Types of Renewable Energy

Unlike other renewable energy sources, biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels - biofuels - for our transportation needs (cars, trucks, buses, airplanes, and trains). The two most common types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.

Unlike other renewable energy sources, biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels - biofuels - for our transportation needs (cars, trucks, buses, airplanes, and trains). The two most common types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.

Biomass is fuel from organic materials. Biopower -- electricity produced using biomass fuel -- is renewable, sustainable and clean energy for communities.

Fossil fuels - non-renewable. In 2011 fossil fuels made up 83% of the world’s energy use. These are resources found under the ground: coal, oil and gas. In 2020 this is predicted to decrease to 76% as nuclear power, and in particular, renewable energy use increase. See World Energy (PDF) for more information.

Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. It's clean and sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock called magma.

For more information on hydroelectric power research, see the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydropower Program. Hydropower content for this section provided in part by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Department of Energy.

Learn about NREL's renewable electrolysis ... This diagram depicts various scenarios for producing renewable hydrogen and ... Hydrogen & Fuel Cells; Integrated Energy ...

Hydropower (or hydroenergy) is a form of renewable energy that uses the water stored in dams, as well as flowing in rivers to create electricity in hydropower plants. Like other forms of electricity generation, hydropower uses a turbine to help generate electricity; using the energy of falling or flowing water to turn the blades.

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), also known as Sustainable Natural Gas (SNG) or biomethane, is a biogas which has been upgraded to a quality similar to fossil natural gas and having a methane concentration of 90% or greater. A biogas is a gaseous form of methane obtained from biomass.

Non-renewable energy comes from fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and uranium. Fossil fuels are usually found in one location as their formation is from a similar process.

Nuclear energy is the energy that is in the core (nucleus) of an atom. Atoms are small particles which make up the entire universe and everything it holds. There is a tremendous force of energy that is able to keep the atoms bonded together.

Renewable Energy. There are many forms of renewable energy . Most of these renewable energies depend in one way or another on sunlight. Wind and hydroelectric power are the direct result of differential heating of the Earth's surface which leads to air moving about (wind) and precipitation forming as the air is lifted.

What is Petroleum (Crude Oil)? Crude oil (a non-renewable resource) is usually found in underground areas called reservoirs. It is liquid in nature and yellowish black in color. They are composed mainly of hydrocarbons and organic compounds. They are usually discovered by oil prospecting scientists.

Solar panels converts the sun's light in to usable solar energy using N-type and P-type semiconductor material. When sunlight is absorbed by these materials, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms, allowing the electrons to flow through the material to produce electricity.

Currently solar panels convert most of the visible light spectrum and about half of the ultraviolet and infrared light spectrum to usable solar energy. Solar energy technologies use the sun's energy and light to provide heat, light, hot water, electricity, and even cooling, for homes, businesses, and industry.

Tidal Energy is a Renewable Energy Source, RES, produced by the rise and fall of tides which occur in all parts of the world. Tides are caused by the gravitational force of the moon, called lunar gravitational force, and that of the sun.

Ocean wave energy is captured directly from surface waves or from pressure fluctuations below the surface. Waves are caused by the wind blowing over the surface of the ocean. In many areas of the world, the wind blows with enough consistency and force to provide continuous waves along the shoreline.

Today, the windmill's modern equivalent - a wind turbine - can use the wind's energy to generate electricity. Wind turbines, like windmills, are mounted on a tower to capture the most energy. At 100 feet (30 meters) or more aboveground, they can take advantage of the faster and less turbulent wind.

Wind turbines can be used as stand-alone applications, or they can be connected to a utility power grid or even combined with a photovoltaic (solar cell) system. For utility-scale sources of wind energy, a large number of wind turbines are usually built close together to form awind plant.