power plants – using the Earth's thermal energy,
• biofuels – using biomass.

Solar energy

Solar energy comes from sunlight, which is an inexhaustible source. It is one of the cleanest, most common and natural sources of energy, so it is considered a very promising source. Even though the Sun, located 150 million km from our planet, can meet the Earth's energy needs within a minute, and within 6 months it can provide an amount of energy equal to the amount provided by resources such as coal, gas or oil. By using solar energy, we can save up to 70% of the costs of heating domestic hot water, and in the winter season, with central heating, up to 60% of the costs of traditional energy.

Hydropower

Currently, hydropower is usually converted into electricity using, among other things, hydropower dams. It can also be used directly to drive machines. Hydropower usually uses inland waters that have a large head and flow rate. Most often, a water turbine converts the mechanical energy of water into rotational motion via a rotor with blades.

Photovoltaics

Photovoltaics is a field of science that converts sunlight into electricity. Solar collectors are used to utilize thermal energy, and photovoltaic cells are used to convert solar energy into electricity. Photovoltaic installations are becoming more popular every year because they are environmentally friendly, safe and reliable. Moreover, it is a way to obtain electricity in hard-to-reach places. You can use a solar panel calculator to know how many panels you need.

Renewable wind energy

Wind energy is produced when air masses move. Its main advantage is economy. You can use it without any restrictions or costs. Wind power plants do not produce pollution or environmentally harmful waste. They can be built in areas where it is not possible to place a traditional power plant.

Geothermal energy

It is the thermal energy of rocks, water and soil beneath the Earth's surface. Its greatest advantages include renewability and inexhaustibility. Moreover, it does not harm the environment. It is an excellent alternative to traditional heating methods using boilers or gas, because it does not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere.

Biofuels

Biofuels are made from products of living organisms - plants, animals and microorganisms. They may be in solid, liquid or gaseous form. They are obtained by subjecting biomass to a series of biochemical, thermochemical and biological transformations.

Their main advantage is cleanliness, positive impact on agriculture, low greenhouse gas emissions and biodegradability. Experts say that if biofuels replaced traditional fuels, greenhouse gas emissions would decrease by over 30%.

Why is it worth using Renewable Energy Sources?

The popularity of installations using renewable energy sources (RES) is growing every year. Their use is related to applicable legal regulations, but also allows you to reduce or eliminate the consumption of coal, oil or gas at home. In this way, we contribute to improving the environment in which we live and reduce pollutant emissions. In the long run, using renewable energy sources means saving money.

In addition, devices such as heat pumps can both cool and heat the house, and even replace air conditioning for household members. Now you know where renewable energy sources come from.

These include hydropower, solar energy, geothermal energy, photovoltaics and biofuels. Such solutions can be extremely beneficial for people and the environment.