Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat. Renewable energy replaces conventional fuels in four distinct areas: electricity generation, hot water/space heating, motor fuels, and rural (off-grid) energy services.
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| Pumped storage plant - A hydroelectric power plant that stores the power in a power grid of electric generators. source |
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| Hydroelectric power makes for 10% of the nation's energy, being channeled through turbines into a generator that then produces electricity. source |
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Example of bioenergy: The Stirling Generator produces electricity from biomass combustion heat.
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| Biomass can be converted into liquid fuels, or biofuels, such as ethanol, which his made from starches and sugars. source |
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| Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm: An example of the wind power industry that connects wind turbines to an electric power transmission network. Wind energy is an efficient, completely environmentally safe source of power. source |
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| Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station in Iceland. Geothermal energy is a source of heat directly from the earth. It is an efficient, cost effective source of energy but has thus far only been widely available near tectonic plate boundaries. source |
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| Spain's Gemosolar Array is the world's first 24/7 Solar Power Plant. Solar power is used as an environmentally safe source of heat. The dish-shaped surface collects
and concentrates the sun's heat onto a receiver, which absorbs the
heat and transfers it to fluid within the engine. The heat
causes the fluid to expand against a piston or turbine to produce
mechanical power. The mechanical power is then used to run a
generator or alternator to produce electricity. source |
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Using ocean current energy as a thermal or mechanical power source is very much still in the early stages. There are none currently in commercial use, but the rendering of under-water turbines above are models in progress, and while eventually be used commercially. source
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| Conversely, devices for harnessing tidal energy are moving further along in development and near commercialization. source |
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| A row of modern wind turbines next to it's predecessor: the water-pumping wind mill.source |
