What Is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources — such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat — which are renewable (naturally replenished).
In 2006, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, such as wood-burning. Hydroelectricity was the next largest renewable source, providing 3% of global energy consumption and 15% of global electricity generation.
HOW IS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROVIDED?
The United States currently relies heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas for its energy. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable, that is, they draw on finite resources that will eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too environmentally damaging to retrieve. In contrast, renewable energy resources such as wind and solar energy, are constantly replenished and will never run out.
SUMMIT RENEWABLE RESOURCES — Our Focus
Wind Energy
The sun's heat also drives the winds, whose energy is captured with wind turbines. Additionally, these winds and the sun's heat cause water to evaporate. When this water vapor turns into rain or snow and flows downhill into rivers or streams, its energy can be captured using hydropower.
Solar Energy
Most renewable energy comes either directly or indirectly from the sun. Sunlight, or solar energy, can be used directly for heating and lighting homes and other buildings, for generating electricity, and for hot water heating, solar cooling, and a variety of commercial and industrial uses.
Energy Storage
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Geothermal Energy
Not all renewable energy resources come from the sun. Geothermal energy taps the Earth's internal heat for a variety of uses, including electric power production, and the heating and cooling of buildings. And the energy of the ocean's tides comes from the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun upon the Earth.
Other Energy Sources
Biomass: Along with the rain and snow, sunlight causes plants to grow. The organic matter that makes up those plants is known as biomass. Biomass can be used to produce electricity, transportation fuels, or chemicals. The use of biomass for any of these purposes is called biomass energy. - Hydrogen: Hydrogen also can be found in many organic compounds, as well as water. It's the most abundant element on the Earth. But it doesn't occur naturally as a gas. It's always combined with other elements, such as with oxygen to make water. Once separated from another element, hydrogen can be burned as a fuel or converted into electricity.
Hydropower: Flowing water creates energy that can be captured and turned into electricity. This is called hydroelectric power or hydropower. - Ocean: The ocean can produce thermal energy from the sun's heat and mechanical energy from the tides and waves.
Source: National Renewable Energy laboratory (NREL) and The U.S. Department of Energy
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WHY IS RENEWABLE ENERGY IMPORTANT?
Renewable energy is significant because of these key benefits:
Environmental Benefits
Renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies.
Energy for Our Children's Children
Renewable energy will not run out. Other sources of energy are finite and will some day be depleted.
Jobs and the Economy
Most renewable energy investments are spent on materials and workmanship to build and maintain the facilities, rather than on costly energy imports.
Renewable energy investments are usually spent within the United States, frequently in the same state, and often in the same town. This means your energy dollars stay home to create jobs and fuel local economies, rather than going overseas.
Meanwhile, renewable energy technologies developed and built in the United States are being sold overseas, providing a boost to the U.S. trade deficit.
Energy Security
After the oil supply disruptions of the early 1970s, our nation has increased its dependence on foreign oil supplies instead of decreasing it. This increased dependence impacts more than just our national energy policy.
