Renewable energy is produced using resources found in nature that are not limited or depleted, such as sunlight and wind. Therefore, it is a more environmentally friendly option than conventional energy that uses fossil fuels. Below are the common sources of renewable energy.
Solar energy
The most abundant energy source is solar energy, which may be used even under cloudy conditions. Solar technologies can provide heat, cooling, natural lighting, power, and fuels for various uses. They use photovoltaic panels or solar radiation concentrator mirrors to turn sunlight into electrical energy.
The fact that sunshine can practically never run out is one advantage of solar energy. It has an infinite supply and might replace fossil fuels if the technology to harness it is developed. We can also enhance environmental and public health by relying on solar energy rather than fossil fuels.
Solar energy may help you save money on your energy bills now and in the long run by potentially eliminating all energy costs. Check out trusted companies like www.atlanticrenewables.co.uk for the installation of solar energy systems.
Wind energy
Using enormous wind turbines situated on land (onshore), in saltwater, or freshwater, wind energy captures the kinetic energy of flowing air (offshore). Wind energy does not emit carbon dioxide or emit any toxic compounds that can degrade the environment or harm human health.
Since wind energy doesn’t pollute the air like other energy sources, it is considered a clean energy source. Investing in technology for wind power can open up new avenues for jobs and job training, as farm turbines must be serviced and maintained to keep functioning.
Hydroelectric energy
Water travelling from higher to lower elevations is a source of hydropower energy. Rivers and reservoirs can produce it. Hydropower plants with reservoirs rely on water stored there, whereas those with run-of-the-river systems use the river’s current to generate power.
Hydropower energy depends on consistent rainfall patterns and may suffer from droughts brought on by climate change or changes to ecosystems that affect those patterns. This electricity is a far more environmentally friendly energy alternative for our environment because it produces no pollutants.
Geothermal energy
Geothermal heat is energy trapped beneath the Earth’s crust since its origin 4.5 billion years ago and due to radioactive decay. Large volumes of this heat can sometimes escape naturally, but only all at once, resulting in well-known phenomena such as volcanic explosions and geysers. Although geothermal energy is less prevalent than other forms of renewable energy, it has a considerable supply potential.
Ocean energy
The ocean can produce both thermal and mechanical energy. Ocean thermal energy uses several processes to produce energy and depends on warm sea surface temperatures. On the other hand, ocean mechanical energy, produced by the Earth’s rotation and the moon’s gravitational pull, harnesses the ebbs and flows of the tides to have power.
The bottom line
By selecting a greener energy option, consumers have more options to influence the improvement of the environment. Solar panels, in particular, lower your energy bills and raise your standard of living by providing a safer, more environmentally friendly energy source that doesn’t rely on resources that hurt the environment.
