Renewable resources is the future for energy. It is when there an unlimited amount of resources available to sustain into energy. This also helps provide sustainability for the environment. It produces clean energy which means less pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This kind of energy includes: biomass energy( such as ethanol), hydropower, geothermal power, wind energy, and solar energy. The difference between renewable and non-renewable is simple, fossil fuels, coal, and petroleum, which we unfortunately still use as our main sources of energy today and contribute to the underlying factor of climate change. These resources also have their limits, and can eventually run out. Our goal is to try to steer away from these limiting resources to essentially unlimited.
Biomass is organic material from plants and animals such as: wood, sewage, ethanol(comes from corn or other plants). This energy can be used because the organic material has absorbed energy from the sun, then releases as heat energy when burned.
Hydropower is one of the oldest renewable resources for thousands of years. The mechanical energy from flowing water is used to generate electricity. Hydroelectric powerplants use flow of rivers and streams to turn a turbine to power a generator, therefore releasing electricity.
Geothermal energy comes from heat generated deep within the earths core. This energy can be obtained by drilling wells to pump hot water or steam to a power plant. This kind of energy can be used for not only electricity but for heating as well.
Wind energy generates electricity by wind turbines, it can also be stored in a power grid. The blades of the turbine get pushed from mechanical energy to electricity. This is used to power plenty of homes and power plants, you may even see one driving to work, or school.
Radiation is another renewable resource in which provides energy from the sun. Prime examples include solar panels which have been becoming common in recent years. Solar energy can be converted to electricity, but it takes a large amount to keep an electrical item running.
Searching for the right amount of renewable resources is a process growing more important everyday, and discovering new methods will help us provide a cleaner, healthier environment for generations.
Please join me November 27th for more about our green demo day at Wequil school.