Renewable energy is a term used to describe energy sources that are not depleted when used. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, water, geothermal, and biomass.
Renewable energy is a rapidly growing industry with immense potential. In 2016, renewable energy accounted for approximately 10% of the total global energy supply. This is up from just 2.4% in 1980.
There are many reasons why renewable energy is becoming more popular. First, renewable energy is a cleaner and more sustainable option than traditional fossil fuels such as coal and oil. Burning fossil fuels releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and other environmental problems.
Second, renewable energy is becoming more affordable as technology improves and costs continue to drop. In some cases, renewable energy is already cheaper than traditional energy sources.
Third, renewable energy is a more secure option than fossil fuels, which are subject to price fluctuations and political instability. Many countries are now investing heavily in renewable energy as a way to reduce their dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The future of renewable energy is bright. With continued technological advances and falling costs, renewable energy is expected to play an increasingly important role in the global energy mix.
Other related questions:
Q: What is renewable energy in simple words?
A: Renewable energy is energy that comes from natural sources that can be replenished. Examples of renewable energy sources include solar, water, wind, and geothermal.
Q: What counts as renewable electricity?
A: Renewable electricity can come from a variety of sources, including solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal.
Q: What is renewable energy students?
A: Renewable energy students are those who are enrolled in courses or programs that focus on the study of renewable energy sources. This can include solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy.
Q: How do renewable energy credits work?
A: Renewable energy credits (RECs) are a type of tradeable credit that represents the environmental attributes associated with 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable electricity generation. In the United States, RECs are created when a renewable energy facility generates electricity and are retired when the renewable electricity is sold and delivered to the grid. The owner of the REC can then sell it separately from the underlying physical electricity.
RECs can be used to offset emissions from electricity generation, providing a way for electricity consumers to reduce their emissions footprint. In some cases, RECs can also be used to comply with renewable energy mandates. For example, in the United States, many states have renewable portfolio standards (RPS) that require utilities to source a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. Utilities can meet their renewable energy requirements by purchasing RECs in addition to or instead of generating their own renewable electricity.
The value of a REC depends on factors such as the renewable energy resource, the location of the project, the vintage of the REC (i.e., when it was generated), and market factors such as RPS requirements.
Bibliography
- Renewable and Alternative Energy | Penn State Extension
- What is Renewable Energy? – Penn State Extension
- Renewable Energy Resources – Penn State Extension
- Energy Education and Resources – Penn State Extension
- See All Renewable and Alternative Energy
- Renewable and Alternative Energy — Pennsylvania 4-H