Topic

Renewable Energy

Learning resources

About Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is energy that comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat. These energy sources are renewable, meaning they're naturally replenished. That's in contrast to fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, which are formed from decaying prehistoric plants and animals and can take millions of years to develop.

Burning fossil fuels releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. These pollutants contribute to climate change, which is a major global problem.

Renewable energy, on the other hand, is much cleaner and doesn't pollute the air. It's also a more sustainable energy source, since it can't be used up.

There are many different types of renewable energy, including solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. Solar energy comes from the sun and can be used to heat homes and power businesses. Wind energy comes from the force of the wind and can be used to generate electricity. Hydro energy comes from the movement of water and can be used to generate electricity. Biomass energy comes from organic materials such as wood and can be used to generate heat and electricity.

All of these renewable energy sources have great potential to help address the climate change problem. But they're not without their challenges. For example, solar and wind energy are intermittent, meaning they only produce electricity when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. And biomass energy can have negative environmental impacts if not managed properly.

Despite these challenges, renewable energy is a crucial part of the solution to climate change. And as technology improves and costs come down, renewable energy will become increasingly important in the years ahead.

Learning Renewable Energy