What is renewable energy?

       Renewable energy is defined as energy derived from natural sources that is replenished at a faster rate than it is consumed. Sunlight and wind are two examples of such constantly replenishing sources. Renewable energy sources abound and are all around us. Coal, oil, and gas, on the other hand, are non-renewable resources that form over hundreds of millions of years. When fossil fuels are burned to generate energy, they emit harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

　　Renewable energy produces far fewer emissions than burning fossil fuels. Transitioning away from fossil fuels, which currently account for the majority of emissions, and toward renewable energy is critical for addressing the climate crisis.

　　Renewables are now less expensive in most countries and create three times as many jobs as fossil fuels.

　　Here are a few common sources of renewable energy:

　　SOLAR ENERGY

　　Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources and can be used even in cloudy conditions. The rate at which the Earth intercepts solar energy is approximately 10.000 times greater than the rate at which humanity consumes energy.

　　Solar technologies have the potential to provide heat, cooling, natural lighting, electricity, and fuel for a wide range of applications. Solar technologies use photovoltaic panels or mirrors to concentrate solar radiation to convert sunlight into electrical energy.

　　Although not all countries have equal access to solar energy, direct solar energy can make a significant contribution to the energy mix in every country.

　　Solar panel manufacturing costs have dropped dramatically in the last decade, making them not only affordable but frequently the cheapest form of electricity. Solar panels have a lifespan of about 30 years and come in a variety of colors depending on the material used in their manufacture.

　　WIND ENERGY

　　Wind energy uses large wind turbines located on land (onshore) or in saltwater or freshwater to capture the kinetic energy of moving air (offshore). Wind energy has been used for millennia, but in recent years, onshore and offshore wind energy technologies have evolved to maximize electricity production - with taller turbines and larger rotor diameters.

　　Despite the fact that average wind speeds vary greatly by location, the world's technical potential for wind energy exceeds global electricity production, and there is ample potential in most regions of the world to enable significant wind energy deployment.

　　Wind speeds are high in many parts of the world, but the best locations for generating wind power are sometimes remote. Offshore wind power has enormous potential.

　　GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

　　Geothermal energy makes use of the thermal energy available in the Earth's interior. Wells or other methods are used to extract heat from geothermal reservoirs.

　　Hydrothermal reservoirs are naturally sufficiently hot and permeable reservoirs, whereas enhanced geothermal systems are sufficiently hot reservoirs that have been improved with hydraulic stimulation.

　　Fluids of various temperatures can be used to generate electricity once they reach the surface. The technology for generating electricity from hydrothermal reservoirs is mature and dependable, having been in use for more than a century.

　　HYDROPOWER

　　Hydropower captures the energy of moving water from higher to lower elevations. It can be produced by reservoirs and rivers. Reservoir hydropower plants use stored water in a reservoir, whereas run-of-river hydropower plants use energy from the river's available flow.

　　Hydropower reservoirs frequently serve multiple functions, including drinking water, irrigation water, flood and drought control, navigation services, and energy supply.

　　Hydropower is currently the most important renewable energy source in the electricity sector. It is dependent on generally stable rainfall patterns and can be harmed by climate-induced droughts or changes in ecosystems that affect rainfall patterns.

　　The infrastructure required to generate hydropower can also have a negative impact on ecosystems. As a result, many people believe that small-scale hydro is a more environmentally friendly option, especially for remote communities.

　　OCEAN ENERGY

　　Ocean energy is derived from technologies that use the kinetic and thermal energy of seawater - such as waves or currents - to generate electricity or heat.

　　Ocean energy systems are still in their infancy, with a number of prototype wave and tidal current devices being investigated. Ocean energy's theoretical potential easily exceeds current human energy requirements.

　　BIOENERGY

　　Bioenergy is made from a variety of organic materials known as biomass, including wood, charcoal, dung, and other manures for heat and power generation, and agricultural crops for liquid biofuels. The majority of biomass is used for cooking, lighting, and space heating in rural areas, primarily by poorer populations in developing countries.

　　Modern biomass systems include dedicated crops or trees, residues from agriculture and forestry, and various organic waste streams.

　　Burning biomass produces greenhouse gas emissions, but at a lower level than burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or gas. However, given the potential negative environmental consequences of large-scale increases in forest and bioenergy plantations, as well as the resulting deforestation and land-use change, bioenergy should be used only in limited applications.