Renewable energy resources can come in many forms. They may be classified according to their potential development, country of origin and potential rural or urban customer base. Policies may decide to differentiate between resources with established markets and those that are new or emerging. These differences might also apply to how urban areas should be used for renewable energy.
Water
Water is a natural resource that can be used multiple times. Its worth as a resource will depend on how many people use it, and how valuable the ecosystem regards it. As human appropriation rises, water's value falls and ecological services fall. The point at which the water value as a renewable source is reduced to zero or less than the water resource value to humans is called "peak ecological waters".
Earth's oceans are home to 0.3 million cubic miles of liquid. This 97% water makes up the Earth's total water. The majority of this water consists of saltwater. This means that it has more than one-gram of dissolved matter per liter. Saltwater is not suitable for most uses and terrestrial animals, while freshwater contains a low concentration of dissolved solids. Freshwater is, on the contrary, the main resource for human usage, as the salt content in it is much lower.
Biomass
Biomass can be used to produce heat or electricity. It is a renewable resource that can be burned. Its versatility makes it an attractive resource for many purposes. It is used in wood heating systems. Sometimes, it can even be used in combined power units to create electricity. This makes biomass a viable option to help the UK reach its 2020 emission reduction targets.
Biomass is a renewable resource that will never run out. It is also a highly-priced resource. For example, processing algae is expensive and can cost between $5,000 and $100,000 per ton. This means that it is not affordable for most countries. The cost of biomass is high, but it's a renewable resource that can regenerate quickly. It can also come from municipal solid garbage.
Hydropower
Hydropower, one of the oldest renewable resources, is also the most reliable. This natural resource brings many benefits to both the grid and communities. It is also an environmentally friendly resource. Hydropower is a great choice for those seeking an alternative source of energy. Click the button below for more information about hydropower.
Hydropower facilities use the energy from moving water to generate electricity by putting turbines on rivers and lakes. The water's energy is converted into electricity by the turbines and fed into an electrical grid. Hydroelectric plants are not polluting water, unlike other energy generation methods. Hydroelectric facilities use only water that can be replenished.
Geothermal power
Geothermal energy is a natural source of energy that comes from reservoirs of hot water deep within the earth. There are many applications for geothermal energy. This is due to its ability decrease the need to burn fossil fuels, as well as to lower greenhouse gas emissions. This explainer gives an overview on traditional and next generation geothermal technologies and highlights the advantages and challenges associated with increased geothermal use.
The flash steam generator is the most widely used geothermal power source. This produces electricity from underground high-pressure hot water. The steam is then converted to steam and used to power a turbine generator. This steam is then injected back in the earth and repurposed. A dry steam power plant, which uses the natural steam coming from underground to generate a turbine generator, is another type.
Solar energy
The renewable resource of solar energy can be used for many energy needs. You can either use it to generate large amounts of electricity with solar panels or for smaller devices like LEDs. It can generate hundreds of megawatts and require millions of panels to cover large areas. The panels can be tracked by dedicated tracking systems, which increases their efficiency. Concentrated solar power uses the heat of the sun to heat a liquid and generate electricity.
The average solar energy density outside the atmosphere is about 1,300 Watts per square meter. Although most of the energy is reflected back into the atmosphere, a squaremeter will still collect approximately 4.2 kilowatts of solar power per day. This is the equivalent of almost a barrel of oil's annual energy production. Some areas, like the Sahara Desert in Africa, get as high as six kilowatts-hours of solar power per square meter. Photovoltaic panels or concentrating solar power plants convert the energy into electricity.