Knowing the different types of renewable energy can play a big role in deciding how we will continue to use fuels for our day-to-day activities. The various forms of renewable energy are used for several reasons. However, we must take note that each form of renewable energy will have its own limitations and it’s possible that certain forms of energy could even pose a threat to our environment. To help minimize the use of fossil fuels, knowing the different types of renewable energy is important. This will allow us to know which one to use as well as the limitations of each type of energy.
One of the types of renewable energy that is considered as “non-carbon-based” is the Sun. The Earth obtains enough energy from the Sun to keep on providing us with warmth on long periods of days. The Sun’s rays are also utilized to boil water; heat up ocean temperatures and also produce green electricity.
A relatively new form of energy production is the Hydro Energy. Hydro generators utilize the natural flow of water in order to convert wind or solar power into usable electricity. Hydro generators can take the form of dams, oceanfront wind generators or a solar hot water tower.
Solar panels, which use photovoltaic cells, are among the most commonly seen types of renewable energy systems today. These use sunlight to generate electric currents. On the other hand, geothermal energy uses heat from the earth under the ground to generate heat and then pumps it through pipes into a power plant. Geothermal plants use ocean floor and underground cavities as their source of natural heat.
Ocean waves can also be harnessed as an alternative source of energy. Ocean wave power involves utilizing ocean currents to move turbines to generate electricity. Moving ocean water pushes against opposing sides of an ocean wave and this creates a tremendous amount of energy. Ocean wave power can be used in a number of different ways including generating electricity in tidal regions.
A recently developed renewable energy system utilizes GPS devices to determine the location of high tide. This information helps reduce the amount of energy needed to tide the ship around. In many areas large amounts of tidal energy are used each year. Using tide markers can help reduce the amount of fossil fuels needed to generate electricity.
It is possible to utilize all three types of energy sources. However, utilizing all three at once can pose some problems. The biggest problem associated with utilizing all three types of solar energy sources at once is the lack of knowledge regarding where to find the most sun to generate the maximum amount of solar energy. Unfortunately, the sun only shines during a short period of time each day. There are some regions that receive a lot of sun throughout the year. If you live in such an area, you could become an expert in locating the most optimal places for installation of solar energy panels.
Thermal energy is another type of alternative energy that is derived from the heat of the sun. While thermal power is often seen as more favorable than other options, it is important to remember that thermal energy is only useful if you can take advantage of it. If your home does not have access to direct sunlight for any portion of the day, solar thermal power is unlikely to be of much benefit. You should consider obtaining thermal panels to generate usable thermal energy.
Photovoltaic panels, or PV, is the third alternative source of renewable energy that is used in electricity generation. Photovoltaic panels are made out of solar cells. They are constructed so that they can absorb energy from the sun at a specific level of voltage. If electricity is needed, photovoltaic cells can simply be connected to another set of solar cells to create usable output voltage.
One final option you have for generating electricity is biomass energy. Biomass energy is considered to be an environmentally friendly form of renewable energy because it greatly utilizes natural resources that are within reach on Earth today. Although this energy type does not have a plentiful supply of sunlight like the other types of renewable energy, it can be found in a variety of locations on Earth. If biomass energy is used to meet your electricity requirements, it should be noted that approximately one ton of biomass could power approximately one hundred standard American homes for a full year. This means that biomass energy is a very feasible way to use the sunlight that is available to us.
Knowing which of the three types of renewable energy resources would best suit your needs requires more than determining how much it will cost. First, you must assess what it is that you want to use renewable resources for. Next, you must determine the best locations for your renewable energy needs. Finally, you must find out how the various renewable resources that you want to use can be utilized. When all these factors are assessed, you can make a well-informed decision about which source of renewable energy would be best for you. However, in order to get the most from your renewable resources, you should combine all three types of sources in the process.