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