How Can I Participate In Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy comes from natural sources that are constantly replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. Some of the most common renewable energy sources are solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass. Using renewable energy has many benefits compared to fossil fuels, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved public health and environmental quality, energy security and independence, and economic development.
There are several ways individuals and businesses can participate in and benefit from renewable energy. Installing solar panels or other renewable energy systems on your home or business can allow you to generate your own clean electricity. Purchasing renewable energy credits or green power through your utility supports renewable electricity generation. You can also invest in community solar projects, or choose an electricity provider that generates power from renewable sources.
Transitioning to renewable energy helps combat climate change, reduces pollution, creates jobs, and leads to a more sustainable future. Every person has an opportunity to participate through their energy choices. This guide will provide an overview of the most common renewable energy options available and how you can get involved.
Solar Power
Solar power harnesses energy from the sun using photovoltaic cells typically arranged in panels. These cells convert sunlight into electricity that can be used to power homes and businesses or fed back into the grid (1). Residential solar has been increasing steadily, with the share of U.S. homeowners using solar panels rising from 4% in 2016 to 7% in 2022 (2).
For homes, solar panels can be installed on rooftops or ground-mounted systems to offset electricity usage. Panels are wired to an inverter that converts the electricity from DC to AC current used in buildings. Households with net metering can get credit from their utility for excess energy fed into the grid. Panels last 25-30 years with minimal maintenance required (1).
In addition to rooftop solar, people can invest in solar energy through community solar farms or companies that develop utility-scale solar projects. Solar investment funds allow people to support solar growth while receiving steady dividend payments (1).
Sources:
(1) https://www.powermag.com/a-global-look-at-residential-solar-adoption-rates/
Wind Power
Wind turbines harness the natural wind energy and turn it into electricity. Wind causes the blades of the turbine to spin, which spins a generator to create electricity. Most wind turbines are installed together in groups called wind farms or wind power plants to produce electricity on a utility scale. However, homeowners, farmers, and small businesses can install smaller wind turbines on their properties to produce their own electricity.
There are different options for residential-scale wind turbines. Horizontal axis wind turbines with multiple long blades pointing up are commonly used for utility-scale wind farms but can be scaled down for residential use. Vertical axis wind turbines, like the Darrieus or Savonius models, are better suited for rooftop installation on homes since they take up less space. Residential wind turbines typically range in capacity from 1 to 100 kilowatts. The average residential wind turbine can generate around 10 kilowatts, which is enough to power a large home. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average U.S. home uses 893 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per month. So a 10 kW turbine could cover the average home’s needs.
Besides installing a wind turbine on your own property, there are opportunities to invest in community wind farms. Community wind farms are locally owned projects where local investors jointly develop a wind farm that benefits the community. This allows community members to collectively invest in wind energy projects even if they can’t install a turbine on their own property. Community wind farm investors then receive a return on their investment from sales of the renewable electricity generated.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy harnesses heat from within the earth to provide heating and cooling for residential and commercial buildings. The geothermal heat pump system relies on the fact that the Earth’s temperature below ground remains constant throughout the year. This allows the system to transfer heat into a building during winter and remove heat from a building during summer.
Residential geothermal heat pump systems consist of pipes buried underground called “loops”, a heat pump unit, and ductwork. The buried pipe loops circulate water or an antifreeze solution through the earth to either collect heat or dissipate heat, depending on the season. The heat pump unit moves the building’s thermal energy between the buried loops and the indoor air distribution system. During winter, the liquid in the loops absorbs stored heat from the earth and carries it to the heat pump, which concentrates the heat and pumps it into the building’s air ducts. During summer, the process is reversed and heat is extracted from the indoor air and transferred through the heat pump to the loops, where it can dissipate into the cooler earth.
According to a market research report, the U.S. geothermal heat pump market will observe a growth rate of over 4% by 2028 due to the energy efficiency and cost savings these systems provide (https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/us-geothermal-heat-pump-market). Residential geothermal heat pump adoption rates vary by state, with higher adoption in southern states that have greater heating and cooling needs. Overall adoption remains under 5% nationally but is expected to increase as more homeowners learn about the benefits.
Hydropower
Hydroelectric power converts the power of flowing or falling water into electricity using a hydroelectric generator. Typically, hydroelectric power plants capture energy by damming a river to create a large reservoir, then allowing water from the reservoir to flow through turbines that spin generators to produce electricity. The amount of electricity generated depends on the volume and speed of the water flow as well as the size and efficiency of the turbines and generators. Hydroelectric power provides about 7% of total U.S. electricity generation and accounts for over 40% of renewable electricity production.[1]
There are a few ways individuals can participate in and purchase clean hydropower:
- Move your home electricity supply to a renewable energy provider that sources from hydroelectric. Many clean energy providers allow you to select a plan powered 100% by hydropower.
- Install hydroelectric power at home using small-scale hydro systems like microhydropower that harness energy from streams or waterfalls on private property. This requires permits and can have high startup costs.
- Participate in community solar programs in your area that source from local hydroelectric facilities.
- Purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) that are certified as sourced from hydropower generators.
Supporting responsible and efficient hydropower projects helps grow America’s renewable energy supply while taking advantage of hydro’s flexible grid integration and energy storage capabilities.[2]
[1] https://www.energy.gov/eere/water/hydropower-market-reports
[2] https://www.hydropower.org/publications/2022-hydropower-status-report
Bioenergy
Bioenergy utilizes organic matter such as plants, residues and waste as a renewable energy source. The organic matter is converted into useful forms of energy like heat, electricity and transportation fuels. One example of bioenergy is biomass heating systems that burn wood chips, pellets or logs to generate heat for residential buildings.
Residential biomass heating systems include wood stoves, pellet stoves, and wood or pellet boilers that distribute heat through the home’s existing ductwork and radiators. According to research, the adoption rate for residential biomass heating systems in Europe is around 55%, showing significant market penetration (Hecher, 2017). The growth of the biomass heating market is driven by rising awareness and policy incentives aimed at reducing fossil fuel dependence.
Wood and pellet stoves provide a self-contained heating solution capable of heating single rooms or small homes. More powerful wood and pellet boilers can meet the heating demands of larger homes but require installation by professionals. Wood energy can provide over 90% of a household’s annual heating needs at a lower cost than electric, propane or heating oil (Young, 2018). With proper maintenance, modern biomass heating systems operate cleanly and efficiently.
Green Power Programs
Green power programs allow customers to purchase renewable energy from their electricity provider, often in the form of renewable energy credits (RECs). According to the EPA’s Green Power Partnership, over 2.4% of total annual retail electricity sales in the US comes from green power programs. There are several options for purchasing green power:
- Utility green pricing programs – Electric utilities offer green power options to customers for a premium price.
- Competitive suppliers – In deregulated electricity markets, consumers can buy green power from alternative retail electricity suppliers.
- Community choice aggregation – Community governments can purchase renewable power on behalf of residents.
- Direct access – Large electricity consumers can buy renewable power directly from generators.
By opting in to green power programs, customers can reduce the environmental impact of their electricity use and support the development of new renewable energy projects.
Community Solar
Community solar farms, also known as shared solar, are centralized arrays of solar panels that provide clean energy to multiple community members. Rather than installing solar panels on your own roof, you can buy or lease part of a larger community solar project and receive credits that reduce your electricity bill based on how much power your share produces. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, community solar projects are located in 43 states, plus Washington, D.C. Community Solar Market Trends. Nearly three quarters of the total U.S. community solar market is concentrated in just four states: California, Massachusetts, Florida, and Colorado.
There are a few different options for investing in community solar projects. Many utility companies and solar developers now offer community solar subscription programs. You sign up for a portion of a solar array and receive monthly bill credits proportional to your share of the energy produced. Another option is to invest directly in a community solar project, either buying panels upfront or financing your portion over time. Some nonprofit organizations and cooperatives also sell community solar shares as a way to make solar power accessible. According to Wood Mackenzie research, the community solar market is expected to double in size by 2027, so there will be increasing opportunities to participate. US community solar growth slowed 16% in 2022.
Renewable Energy Credits
Renewable energy credits (RECs) represent the environmental benefits of generating renewable electricity. One REC is created for each megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable electricity generated. Buying RECs enables households and businesses to financially support renewable energy infrastructure. RECs are tradeable and when purchased are retired to claim usage of renewable power.
In the voluntary REC market, consumers can choose to purchase RECs based on factors like type of renewable resource, project location, or age of the generating system. The voluntary REC market has been growing significantly, with over 90 million MWh transacted in 2021. Depending on the type, location, and age of the renewable generator, REC prices range on average from under $1 per MWh to around $35 per MWh on the voluntary market.
To purchase RECs, you can find certificate providers online through green power partnerships, renewable energy developers, or REC aggregators and retailers. When buying RECs, it’s important to verify they meet quality standards like Green-e certification. Retiring purchased RECs, rather than reselling them, ensures the renewable attributes are only claimed once. Buying RECs provides revenue for renewable projects and increases demand for clean power.
Conclusion
There are many ways that individuals can participate in and support renewable energy. Installing solar panels or wind turbines at your home allows you to generate your own clean electricity. Supporting community solar projects helps bring renewable energy to your local area. Purchasing renewable energy credits offsets fossil fuel use by supporting renewable energy financially. Even calling your utility and switching to a green power program makes a difference.
Widespread renewable energy adoption can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on finite fossil fuels. By displacing coal, natural gas, and oil, renewable energy can help mitigate climate change and improve public health through reduced air pollution. Renewables also support local jobs and energy independence by relying on inexhaustible domestic resources.
Get involved today by evaluating renewable options in your area. Calculate the costs and savings to go solar on your roof or join a community solar project. Look into purchasing renewable energy credits or switching your home to a green power program. Support renewable policies through advocacy and by voting. We all have a role to play in the transition toward a 100% renewable energy future.
