Renewable energy has recently gained popularity worldwide. It is the fastest-growing energy source in the United States and accounts for nearly 20% of utility-scale electricity generated there.
Renewable energy sources are generated from resources that naturally replenish over time, which means they are not finite.
Many technological advancements and equipment have enabled significant growth in the renewable energy sector.
Renewable energy can be extracted from several sources, each with many advantages. Because it is sustainable and environmentally friendly, it is often called clean energy.
Renewable energy is an alternative to traditional energy sources (e.g., oil and gas) that are fossil fuels, generate significant greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to air pollution.
Renewable energy is collected from naturally occurring processes that replenish at a rate equal to or faster than the rate at which they are consumed. These resources are infinite in the sense that they will never run out.
However, the flow and amount of energy per unit often have limits, and reliability can vary across energy sources. Solar power requires sunlight to produce energy.
What are Renewable Energy Sources?
Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, ocean resources, biomass, biogas, and liquid biofuels. They generate usable energy that can be produced through electricity, industrial heat, thermal energy for space and water conditioning, and transportation fuels.
Renewable energy sources are derived from the earth’s natural resources.
1. Solar Energy
Solar energy is captured from the sun and converted into heat and electricity. Photovoltaic systems convert direct sunlight into electricity through the use of solar cells.
Solar energy does not produce any air pollutants or greenhouse gases, and there are few environmental impacts beyond manufacturing.
The major disadvantage of solar energy is that it can only be captured during the day when clouds, buildings, or other obstacles do not block the sun. Despite this, it is one of the most accessible renewable energy sources for individuals.
Solar panels continue to be popular due to incentives, cost reductions, and rising electricity costs.
Advantages of Solar Energy
- Infinite resource
- Can reduce or eliminate your energy bills
Disadvantages of Solar Energy
- High upfront costs
- Requires ample sunlight and space for solar panels
2. Windpower
Wind energy has been used for years to propel sailing vessels, turn grist mills, and power water pumps. It continues to grow significantly as technology and the costs associated with turbines and related infrastructure decrease.
Wind energy requires turbines with propellers to be strategically placed in areas with good wind regimes.
The kinetic energy from the wind is converted into proper forms of energy (e.g., electricity) when the wind speed is sufficient to turn the turbine blades and feed the electric generator, which produces power.
Wind turbines were the source of about 9.2% of total utility-scale electricity generation in the United States in 2021. The top wind power states include California, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa.
Turbines can be placed anywhere with high wind speeds, but the most favorable locations are often hilltops, open plains, and open water.
Advantages of Windpower
- It does not produce carbon dioxide or have any harmful pollutants
- Domestic source of energy
Disadvantages of Windpower
- Wind farms are built in rural or remote areas
- Wind turbines pose a threat to wildlife (e.g., birds)
3. Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy captures heat from the earth’s subsurface. The earth’s core is boiling because of the slow decay of radioactive particles in rocks.
To produce energy, wells are drilled to access the stream and hot water within the earth’s center. This steam and hot water are then used to drive turbines connected to electricity generators.
This energy source is less common than wind or solar but has significant potential. The entire system can be underground, requiring limited infrastructure above ground. This is considered a substantial advantage, as wind turbines and solar panels are often described as an eyesore.
Advantages of Geothermal Energy
- Low emissions
- Reliable energy source
Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy
- It may increase the risk of earthquakes
- It is costly to build the infrastructure and requires digging underground
4. Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity or hydroelectricity is one of the largest renewable energy sources for electricity in the United States. The natural flow of water in rivers offers kinetic power that can be transferred into usable energy.
Hydroelectricity stations are often built at waterfalls to take advantage of the speed of the water. In some locations, dams are made to help control the flow of water and aid electricity generation.
Power is generated through a dam or diversion structure to alter the natural flow of a river or body of water. To produce hydroelectricity, the force of the fast-moving water is converted into electricity by spinning a generator’s turbine blades.
Advantages of Hydroelectricity
- Can meet peak electricity demand
- Hydroelectric power does not generate pollution
Disadvantages of Hydroelectricity
- Some environmental impacts (e.g., disrupting waterways and affecting wildlife)
- The cost associated with infrastructure and maintenance
5. Bioenergy
Bioenergy is derived from living organic material from plants and animals, known as biomass. It also includes crops, waste wood, and trees.
Biomass is a biological material that can be in solid, liquid, or gaseous form and has stored sunlight in chemical energy. This does not include organic material that geological processes have transformed into substances such as coal or petroleum.
Biomass is versatile and can be converted into liquid transportation fuels or used to generate electricity or heat. When biomass is burned, the chemical energy is released as heat that can be used to create electricity with a steam turbine.
The most common type of biomass is wood, which is burned to generate energy for space heating.
Advantages of Bioenergy
- Low-carbon option
- It can be stored with little energy loss
Disadvantages of Bioenergy
- Negative consequences for biodiversity
- There is no widespread technology that can utilize biomass instead of fossil fuels
6. Ocean Energy
The ocean can be harnessed to produce different forms of energy, including thermal and mechanical energy.
Ocean thermal energy requires warm water surface temperatures to generate energy, while mechanical energy uses the power of waves and tides.
Tidal and wave are still developing, as this source has not been harnessed to its full potential.
Ocean energy has been capitalized differently than other renewable energy sources (e.g., solar and wind).
This renewable energy source is unlikely to emerge as a leading source because few locations globally are suitable for building the infrastructure required to exploit wave and tidal energy.
Advantages of Ocean Energy
- Estimating the amount of energy that will be produced is predictable and manageable.
- Consistent
Disadvantages of Ocean Energy
- Technical, economic, and environmental barriers
- Can disturb ocean ecosystems
Is Renewable Energy Cleaner?
Renewable energy is often called clean energy, which refers to any energy that is not neutral or positive in terms of pollution and environmental impact.
While all sources of electricity, renewable or not, generate some greenhouse gas emissions over their lifetime, the emissions associated with renewable energy are minimal.
Renewable energy sources help preserve natural resources, reduce the risk of environmental disasters, and reduce overall emissions and pollution. This will also help reduce the impacts associated with climate change.
Are Renewable Sources of Energy Sustainable?
Renewable energy sources are sustainable because they regenerate over time. That means that they are infinite and will provide energy to humans indefinitely.
Renewable energy sources also generate more energy than they use during production, making them highly efficient.
Renewable energy sources also enhance energy security, as the supply is more reliable than alternatives (e.g., oil and gas).
Taking advantage of these renewable resources will enable significant economic benefits.
Diversifying our energy supply and shifting towards renewable energy sources can have significant advantages, including reducing our dependency on imported fossil fuels, generating jobs and economic development opportunities, and reducing harmful emissions.
Related Content: Benefits of Solar Energy to the Environment
Did you find this article helpful? If so, please share it with your friends! Many thanks.