Renewable energy accounts for 11 percent of the industry’s energy consumption. To be able to decide if renewable energy is right for your home and business you must first understand what it is and what it can do for you.
Geothermal Energy
To put it simply, geothermal energy is the heat from the earth. It can be found in locations such as shallow ground, hot rock, or hot water found just a few miles beneath the earth’s surface. In the United States, geothermal energy locations can be found in Hawaii, Alaska, and western states. This energy is reusable and sustainable. Many geothermal power plants use steam from the reservoir to power their generators, but the potential for geothermal power is limitless.
Electricity can be produced through geothermal electricity production, and the shallow ground can produce energy to heat and cool buildings through geothermal heat pumps. This type of clean and sustainable energy is expected to take off in the future and become the primary source of power. Geothermal energy is on its way to being one of the world’s most significant renewable sources of energy.
Solar Energy
A popular clean source of power that is already taking the world by storm is solar energy. For those who are unfamiliar with solar energy, it is energy from the sun that can be converted into thermal or electrical energy. This the cleanest and most sustainable energy source found in the world. Solar photovoltaic (PV) devices, also known as solar cells, convert sunlight directly into electricity.
By harnessing the power of the sun, we can produce electricity and heat water for multiple uses. Solar energy can be used in commercial, residential, and industrial settings. Not only is solar energy cleaner than traditional power, but it also costs less. This electricity has the capabilities to power homes, businesses, and even entire power plants.
Wind Power
Another powerful source of energy is wind power. Energy converted through wind has also gained much popularity throughout the years. Wind power is harnessed through modern wind turbines to create electricity. There are three main types of wind power being used today: utility-scale wind, distributed or “small” wind, and offshore wind. Although each type of wind power has its own specific wind turbines and functionality, each operates in basically the same way. As the wind blows past, the blades of the turbine then capture the wind’s kinetic energy and rotate which turns it into mechanical energy.
Often people will drive past wind farms that house many turbines without knowing the power they hold. The wind farm sends electricity to the grid which then sends the electricity to where people need it. Wind power has the ability to power homes, businesses, and entire towns.