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