There are several common types of renewable energy resources. Some of them are obviously more popular than the others. Solar power, for instance, is one of the most used types of renewable energy resources. This is because solar cells can be installed almost anywhere. And, while initially installation costs may be high, they eventually pay for themselves through savings on your electric bill.
Wind power, too, is an extremely common form of renewable energy production. However, it’s also considerably less popular than solar and hydroelectric energy production. For this reason, wind farms are much smaller than solar and hydroelectric energy production farms. As such, they don’t generate the same amount of greenhouse gases. Yet, wind farms have grown steadily in popularity over the past decade or so.
Hydroelectric power is the cleanest form of producing electricity. It involves using the force of moving water to turn large turbines. Turbines turn the water into steam to produce the electricity that runs the turbine generators. The water that runs through turbines is recycled after use through the use of sewage treatment plants. So, there are no harmful byproducts produced from the process. Plus, hydroelectric plants use up much less natural resources than other types of renewable energy resources.
Geothermal power is another type of renewable resource that can be used to supplement, or even replace, the use of other forms of renewable energy. Geothermal plants harness the heat from beneath the Earth’s surface. They do this by capturing and heating the meltwater that comes out of the planet’s poles. Through the use of many geothermal pumps, this heat can then be transferred to areas that need it and is then stored for later use. Geothermal pumps have been in existence for hundreds of years but are only just becoming more advanced in recent years.
Biomass plants harness plant waste as a source of renewable energy. These types of plants include biomass wood, biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel, and vegetable oil. These types of plants tend to be efficient, clean, and easy to maintain. Some biofuels have become more popular recently as an alternative to fossil fuels.
Oil is one of the most widely consumed fossil fuels and has the highest level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of all fossil fuels. However, it is a renewable resource that can be drilled for, used, and exported. The emissions from drilling, using, and refining oil are responsible for many of the greenhouse gas emissions that occur in the atmosphere. For this reason, oil should be seen as a major player in the fight against climate change and global warming.
Ocean Energy: This type of renewable energy is similar to ocean currents and geothermal heat and can potentially provide large amounts of electricity. The electricity generated comes from tidal waves, which can potentially destroy land crops and damage infrastructure on a large scale. However, these wave power generators do have some disadvantages. They can generate much less electricity than geothermal or wind turbines, which are more efficient and produce no carbon dioxide. Also, large populations would need to be dispersed to benefit from ocean energy production.
Hydroelectricity: There are many dams around the world that use the power of water to turn turbines and create electricity. Unfortunately, hydroelectric dams can cause massive environmental damage. A recent report found that there has been significant evidence of premature death, disease, and birth defects due to the use of large quantities of freshwater. For this reason, this type of renewable sources of energy are not well suited to helping with climate change and climate adaptation. As such, these types of energy are best used for electricity generation instead.