Renewable Energy Resources

Who Has Seen The Wind?

From dealing with a changing climate to attempting to reduce dependence on foreign sources of energy, renewable energy promoters can be found around the world.

For definition purposes, renewable energy commonly gets compared to fossil fuel sources of energy. While fossil fuels are a one and done source of fuel, renewable energy sources can be used over and over again.

Five energy sources fit into the renewable category:

• Biomass
• Water (hydropower)
• Geothermal
• Solar
• Wind

Most renewable energy technologies are designed to help generate electricity.

In some instances they are used to generate heat or used as fuel in the transportation industry. Solar-powered vehicles and biomass used as vehicle fuels are two of the better known examples. For additional information, see generally Green Transportation.

Providing general descriptions for all five categories of renewable can be relatively easy. Howeve, the science and technology underlying each of the categories often makes for some complexity.

Solar power can easily be understood as energy from the sun. The complexity comes in understanding how scientists go about gathering that energy.

Large scale solar power plants, for example, can be designed using solar thermal technologies or Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies.

The links in the box on the right point to articles that cover news and provide additional resources about general renewable energy and energy efficiency issues.

Additionally, a variety of solar and wind energy projects and issues receive attention.

The articles are arranged by topic, from general introductory material to more specific solar and wind topics.

© 2001-2011 Patricia A. Michaels.