| As political and economic aspects of | | | | When water moves, it tends to carry a |
| fossil fuels grow more harrowing, | | | | lot of inertia and stored energy. |
| renewable energy is gaining popularity. | | | | Unfortunately, the tsunami in Asia was a |
| Here's an overview of renewable energy. | | | | perfect example. On a less disastrous |
| Renewable Energy Overview | | | | front, man has learned to use the power |
| Renewable energy is more difficult to | | | | of moving water to produce electricity. |
| define than you might imagine. Since it | | | | The first, and most common, use is in |
| is a catchall phrase for a variety of | | | | the form of hydropower. Mostly seen on |
| energy sources, any definition has to be | | | | large-scale projects, hydropower |
| broad. With this in mind, let's define | | | | typically is used in the form of dams. A |
| renewable energy as any energy source | | | | dam is placed in a river, creating a |
| that naturally occurs and is very | | | | reservoir. Using gravity, water is then |
| abundant. | | | | released through pipes in the dam. The |
| Ironically, almost all renewable energy | | | | moving water spins turbines, producing |
| sources rely on nuclear power. | | | | massive amounts of electricity. |
| Fortunately, the nuclear power is in the | | | | Tidal power has been on the books for a |
| form of the sun at the heart of our | | | | long time, but hasn't been seen in |
| solar system. One giant nuclear | | | | large-scale projects. This is beginning |
| reaction, the sun produces solar | | | | to change. The basic idea is very |
| radiation and sunlight that is converted | | | | similar to hydropower. Depending on the |
| on our planet into energy through | | | | system being used, pipes with large |
| natural resources. In one form or | | | | turbines are placed in strong tidal |
| another, sunlight is the basis for solar | | | | areas. As the tide changes, massive |
| power, wind energy, biomass power, and | | | | amounts of water move to and fro in the |
| so on. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, | | | | pipes spinning the turbines and |
| are a form of biomass energy, but an | | | | producing energy. Although the tides |
| ancient one with resource limits and | | | | move relatively slowly, the contain |
| brutal side effects in the form of | | | | massive amounts of energy. Once thought |
| pollutants. | | | | an odd energy idea, tidal energy is |
| Solar Energy is the most basic and | | | | coming on strong as an energy platform |
| direct form of renewable energy. | | | | in Europe. |
| Depending on the type of platform used, | | | | Geothermal energy is a form of energy |
| sunlight is converted directly into | | | | using the inherent warmth of the ground |
| electricity or heat. Solar energy is | | | | to create power in primarily the form of |
| considered a renewable energy because it | | | | heat. Roughly six to seven feet below |
| will exist for as long as the sun, which | | | | the surface of the ground, the |
| should be over 4 billion years. Once the | | | | temperature of the Earth is regulated. |
| sun burns out, we will have much larger | | | | By exchanging liquids between above and |
| problems than energy! | | | | below ground areas, temperature |
| Wind energy is another form of solar | | | | regulation can be achieved. This is |
| power. Wind is created when the sun | | | | mostly seen in residential situations. |
| heats up different areas of the surface | | | | Biomass energy is a renewable energy |
| of the Earth at different rates. You | | | | source, but not necessarily a clean one. |
| inherently are aware of this if you | | | | Biomass is simply organic materials such |
| think about the temperature differences | | | | as manure, corn and so on. The idea |
| when standing on a black parking lot | | | | behind biomass energy is to convert the |
| versus grass in a park. Heat rises and | | | | chemical energy in the biomass into |
| so does hot air. Air above a hot surface | | | | usable power. This often occurs by |
| will rise and colder air from | | | | burning it, which is problematic since |
| surrounding areas will rush into to fill | | | | doing so causes pollution. It also has |
| the void. This temperature-induced | | | | to be grown, harvested and converted |
| movement creates wind in its most basic | | | | into power. Of all the renewable energy |
| form. | | | | sources, biomass is the least |
| To take advantage of the energy, man has | | | | attractive. |
| produced windmills and turbines that | | | | We have a lot of options when it comes |
| convert the energy into electricity. | | | | to kicking the fossil fuel habit. |
| Modern wind turbines are between 25 and | | | | Although there is a chance one of these |
| 35 percent efficient at converting wind | | | | options will become dominant, it is more |
| energy into electricity. Wind power is | | | | likely that a combination of all the |
| now the fastest growing energy platform | | | | above renewable energy platforms will be |
| in the world. | | | | the answer. |