There are many different types of renewable energy resources. In our society, people are generally accustomed to thinking of solar as the primary form of alternative energy. But there are many other options available. Below is a list of some of the different types of renewable energy resources.
There are two primary technologies used to produce electricity from organic matter. These technologies include fossil fuels and biogas. Carbon dioxide and Hydrocarbons can also be used to produce electricity. One of the more popular kinds of renewable power is biomass. This includes plant and animal matter such as wood, feedstuffs and waste.
Carbon dioxide can be used as well, however, this is less commonly used today. It produces significantly less emissions than coal or petroleum. Also, it is a renewable resource, meaning that it can be replenished. Fossil fuels on the other hand cannot be replaced; they are consumed and once depleted, they cannot be replaced.
A third type of renewable power source uses organic matter such as livestock and grass for fuel. This is called biofuels. Some of the more common biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. There are limitations to these kinds of fuels; for example, a significant portion of methane gas produced by farm facilities is unusable because it is considered a greenhouse gas.
The final category is one of the most widely used forms of renewable sources of electricity – solar. Solar energy works by using the inherent energy in sunlight in order to produce electricity. Photovoltaic cells (PV) are used to collect this energy and convert it into usable electricity. Over the past several years, researchers have developed new and more efficient PV cells that make use of less energy but produce much more electricity.
Fossil fuels, although plentiful and natural, are no longer the only sources of energy available. As our world becomes more populated, it is becoming increasingly obvious that oil and gas are going to run out. Also, most people realize that it would be detrimental to the environment if these resources were to simply be depleted. Therefore, developing more efficient, eco-friendly, and environmentally friendly fuels and power plants is a step in the right direction for an overall effort to reduce our dependence on these kinds of fossil fuels.
However, even with alternative sources of energy, there is still a problem. One of the major drawbacks of a renewable energy source such as solar or wind is that it has to be continuous, day after day, in order to be effective. If you live in a cold climate where it snows or has high humidity, then you are probably already aware that the sun doesn’t shine very much during the winter months. In addition, if you install a solar panel and forget to connect it to your home’s electrical system, you will not be able to utilize your new energy source until it has started to heat up.
On the other hand, ocean thermal energy works on an even smaller scale. These types of energy can be harvested from beneath the ocean itself. One such system, known as ocean thermal energy, converts salt water into electricity using ocean currents. Another, called geothermal energy, uses the earth’s molten core to heat up water. This process also takes place below the surface of the ocean. Although the technology used to harness this sort of energy is not as advanced as those utilized by fossil fuels, it does represent a clean, green form of energy that is accessible to everybody.
The use of sunlight and wind are extremely efficient, but they are not as plentiful as the other forms of renewable energy production mentioned above. If you live in a location that receives a lot of sunlight, you will be able to utilize that sunlight to produce electricity. On the other hand, if you live in a location where there is plenty of wind, then you may be able to generate power through the use of wind generators. For both solar and wind energy production, you need to be in an area where the sun or wind are constantly available. This is why you will find a good portion of the United States covered with deserts.
These two types of renewable energy production, however, have their drawbacks. For one thing, solar energy production uses the use of the sun’s rays, which is a non-renewable resource. If you want to generate your own electricity, then you will likely have to wait for the sun to rise and set every morning and evening. Wind turbines do not operate at night, so you will also have to wait for the wind to die down.
There are other types of renewable energy sources besides the two listed above. Hydroelectric power can be used to create electricity at a higher level than wind and solar power. It can even be used to power homes and buildings. When it comes to fossil fuels though, this is your best choice. The reason for this is that fossil fuels are a source of life. As humans continue to damage the planet through their consumption of fossil fuels, the use of renewable energy sources such as those listed above will become more important.