We all know we need to find new types of renewable sources of energy, and we need to do it quickly. Finding sustainable sources of energy that don’t rely on fossil fuels will be a key component to fighting climate change and mitigating some of its dangers.
The shift from non renewable to renewable energy will be complicated, so it’s helpful to go over some of the basics and most frequently asked questions. That could include questions like what is renewable energy, what types of renewable energy are there, and how does this affect consumers?
Here’s what you should know about renewable energy types.
What is Renewable Energy?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) defines renewable energy as energy from naturally replenishing sources. Some of the major types include solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass energy.
Although naturally replenishing, renewable energy types are often flow-limited. In other words, there might be an “unlimited” amount of renewable energy, but there will be a limit to how much of that energy is available at specific points in time.
A good example is solar energy. Although we can’t exhaust the energy produced by the sun, solar energy production is generally limited to daylight hours and clear skies. However, as a renewable source that won’t “run out,” solar energy doesn’t require conservation.
From renewable energy comes electricity, the Department of Energy points out. Through various conversion processes, the energy produced by the sun, wind, or other renewable energy types is transformed into usable electricity that can power your home, charge up your favorite devices, and ensure that critical infrastructure like hospitals and the internet can operate.
It’s worth pointing out that renewable energy refers to the ability of an energy source to renew itself. It’s different from clean energy, which generally refers to energy sources that don’t pollute the atmosphere. However, most renewable energy sources are also clean.
Types of Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy types are becoming increasingly common across the globe as alternatives to nonrenewable sources for the production of electricity. Here are some of the most common — and important — types of renewable energy.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is one of the most talked-about renewable energy types. Basically, its energy from the sun. Through technology like photovoltaics, radiant light and heat from the sun are harnessed and transformed into usable electricity.
Compared to renewable energy types like wind energy or geothermal energy, it’s also one of the easiest for consumers to adopt themselves. There are a plethora of solar panels on the market, and although the initial cost can be steep, customers have the option to add solar energy to their own homes.
Wind Energy
Wind energy, which leverages wind to provide mechanical power through turbines, is one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the world. Technically, it’s a form of solar energy since winds are caused by the sun heating up the atmosphere. Because of that, wind energy is a renewable energy type that’s sustainable.
Wind energy is making tremendous strides and creating new innovations for how the world can approach generating clean renewable energy. Companies are beginning to create wind turbines that no longer require blades, which lessens the cost, is silent and safer for birds when flying near these wind turbines. Other manufacturers are creating flying wind turbines operating in altitudes of 1,000 feet to gain access to more powerful and consistent sources of wind. There are even wind turbines now generating electricity at both high and low wind speeds.
Wind energy can come with a few downsides, including the fact that good sites for land-based wind energy farms are typically located in remote areas far from the cities that need the electricity the most. Owners of farms or ranches can install wind turbines, and one would think it’s not likely to see massive wind energy operations in densely populated areas.
However, companies are creating ways to incorporate the use of wind energy in high populated cities such as New York. Our products at Alternative Sustainability for example, harness the power of air movement while saving money, space and time which is perfect for any densely populated city. They make for a great fit for any building or home to reduce the overall carbon footprint and improve the use of clean energy. Learn more about how you can benefit from our products at Alternative Sustainability.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy type generated from the heat beneath the earth. The EIA points out that heat is produced in the sub-surface of the earth by the slow decay of radioactive particles. Water or steam can carry this heat to the surface, where it can be harnessed to produce clean electricity.
There are many examples of geothermal energy. If you’ve ever bathed in a naturally occurring hot spring, you’ve taken advantage of this energy. Geothermal plants can convert other types of this renewable energy to usable electricity but come with some risks. For one, they can trigger a damaging earthquake.
Biomass
Biomass energy refers to energy produced by plants or animals — think burning wood in a campfire to generate light and heat. Because of that, you could compare biomass energy to fossil fuels, which also come from the remains of dead plants and animals. Unlike fossil fuels, however, biomass energy is renewable.
Until the mid-1800s, biomass energy was the largest source of energy in the U.S. Biomass energy can include sources like wood, agricultural waste, or animal manure and is generally used to avoid carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use. There are, however, some questions about how clean the renewable energy type actually is.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a fuel that several different sources can produce, including biomass and nuclear power. The most common type of hydrogen production involves steam reforming of natural gas. Because it produces only water when used, it is often championed as a clean and renewable alternative to petroleum.
Through hydrogen fuel cells, users of this renewable energy can leverage hydrogen to power cars — or even rockets. NASA, for example, uses liquid hydrogen for rocket fuel. However, most hydrogen today is produced by fossil fuel sources, although it can also be produced by biomass, solar, or wind energy, making it renewable.
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity, which is also known as hydroelectric or hydropower, is electricity produced through harnessing falling or fast-running water. Basically, this renewable energy type uses turbines or generators to convert the kinetic force generated by water into usable electricity. It’s sustainable because it doesn’t deplete or “use up” the water involved in the process.
It happens to be one of the oldest sources of producing mechanical and electrical energy — from grinding grain to being involved in industrial manufacturing. It was also the largest source of annual renewable energy production until 2019. Because it doesn’t deplete anything or spew pollutants, it’s both a renewable and clean energy source.
Ocean Energy
Ocean energy is technically an offshoot from hydropower but relies on the kinetic motion of the waves, tides, and currents of the world’s oceans and seas. For example, think of the force of a wave crashing against a coastline. Ocean energy takes that force and converts it into usable electricity.
Other types of ocean energy include buoys that can harness power from the rise and fall of ocean waves or the tide. According to the National Renewables Energy Laboratory, because oceans cover 75% of the planet and population centers are often located near the coast, ocean energy has excellent potential to become a plentiful renewable energy type.
Nonrenewable Energy Types
To really understand the difference between renewable energy and nonrenewable energy, we’ll need a broad overview of the latter energy type.
Nonrenewable energy includes coal, natural gas, oil, or nuclear energy. They’re considered nonrenewable because they rely on a finite resource. Take oil, for example. There’s only so much oil hidden beneath the earth’s surface. Once that oil is gone, it cannot be replenished in a realistic timeline.
Currently, we source most nonrenewable energy types from fossil fuels, which are the buried remains of ancient life. Nuclear energy is different but is still nonrenewable since it’s sourced from uranium — which can be difficult to mine and extract from the earth’s crust.
The Future of Renewable Energy
There’s a great debate about what the future of renewable energy could look like. It’s likely that, in the future, we will use a variety of renewable and clean energy sources to power our homes and keep the electrical grid running.
With climate change threatening virtually everyone on the planet, renewable energy types will need to be harnessed to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
No matter what energy types we come to rely on, one thing is certain: renewable energy is the future, with many projections suggesting significant growth in types like wind energy, solar energy, and hydro energy.
One of the more exciting developments in renewable energy has been the innovative product lineup made by Alternative Sustainability. The company has created a number of ground-breaking products that can easily add clean and renewable energy production to businesses, residences, and other buildings. More than that, Alternative Sustainability’s products are easier to install, more cost-effective, and efficient than options like solar panels.
How to add clean energy to your home or business
If you’d like to incorporate sustainable and renewable energy methods in your own home, a good idea is to invest in solar panels or a cheaper and easier solution like those made by Alternative Sustainability, which produces specialized turbines that use the air in your HVAC system to generate power.
The options below are renewable energy solutions that consumers can adopt themselves — after all, you’re not going to install a geothermal energy facility in your home. Compared to solar panels or more expensive renewable solutions, their benefits could also make them a better and more realistic choice for many consumers.
Low Carbon PTAC
The Low Carbon PTAC is a patent-pending device using highly efficient electric heating coils that can provide cooling and heating without the need for central air. It comes with better sound and thermal insulation, easy digital control options, and built-in UCV sterilization. Customers and businesses can reduce gas usage up to 70% with this solution.
Turbine Slide Frame
Many buildings are equipped with systems that bring air in and exhaust air out. Normally, all of this air is just wasted — but a product like the Turbine Slide Frame can help you harness it to produce clean energy. The Turbine Slide Frame, which can be installed in any HVAC unit or ductwork, can create large amounts of power using the existing systems in a building.
T7 Exhaust Turbine
The T7 Exhaust Turbine is a product that can produce renewable energy through a building’s exhaust systems. All you need to do is replace your existing exhaust fans with the T7 Exhaust Turbine to produce energy without any major retrofitting to your building’s roof.
ECap Rack
Alternative Sustainability’s ECap Rack works like wind turbines, just on a smaller scale. A single ECap Rack, which is a standalone unit you can place in a variety of locations, can produce as much as 3,000 watts using just air — that’s much more than the 300 watts produced by a single solar panel, and in a smaller space. Compared to other popular clean energy options like solar panels, they’re also more efficient, reliable, cheaper and easier to install.
