Renewable Energy Sources

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.

Pumped storage plant - A hydroelectric power plant that stores the power in a power grid of electric generators. source

Hydroelectric power makes for 10% of the nation's energy, being channeled through turbines into a generator that then produces electricity. source

Example of bioenergy:  The Stirling Generator produces electricity from biomass combustion heat.

 

 

 

 

Biomass can be converted into liquid fuels, or biofuels, such as ethanol, which his made from starches and sugars. source

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

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

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

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

Conversely, devices for harnessing tidal energy are moving further along in development and near commercialization. source

A row of modern wind turbines next to it's predecessor: the water-pumping wind mill.source