What is renewable energy? | Decomplicated

Summary

Renewable energy, sourced from the sun, wind, water, and organic materials, is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. It's key to combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As costs decrease, renewable energy becomes more accessible, potentially saving consumers money and aiding in reaching net-zero emissions for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Takeaways

• 💡 Renewable energy comes from sources that replenish faster than they are consumed, such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, and bioenergy.
• 🌞 Solar power works by converting sunlight into electricity through a process called the photoelectric effect, using solar panels.
• 🌬️ Wind power generates electricity by using wind to turn turbines, with offshore turbines being more efficient due to stronger winds at sea.
• 💧 Hydropower generates electricity by using flowing water to spin turbines, with the energy output depending on the water's volume and height difference.
• 🌱 Bioenergy is produced by burning organic matter like plants, food waste, and timber, which can either be burned directly or converted into biogas.
• 🌋 Geothermal energy taps into underground steam and hot water reservoirs, driving turbines to generate electricity.
• 🌍 Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas are non-renewable and are expected to run out this century if consumed at the current rate.
• ⚠️ Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change, rising global temperatures, and extreme weather events.
• 🏗️ While renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower produce minimal emissions when generating electricity, they still have an environmental impact during infrastructure construction, such as steel production.
• 💰 Renewables are becoming increasingly cost-effective, and switching to renewable energy sources could save trillions of dollars by 2050, while reducing carbon emissions.

Q & A

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is energy that comes from sources that won't run out because they are replenished faster than they're consumed. It uses natural sources of power to generate electricity by harnessing the energy of the sun, wind, or tides, or from the burning of organic materials such as plant matter or waste.

How do fossil fuels differ from renewable energy sources?

Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas are non-renewable as they are made from the fossilized buried remains of plants and animals that take millions of years to form. They are liable to run out this century if we keep consuming them at the current rate, unlike renewable energy sources which are self-replenishing.

How do solar panels generate electricity?

Solar panels work by converting the light radiation from the Sun into electricity through a reaction inside silicon layers within the panel called the photoelectric effect. Photons of light are absorbed, releasing electrons which are captured, resulting in an electric current that can be used as electricity.

What is the process behind wind power generation?

Wind power generates electricity via movement. Wind farms use the wind to rotate a turbine's rotor blades, which connects to an electricity generator. The larger the rotor, the more wind energy it can capture to be converted to electricity.

Why are offshore wind turbines considered more efficient?

Offshore wind turbines are considered more efficient because the wind is stronger at sea. However, onshore wind turbines are easier to construct.

How does hydroelectric power work?

Hydropower works by using the flow of water released from a reservoir to flow through a turbine, spinning it, which in turn activates a generator to produce electricity. The power extracted depends on the volume and the difference in height between the source and the water's outflow.

What is bioenergy and how is it produced?

Bioenergy refers to electricity or gas generated from organic matter known as biomass, which can include plants, timber, agricultural and food waste, and even sewage. Dry biomass is burnt in boilers or furnaces, while wet biomass is put into sealed tanks to rot and produce methane gas, also known as biogas, which can be captured and burnt.

How does geothermal energy differ from other renewable sources?

Geothermal energy taps into underground reservoirs of steam and hot water by drilling underground wells. The heat is then harnessed to drive turbines connected to generators to produce electricity.

Why is the transition to renewable energy important in combating climate change?

The transition to renewable energy is crucial because burning fossil fuels produces large amounts of greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide and methane, which trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. Renewable energy sources produce little to no emissions, helping to mitigate climate change.

How can renewable energy impact the economy and consumers?

The cost of renewables, particularly solar and wind power, are getting cheaper per year. Consumers could save on their electricity bills by installing infrastructure like solar panels and battery storage. Switching to renewables by 2050 could amount to saving as much as 12 trillion dollars worldwide.

What percentage of the UK's electricity was generated by renewable energy sources between July and September 2022?

Almost 40 percent of the UK's electricity was generated by renewable energy sources between July and September 2022.