Renewable energy

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is energy that is freely available and not detrimental to the environment. One form of renewable energy is solar energy. This type of energy will be available for billions of years.

There are a number of forms of renewable energy, of which bio-energy, solar energy and wind energy are among the best known. Less well-known are geothermal energy, energy from water and even human physical strength. Just think of when you are cycling in the dark and your dynamo generates light.

There are just a few frequently-used renewable energy sources that both reduce global warming and help us to become independent from fossil fuels.

Renewable energy sources

Wind Energy

Mainly wind energy from large wind turbines placed in a wind farm. Wind power generated on land is already cheaper than power generated from fossil fuels.

Passive solar heating

This refers to generating heat for buildings and homes through large south-facing glass surfaces.

Rapidly emerging renewable energy sources

Solar power

This increasingly cheaper form of renewable energy converts sunlight into electricity: solar heat uses solar collectors whereby sunlight is used to heat water.