Renewable source of energy pdf

Fossil fuels are not a renewable source of energy because they are not infinite. Plus, they release carbon dioxide into our atmosphere which contributes to climate change and global warming. On the one hand, wood is a renewable resource — provided it comes from sustainably managed forests. Compressed biomass fuels produce more energy than logs too. On the other hand, burning wood whether it be raw timber or processed waste releases particles into our atmosphere. As world population rises, so does the demand for energy in order to power our homes, businesses and communities.

Innovation and expansion of renewable sources of energy is key to maintaining a sustainable level of energy and protect our planet from climate change. In , the UK hit a new amazing renewable energy milestone.

On Wednesday 10th June, the country celebrated two months of running purely on renewable energy for the first time ever. This is a great step in the right direction for renewables. This will drive down the price of renewables — great for the planet, and great for our wallets. EDF Renewables. Wondering what new and innovative ways scientists are looking at in order to reduce our dependence on traditional fossil fuels? And if you're after some more technical knowledge, find out how our innovation team use Big Data to create better value out of offshore wind farms.

Find out what it's like working in renewable energy. Find out what green energy tariffs are and how to know the difference between real green tariffs and 'green washed' ones.

Would you like to reduce your carbon emissions at home? Read our easy and free tips. Read our guide for students on how to manage your bills with your housemates. The zero carbon electricity purchased is supplied into the National Grid. Customers receive electricity via the National Grid, not directly from zero-carbon generators. For home. Log in. My bills and payments.

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The sun has provided warmth during the day and helped kindle fires to last into the evening. But over the past years or so, humans increasingly turned to cheaper, dirtier energy sources such as coal and fracked gas. Now that we have increasingly innovative and less-expensive ways to capture and retain wind and solar energy, renewables are becoming a more important power source, accounting for more than one-eighth of U. The expansion in renewables is also happening at scales large and small, from rooftop solar panels on homes that can sell power back to the grid to giant offshore wind farms.

Even some entire rural communities rely on renewable energy for heating and lighting. Nonrenewable sources of energy are only available in limited amounts and take a long time to replenish. Nonrenewable energy sources are also typically found in specific parts of the world, making them more plentiful in some nations than others. By contrast, every country has access to sunshine and wind. Many nonrenewable energy sources can endanger the environment or human health.

To top it off, all these activities contribute to global warming. Humans have been harnessing solar energy for thousands of years—to grow crops, stay warm, and dry foods. Solar, or photovoltaic PV , cells are made from silicon or other materials that transform sunlight directly into electricity.

Distributed solar systems generate electricity locally for homes and businesses, either through rooftop panels or community projects that power entire neighborhoods. Solar farms can generate power for thousands of homes, using mirrors to concentrate sunlight across acres of solar cells.

Solar supplies a little more than 1 percent of U. But nearly a third of all new generating capacity came from solar in , second only to natural gas. Today, turbines as tall as skyscrapers —with turbines nearly as wide in diameter—stand at attention around the world. Wind, which accounts for a little more than 6 percent of U. Top wind power states include California, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa, though turbines can be placed anywhere with high wind speeds—such as hilltops and open plains—or even offshore in open water.

Hydropower is the largest renewable energy source for electricity in the United States, though wind energy is soon expected to take over the lead. Nationally and internationally, large hydroelectric plants—or mega-dams—are often considered to be nonrenewable energy. Mega-dams divert and reduce natural flows, restricting access for animal and human populations that rely on rivers.

Small hydroelectric plants an installed capacity below about 40 megawatts , carefully managed, do not tend to cause as much environmental damage, as they divert only a fraction of flow. Biomass is organic material that comes from plants and animals, and includes crops, waste wood, and trees. When biomass is burned, the chemical energy is released as heat and can generate electricity with a steam turbine. Biomass is often mistakenly described as a clean, renewable fuel and a greener alternative to coal and other fossil fuels for producing electricity.

However, recent science shows that many forms of biomass—especially from forests—produce higher carbon emissions than fossil fuels. There are also negative consequences for biodiversity.

Still, some forms of biomass energy could serve as a low-carbon option under the right circumstances. For example, sawdust and chips from sawmills that would otherwise quickly decompose and release carbon can be a low-carbon energy source. Drilling deep wells brings very hot underground water to the surface as a hydrothermal resource, which is then pumped through a turbine to create electricity. Geothermal plants typically have low emissions if they pump the steam and water they use back into the reservoir.

There are ways to create geothermal plants where there are not underground reservoirs, but there are concerns that they may increase the risk of an earthquake in areas already considered geological hot spots.

Some tidal energy approaches may harm wildlife, such as tidal barrages , which work much like dams and are located in an ocean bay or lagoon. Passive solar homes are designed to welcome in the sun through south-facing windows and then retain the warmth through concrete, bricks, tiles, and other materials that store heat.

Some solar-powered homes generate more than enough electricity, allowing the homeowner to sell excess power back to the grid. Batteries are also an economically attractive way to store excess solar energy so that it can be used at night. Scientists are hard at work on new advances that blend form and function, such as solar skylights and roof shingles. Geothermal technology is a new take on a recognizable process—the coils at the back of your fridge are a mini heat pump, removing heat from the interior to keep foods fresh and cool.

In a home, geothermal or geoexchange pumps use the constant temperature of the earth a few feet below the surface to cool homes in summer and warm houses in winter—and even to heat water.

Geothermal systems can be initially expensive to install but typically pay off within 10 years. They are also quieter, have fewer maintenance issues, and last longer than traditional air conditioners.

A backyard wind farm? Boats, ranchers, and even cell phone companies use small wind turbines regularly. Dealers now help site, install, and maintain wind turbines for homeowners, too—although some DIY enthusiasts are installing turbines themselves. Depending on your electricity needs, wind speeds, and zoning rules in your area, a wind turbine may reduce your reliance on the electrical grid.

Wind- and solar energy—powered homes can either stand alone or get connected to the larger electrical grid, as supplied by their power provider. Electric utilities in most states allow homeowners to only pay the difference between the grid-supplied electricity consumed and what they have produced—a process called net metering. If you make more electricity than you use, your provider may pay you retail price for that power.