What is renewable energy and how is it created?

Renewable energy is any form of energy that comes from a naturally renewable source. These sources include:

• Wind
• Sunlight
• Water
• Biomass
• Geothermal

Overview of renewable energy

Renewable energy harnesses any source that renews itself indefinitely—like sunlight or wind—and converts it into electricity.

Renewable energy has become quite common. In fact, the International Energy Agency predicts that it will compose 26% of all electricity produced by 2020, so it’s far more than just a minor trend.

Sources of renewable energy

There are many ways to harness renewable energy, including those listed below.

Wind

Wind power currently accounts for about 6.5% of all energy in the U.S. Wind energy is harvested through wind farms consisting of dozens of massive turbines.

Solar

Solar energy uses panels of photovoltaic cells to collect rays from the sun and convert them into electricity. This type of energy ranges from massive solar farms to individual panels atop roofs or even vehicles. Currently, solar power makes up 1.5% of all energy produced in the United States.

Water

Water energy comes from either hydroelectric dams, which use fast-moving water to turn electric turbines; or in-development tidal energy, which use a similar system in a bay or other areas by the ocean. Hydropower is the largest source of renewable energy in the nation, sitting at 7% in 2018.

Biomass

Biomass energy involves burning material gathered from plants and animals. While biomass is actually not often clean or completely sustainable—as in the case of wood—it can be useful in some circumstances, such as when burning sawdust or other waste from production processes. Biomass makes up 1.4% of all energy production in the U.S.

Geothermal

Geothermal energy uses heat from the earth to generate electricity or to heat buildings. It currently produces about 0.4% of all the nation’s energy.

Harnessing renewable energy

The initial investment in renewable energy can be pretty high, and it requires consistent proactive maintenance to keep running at top efficiency. However, the payoff in energy savings and environmental responsibility can be worth it.