Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is energy that comes from sources that are not depleted by time. In the past, human beings have largely relied on wood, water, and animal power as their primary energy sources. Today, renewable energy is increasingly available from geothermal energy, wind, and solar energy. In the United States, total renewable energy production will hit a record high in 2021.
Geothermal energy comes from decaying radioactive particles deep in the earth and is an excellent source of direct heat and electricity. Hydropower is another source of renewable energy, but requires large water bodies and a tremendous amount of force. Solar energy requires a large amount of sunshine and a stable surface area. In addition, solar farms must be paired with storage solutions.
Feed-in tariffs are another way to support the development of renewable energy. In exchange for providing power from renewable sources to electric utilities, these utilities must pay pre-established above-market rates. These tariffs may differ by state and can help generate a steady stream of revenue for renewable generators. In 2009, California, Hawaii, Vermont, and Washington became the first states to implement feed-in tariffs.
Biomass-based energy is a source of biomass that can be grown and burned to produce electricity. Biomass includes a variety of organic materials, including wood, dung, food waste, and agricultural crops used to produce liquid biofuels. Most of this fuel is burned in rural areas for cooking, lighting, and heating. Some biomass sources use algae or seaweed as fuel.
What Is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy has an enormous potential to become a valuable source of electricity and economic development, if it is produced in a sustainable manner. This requires an integrated vision that extends across all value chains. It also involves mitigation of impacts to local communities. In the United States, renewable energy enjoys bipartisan support. Republicans are interested in renewable energy’s economic benefits, while Democrats are concerned with climate change.
why to invest in renewable energy
Biomass-biomass is a renewable energy source, and can be used to make biofuels, biodiesel, and hydrogen. Depending on where it is grown and how it is used, biomass can be used to generate electricity. It also can be used to produce methane gas, which is released during the natural decomposition of organic materials. Biomass-based biofuels are not yet widely available, and are still a relatively new technology.
reasons to invest in renewable energy
Depending on where you live, renewable energy can help you cut your energy bills. An air source heat pump, for example, is an excellent replacement for a gas boiler. There are even some government incentives for installing renewable energy in your home. For example, the UK government has a Feed-In Tariff program, which pays you for electricity you generate and export back to the grid.
The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive was adopted in 2009, and has continued to grow each year. It sets a target for renewable energy of 32% in the EU’s energy mix by 2030. The new Renewable Energy Directive also sets out a new set of measures that should further enhance this progress. These include strengthened renewables uptake measures in the transport sector, renewable energy communities, and self-consumption.
