What Are The 4 Examples Of Renewable Resources *?

Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished naturally over time. They are important because they provide sustainable sources of energy and materials that can be continually used without being depleted. Some key benefits of renewable resources include:

Sustainability – They do not run out and can be continually renewed through natural processes.

Reduced environmental impact – Renewables like solar and wind energy generate much less pollution than fossil fuels.
Energy security – Local renewable sources reduce reliance on imported fuels.
Cost savings – Renewables like sunlight and wind are free to harness after initial investment in equipment.

Job creation – Expanding renewable industries creates employment opportunities.

Using renewable resources whenever possible is crucial for ensuring the planet’s resources are able to support both current and future generations. This article will explore the main types of renewable resources and provide examples of each.

Table of Contents

Solar Energy

Solar energy is energy derived from sunlight. Solar panels, referred to as photovoltaic cells, absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. Solar energy is an abundant, renewable energy source that can be used for electricity generation, heating and cooling systems, hot water, and more. Some key facts about solar energy:

Solar energy is the Earth’s most abundant energy source. The amount of solar energy that hits the Earth’s surface in just one hour is more than the world’s total energy consumption for an entire year (1). There is enormous potential to harness solar energy to meet global energy needs.

Solar power is the fastest growing energy source worldwide, with capacity increasing an average of over 50% annually over the past decade (2). As prices fall and technology improves, adoption of solar continues to accelerate.

Solar energy production creates no air or water pollution and very little global warming emissions. Solar is much cleaner than fossil fuels which emit harmful air pollutants. Widespread use of solar could significantly reduce pollution and related health effects (3).

Solar panels can be installed very quickly, some within just a day or two. Panels can go on roofs, parking structures, unused land and more with minimal site prep. Rapid deployment makes solar a flexible energy solution (4).

While sunlight is free, there are costs associated with manufacturing, installing, and maintaining solar systems. But prices have dropped dramatically in recent years, with panel costs declining over 90% since 2009 (5). Ongoing tech advances will further reduce solar costs.

Sources:
(1) https://www.dcseu.com/news-blog/news-blog/blog-posts/4-fun-facts-about-solar
(2) https://freedomsolarpower.com/blog/50-facts-about-solar-power
(3) https://earth.org/solar-energy-facts/
(4) https://earth.org/solar-energy-facts/
(5) https://earth.org/solar-energy-facts/

Wind Energy

Wind energy is a renewable and clean energy source that relies on the natural movement of wind to generate electricity through wind turbines. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power, which then spins a generator to produce electricity. According to the American Clean Power Association, wind power provides 10.1% of electricity generation in the United States and continues to grow (https://cleanpower.org/facts/wind-power/).

In 2022, global electricity generation from wind increased by a record 265 TWh (up 14%), reaching more than 2,100 TWh. This was the second highest growth in wind power after the installations seen in 2020 (https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables/wind). Wind power is considered a clean and sustainable energy source as it produces no air or water pollution. It is also renewable since the wind will never run out. The Department of Energy estimates wind power could provide 20% of U.S. electricity by 2030 and up to 35% by 2050.

Hydropower

Hydropower is a renewable energy source that generates electricity from flowing water. Hydropower plants capture the energy of falling or flowing water to produce electricity. The most common type of hydropower plant uses a dam on a river to store water in a reservoir. The water released from the reservoir flows through a turbine, spinning it, which in turn activates a generator to produce electricity. Hydropower is a clean energy source that does not directly produce air pollution or greenhouse gases. According to the 2021 Hydropower Status Report from the International Hydropower Association, global installed hydropower capacity rose to 1,330 gigawatts in 2020 (https://www.hydropower.org/publications/2021-hydropower-status-report). China has the most installed hydropower capacity of any country in the world.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy harnesses heat from below the earth’s surface to generate clean and sustainable electricity. The high temperatures found just a few miles under the ground can be used to heat water into steam, which then drives turbines that generate electricity.¹ This heat within the earth is a form of renewable energy and an alternative to burning fossil fuels.

Some of the leading countries utilizing geothermal energy include the United States, Indonesia, Philippines, Turkey and New Zealand.² The United States has over 3,700 megawatts of installed geothermal capacity, predominantly located in California and Nevada where underground heat sources are abundant.³ Indonesia, with the large volcanic presence across its islands, is another major producer of geothermal power.

Geothermal plants provide reliable electricity without the intermittency issues of wind and solar sources. The ability to provide constant base load power around the clock makes geothermal an important part of many countries’ renewable energy strategies. With advancements in technology, enhanced geothermal techniques can further unlock the vast amounts of heat beneath the earth in more locations worldwide.

Biomass

Biomass refers to plant and animal materials that can be used as fuel sources. Some examples of biomass include wood, crops, manure, and some garbage. Biomass contains stored energy from the sun. When burned, the chemical energy in biomass is released as heat that can be used to produce electricity.

Biomass is considered a renewable energy source because plants and trees can be replanted to replace those that are used as fuel sources. This makes biomass a sustainable fuel. It is estimated that biomass accounts for about 10% of the energy used in the US. ^[1]

Some of the advantages of using biomass for energy include:^[2]

It is abundant and readily available in many regions
It is a renewable resource as long as crops and trees are replanted
It can help reduce landfill waste by using discarded materials

It can support local economies by using locally grown biomass

However, there are also some disadvantages such as:^[3]

It can be expensive to collect and transport biomass

Burning biomass releases carbon dioxide, although it is considered carbon neutral
Using crops or trees for fuel may impact food supplies or habitats
It requires a lot of land to produce substantial amounts of biomass

Overall, biomass can provide a renewable fuel source, but it is important to evaluate the tradeoffs and manage biomass resources responsibly.

Biofuels

Biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are renewable energy sources that are derived from plants and crops. These sustainable fuel sources are gaining popularity as alternatives to fossil fuels in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Some of the main biofuels include:

Ethanol – This is an alcohol fuel produced from the sugars and starches found in crops like corn, sugarcane, and switchgrass. The United States and Brazil are the top producers of fuel ethanol globally.^[1]

Biodiesel – Made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled greases, biodiesel can power diesel engines with little to no modification. The largest biodiesel producers are the European Union, Brazil, and Argentina.^[2]

Biofuels provide a number of benefits compared to fossil fuels. They burn cleaner, reducing harmful tailpipe emissions. Biofuels are made from renewable resources, so unlike finite fossil fuels, production could be sustainable over the long-term. There are however some drawbacks such as the large areas of land needed to grow the crops and the potential competition with food production.

Overall, biofuels are an important renewable energy source to help meet fuel demands while reducing dependence on oil and lowering global carbon emissions.

^{[1] https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/biofuel-production-by-country-region-and-fuel-type-2016-2022}
^{[2] https://www.statista.com/statistics/274168/biofuel-production-in-leading-countries-in-oil-equivalent/}

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a clean fuel that can be produced from electricity and water through a process called electrolysis. When hydrogen is used in a fuel cell, it reacts with oxygen to produce electricity with water as the only byproduct. This makes hydrogen a zero-emission fuel source (Source).

Some key facts about hydrogen as a renewable energy source:

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe but rarely exists as a gas on Earth.
Hydrogen has a very high energy content by weight, but it has a low energy content by volume.
Hydrogen can be produced from electricity and water with no harmful emissions.

Hydrogen fuel cells are much more energy efficient than combustion engines.
When used in fuel cells, hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce electricity, with water as the only byproduct.

Overall, hydrogen offers a clean, efficient way to store and use energy from renewable sources like solar and wind. Converting electricity to hydrogen provides a method to store renewable energy for later use.

Ocean Energy

Ocean energy refers to the energy harnessed from the ocean in the form of tides, waves, and temperature differences. According to Statista, the global marine energy capacity was 524 megawatts as of 2022. The majority of this capacity comes from tidal power plants.

Tidal energy utilizes the rise and fall of tides to generate electricity through tidal turbines or tidal barrages. Tidal barrages function essentially like dams, where the incoming and outgoing tides pass through turbines to produce electricity. According to Stanford University’s Understanding Energy, the two largest tidal plants represent 96% of the 516 MW of installed ocean energy capacity in 2021. Tidal turbines work more like wind turbines, where the kinetic energy from tidal currents rotates blades to generate electricity.

Wave energy converts the kinetic energy of surface waves into electricity using technologies like point absorbers that bob up and down with waves or overtopping devices that capture waves in reservoirs. While not as widely adopted yet, wave energy holds great potential as waves can provide continuous energy. According to Statista, global wave energy capacity reached 8 megawatts in 2022.

Ocean thermal energy utilizes temperature differences between cooler deep water and warmer surface water to produce electricity. Though limited to tropical regions, this ocean energy technology has potential for steady base load power generation.

Summary

In summary, the four main types of renewable energy resources are solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal. Solar energy harnesses the sun’s rays to generate electricity and provide lighting, heating, and cooling. Wind power utilizes large wind turbines to generate electricity. Hydropower uses the natural flow of water, such as in dams and run-of-river systems, to generate electricity. Geothermal energy taps into the heat beneath the earth’s surface to provide heating, cooling, and electricity generation. Other notable renewable resources include biomass from plants and waste material, biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel, hydrogen derived from renewable sources, and ocean energy from tides, waves, currents, and temperature gradients. As we pursue more sustainable energy solutions, these renewable resources offer clean alternatives to fossil fuels and have enormous potential to meet our electricity demands.