Renewable resources can be generated continuously in nature. They are inexhaustible. Besides, renewable resources are known as non-conventional sources of energy. Actually, they can be used again and again in an endless manner. We have compiled different types of renewable resources. Let’s take a close look.
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Top Renewable Resources
1. Biomass
It is a renewable organic material that is obtained from animals. Until the mid-1800s, biomass was the single largest source of United States energy consumption. Over the years, Biomass has continued to be a great source of fuel in many countries. In most cases, this resource is used in cooking and heating in developing countries. The use of this resource is increasing day by day in developing countries as a way of avoiding carbon dioxide emissions.
Typically, Biomass contains stored chemical energy from the sun. You might be aware that plants produce biomass as a result of photosynthesis. The most common biomass resources include crops and wood.
2. Biogas
Biogas is considered a renewable resource because its production and use are continuous. Also, it does not generate carbon dioxide. It is mostly used for direct uses that include heating. Renewable resources can be used in different applications. Biogas is obtained from decomposed biogenic material. It is important to know that biogas mainly consists of methane. It is different from natural gas derived from fossil fuels in that it is produced by the fermentation process. It is also worth noting that biogas is obtained through the fermentation of sewage and green waste.
3. Wind
Wind is one of the most useful resources because it is non-polluting and renewable. Wind supply in the world is abundant and inexhaustible. In fact, the wind is the largest source of renewable power in the United States of America. The wind is used to rotate turbines to create power without using fuels. This means that it does not produce greenhouse gases or toxic waste. For this reason, producing electricity through wind is efficient and contributes to sustainable development.
4. Sun
The reason why the sun is considered a renewable resource is that the earth continuously receives solar energy from the sun. Direct use of the sunlight is achieved by capturing the sun’s energy. There are several energy technologies used to convert the sun’s energy and light into heat. Solar panels are used to transform light into usable energy by using photovoltaic cells. Additionally, it is a cost-effective alternative to fossil fuels. Do you know that radiant energy has powered life on earth for millions of years? It is considered one of the most important sources of energy. Over the years, we have witnessed many technologies using it to produce solar electricity for use in homes and businesses.
5. Geothermal
You might be wondering why geothermal is a renewable resource. Its source is an unlimited amount of heat generated by the Earth’s core. The earth has retained a huge amount of heat that was initially generated during the formation of the planet. The constant source of energy is not dependent on anything and is available all year long. The volume taken out can be easily re-injected. This makes it one of the most sustainable sources of energy. However, geothermal is not a common energy resource. The world does not use it more often to produce energy because drilling is very expensive.
It is said that the temperature of the geothermal reservoir may decrease over time. On such occasions, geothermal drilling companies are advised to drill additional wells to maintain energy production at temperatures.
6. Water
It is arguably one of the oldest renewable resources. Water has been used to produce hydropower for thousands of years in different parts of the world. Compared to other resources, water has the least solid waste during energy production. Water is not in danger of being used up. Another significant reason why water is a renewable resource is that when it rains, the water bodies get replenished. It moves from the global cycle. From there, it evaporates from lakes, forms clouds, and precipitates as rain.
Hydropower generation plants use water to power machinery. When water is captured and converted into electricity, it is called hydropower. Most hydroelectric power facilities are powered by kinetic energy.
7. Tides
Tides are the most reliable renewable resource. This is due to the continuous change in tidal movements. Kindly note that this happens two times a day from gravitational force. Another benefit of tides is that they do not produce any kind of pollution. It was during the 20th century when engineers developed ways to use tides to generate electricity.
Generation of electricity using this renewable resource happens in areas where there is a significant tidal range. The tidal range is simply the difference in area between high and low tides. Tidal energy has continued to be cheaper as technology advances. The best thing about tidal energy is that equipment and facilities for producing tidal power last longer and are more cost-competitive than other renewable technologies.
8. Compressed natural gas
It is considered renewable because of how it is easy to make. Natural gas originates from the remains of plants and animals that were buried deep under the earth. Thanks to millions of years of heat and pressure. The most common and popular form of natural gas on earth is methane. Methane and other popular natural gases such as butane are taken from crude oil wells.
In most cases, natural gas is used in industries and electric power. The two industries consume more than 70% of all United States of America natural gas. Additionally, 16% of the natural gas produced is used to power homes. The rest is used in the transportation industry. While natural gas is used in every State, more than 40% of all United States of America natural gas is used by Texas, Florida, and California.
9. Biofuels
Biodiesel, ethanol, and methane are the most popular biofuels. Biofuels are sustainable by their nature, lasting less than a year for those obtained from wheat, crop residues, and about 35 years for those based on forest residues, compared to hundreds of millions of years for fossil fuels.
Biofuels have the potential to: reduce our country’s reliance on foreign nations for energy, boost environmental conditions, and provide a new revenue source for the agricultural sector. Biological products such as food crops and landfills are used to make biofuels.
10. Ocean Thermal Energy
Ocean thermal energy is caused by a temperature difference between the upper and lower layers of the ocean. OTEC vaporizes a working substance with a low boiling point, such as ammonia, using the ocean’s warm surface water with a temperature of about 25°C. To generate electricity, the vapor expands and spins a turbine connected to a generator.
The working fluid in open-cycle engines is vapor from the seawater itself. As a by-product, OTEC may provide large amounts of cold water. The nutrient-rich deep ocean water can be used for air conditioning and refrigeration and to feed biological technologies.
Final Thoughts
Generating energy using renewable resources reduces some types of air pollution. Besides, it diversifies energy supply while at the same time reducing dependence on imported fuels. It is also important to note that this will create economic development jobs in the installation and manufacturing sectors. The above renewable resources are very important because they provide enough energy to meet our needs and power our cities.
Renewable resources are known to produce clean energy, meaning minimal pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to drastic climate change. By 2024, using renewable resources is expected to rise by more than 30 percent. Hopefully, you have gained some knowledge after reading the above article. You can ask any questions, and our team will get back to you as soon as possible. Till next time. Thanks!
