10 Types of Renewable Energy Sources | Benefits & Facts

What is meant by renewable energy source ?

10 types of renewable energy sources is energy that is collected from renewable resources, which are naturally replenished on a human timescales, such as sunlight, wind, rain, footsteps, cooling, tides, waves and geothermal heat. renewable energy often provides energy in four important areas. electricity generation, air and water heating/cooling, transportation and rural energy services.

Types of Renewable Energy

  • Solar Energy
  • Wind Energy
  • Wave Energy
  • Piezoelectric Energy
  • Cooling Energy
  • Hydro Energy
  • Geothermal Energy
  • Tidal Energy
  • Biomass Energy
  • Hydrogen Energy

Name the Energy Source Available.

  • Primary energy
  • Secondary energy
  • Supplementary energy

1.Solar Energy

Solar energy is derived by capturing radiant energy from sunlight and converting it into heat, electricity, or hot water.  Solar Energy ranks first among 10 types of renewable energy sources. Photovoltaic (PV) systems can convert direct sunlight into electricity through the use of solar cells. Modern residential solar power systems use photovoltaic (PV) to collect the sun’s energy. “Photo” means “produced by light,” and “voltaic” is “electricity produced by a chemical reaction.” PV cells use solar energy to generate a chemical reaction that produces electricity.

Each cell contains a semiconductor; most commonly silicon in one of several forms (single-crystalline, multi-crystalline, or thin-layer), with impurities (either boron or phosphorus) diffused throughout, and is covered with a silk screen. Cells are joined together by a circuit and frame into a module. Semiconductors allow the electrons freed from impurities by the sun’s rays to move rapidly and into the circuit, generating electricity.

Commercial residential PV modules range in power output from 10 watts to 300 watts, in a direct current. A PV module must have an inverter to change the DC electricity into alternating current energy in order to be usable by electrical devices and compatible with the electric grid. PV modules can also be used in masses to create large-scale power plants.

Solar panel , 10 Types of Renewable Energy Sources
Solar panel

Benefits

One of the benefits of solar energy is that sunlight is functionally endless. With the technology to harvest it, there is a limitless supply of solar energy, meaning it could render fossil fuels obsolete. Relying on solar energy rather than fossil fuels also helps us improve public health and environmental conditions. In the long term, solar energy could also eliminate energy costs, and in the short term, reduce your energy bills. Many federal local, state, and federal governments also provide incentives over the investment in solar energy.

2.Wind Energy

Wind Energy ranks second among 10 types of renewable energy sources. Wind farms capture the energy of wind flow by using turbines and converting it into electricity. There are several forms of systems used to convert wind energy and each vary. Commercial grade wind-powered generating systems can power many different organizations, while single-wind turbines are used to help supplement pre-existing energy organizations. Another form is utility-scale wind farms, which are purchased by contract or wholesale. Technically, wind energy is a form of solar energy.

The phenomenon we call “wind” is caused by the differences in temperature in the atmosphere combined with the rotation of Earth and the geography of the planet. Wind energy is one of the most promising alternative energy technologies of the future. Throughout recent years, the amount of energy produced by wind-driven turbines has increased exponentially due to significant breakthroughs in turbine technologies, making wind power economically compatible with conventional sources of energy. Wind energy is a clean and renewable source of power.

What are the types of wind mills?

  • Multi blade type
  • Sail blade type
  • Propeller type
  • Darrieus  Type
10 Types of Renewable Energy Sources
Wind Energy

Benefits

Wind energy is a clean energy source, which means that it doesn’t pollute the air like other forms of energy. Wind energy doesn’t produce carbon dioxide, or release any harmful products that can cause environmental degradation or negatively affect human health like smog, acid rain, or other heat-trapping gases. Investment in wind energy technology can also open up new avenues for jobs and job training, as the turbines on farms need to be serviced and maintained to keep running.

3.Wave Energy

Wave energy also known as ocean wave energy, is another type of ocean based renewable energy source that uses the power of the waves to generate electricity. Wave Energy ranks third among 10 types of renewable energy sources. Unlike tidal energy which uses the ebb and flow of the tides, wave energy uses the vertical movement of the surface water that produce tidal waves. Wave power converts the periodic up-and-down movement of the oceans waves into electricity by placing equipment on the surface of the oceans that captures the energy produced by the wave movement and converts this mechanical energy into electrical power. Wave energy is actually a concentrated form of solar power generated by the action of the wind blowing across the surface of the oceans water which can then be used as a renewable source of energy.

As the sun rays strike the Earth’s atmosphere, they warm it up. Differences in the temperature of the air masses around the globe causes the air to move from the hotter regions to the cooler regions, resulting in winds. As the wind passes over the surface of the oceans, a portion of the winds kinetic energy is transferred to the water below, generating waves. In fact, the ocean could be viewed as a vast storage collector of energy transferred by the sun to the oceans, with the waves carrying the transferred kinetic energy across the surface of the oceans. Then we can say that waves are actually a form of energy and it is this energy and not water that moves along the ocean’s surface.

10 Types of Renewable Energy Sources
Wave Energy

Benefits

Reduces dependency on fossil fuels as wave energy consumes no fossil fuels during operation. Wave energy is relatively consistent and predictable as waves can be accurately forecast several days in advance. Wave energy devices are modular and easily sited with additional wave energy devices added as needed. Dissipates the waves energy protecting the shoreline from coastal erosion. Presents no barriers or difficulty to migrating fish and aquatic animals.

4.Piezoelectric Energy

Renewable energy sources are great for the environment and people. They provide clean and indestructible energy. Some renewable energy sources are also unexpectedly cool and original. Today, we are talking about the process of generating electricity from the ground up. piezoelectric Energy ranks fourth among 10 types of renewable energy sources. This type of kinetic energy is powered by pagan tiles. Off-grid electricity can be generated up to 7W for every step taken on the Power tile. How common are they? They have already been implemented about 200 times in 36 locations around the world. So, at some point in your life you may have walked on these magical tiles and you are unlikely to know it.

Special tiles are used to transform roads more intelligently using the energy generated by footpaths by collecting street lights, displays, speakers and alarms and sensitive traffic data. They also save the energy they produce during the day for use at night. Have we aroused your interest yet? Want to know the science, engineering and technology behind how these Bowen tiles work? Do you want to see how they work when they amplify and release energy? In this video, we will answer these questions and more and bring you the footage of the tiles.

10 Types of Renewable Energy Sources
Piezoelectric Energy

Benefits

Piezoelectric energy is a clean energy source, which means that it doesn’t pollute the air like other forms of energy. Piezoelectric energy doesn’t produce carbon dioxide, or release any harmful products that can cause environmental degradation or negatively affect human health like smog, acid rain, or other heat-trapping gases. Investment in piezoelectric  energy technology can also open up new avenues for jobs and job training, as the footsteps on farms need to be serviced and maintained to keep running.

5.Cooling Energy

More and more students are trying to figure out how we can convert heat into electricity using cooling solar panels as well as trying to convert cool energy into electricity. It is a uniquely produced energy in the range of 10 types of renewable energy sources. Germany and Greenland and Antarctica have discovered this while researching whether we can convert electricity into electrical energy using the luminosity of this work that causes heavy snowfall. Although this cooling panel has not yet been implemented, its benefits are many. This can be produced when there is too much rain. The advantage of this is that research has shown that we can get electricity even at night and work is still going on. Cooling Energy ranks fifth among 10 types of renewable energy sources .

10 Types of Renewable Energy Sources
cooling solar panel

Benefits

One of the benefits of solar energy is that cooling is functionally endless. With the technology to harvest it, there is a limitless supply of solar energy, meaning it could render fossil fuels obsolete. Relying on solar energy rather than fossil fuels also helps us improve public health and environmental conditions. In the long term, solar energy could also eliminate energy costs, and in the short term, reduce your energy bills. Many federal local, state, and federal governments also provide incentives over the investment in cooling energy.

6.Hydro Energy

Hydro energy is a form of renewable energy that uses the power of moving water to generate electricity. Water flows through the dam’s turbines to produce electricity, known as pumped-storage hydropower. Run-of-river hydropower uses a channel to funnel water through rather than powering it through a dam. Harvesting energy from water is possible due to the gravitational potential energy stored in water. hydro Energy ranks sixth among 10 types of renewable energy sources.

As water flows from a high potential energy (high ground) to lower potential energy (lower ground), the potential energy difference thereby created can be partially converted into kinetic, and in this case electric, energy through the use of a generator. There are essentially two major designs in use that utilize water to produce electricity : The hydroelectric dam, and the pumped- storage plant. The waterwheel and the dam work on the same general principle. The principle is “the force of the water being released from the reservoir through the penstock of the dam spins the blades of a turbine. The turbine is connected to the generator that produces electricity”

 

10 Types of Renewable Energy Sources
hydro energy dam

Benefits

Hydroelectric power is very versatile and can be generated using both large scale projects, like the Hoover dam, and small scale projects like underwater turbines and lower dams on small rivers and streams. Hydroelectric power does not generate pollution, and therefore is a much more environmentally-friendly energy option for our
environment.

7.Geothermal Energy

Geothermal heat is heat that is trapped beneath the earth’s crust from the formation of the Earth 4.5 billion years ago and from radioactive decay. Sometimes large amounts of this heat escapes naturally, but all at once, resulting in familiar occurrences, such as volcanic eruptions and geysers. This heat can be captured and used to produce
geothermal energy by using steam that comes from the heated water pumping below the surface, which then rises to the top and can be used to operate a turbine.

Geothermal energy is one of the only renewable energy sources not dependent on the Sun. Instead, it relies on heat produced under the surface of the Earth. Geothermal power plants take on several types of forms, depending on the type of geothermal area from which they extract energy. In any case, the plants depend on steam to power turbines and generate electricity, though the methods of producing steam varies depending on the type of geothermal reservoir.

10 Types of Renewable Energy Sources
Volcano Eruption

Benefits

Geothermal energy is not as common as other types of renewable energy sources, but it has a significant potential for energy supply. since it can be built underground, it leaves very little footprint on land. geothermal energy is naturally replenished and therefore does not run a risk of depleting.

8.Tidal Energy

The ocean can produce two types of energy : Thermal and mechanical. Ocean thermal energy relies on warm water surface temperatures to generate energy through a variety of different systems. Ocean mechanical energy uses the ebbs and flows of the tides to generate energy, which is created by the earth’s rotation and gravity from the moon. Tidal power or tidal energy is a form of hydropower that converts the energy obtained from
tides into useful forms of power, mainly electricity. Tidal Energy ranks eight among 10 types of renewable energy sources .

10 Types of Renewable Energy Sources
Tidal energy illustration , 3D illustration

Benefits

Unlike other forms of renewable energy, wave energy is predictable and it’s easy to estimate the amount of energy that will be produced. Instead of relying on varying factors, such as sun and wind, wave energy is much more consistent. This type of renewable energy is also abundant, the most populated cities tend to be near oceans and harbors, making it easier to harness this energy for the local population. The potential of wave energy is an astounding (surprising, amazing) as yet untapped energy resource with an estimated ability to produce 2640 TWh/yr. Just 1 TWh/yr of energy can power around 93,850 average U.S. homes with power annually, or about twice than the number of homes that currently exist in the U.S. at present.

9.Biomass energy

Bioenergy is a renewable energy derived from biomass. Biomass is organic matter that comes from recently living plants and organisms. Using wood in your fireplace is an example of biomass that most people are familiar with. There are various methods used to generate energy through the use of biomass. This can be done by burning biomass, or harnessing methane gas which is produced by the natural decomposition of organic materials in ponds or even landfills. Digestion is the naturally occurring process of bacteria feeding on decaying matter and
making it decompose. It is that which releases gases like methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, etc.

In many landfills, owners are experimenting with set-ups to best collect the gases produced by such bacteria. The standard system includes pipelines running through the waste to collect the gases. Animal feed lots and other facilities are also exploring tapping such resources. A zoo in upstate New York is using their elephant manure to do the same thing. Benefits of this process include the relative lack of impurities in the gases produced and the fact that the synthesis gases (carbon monoxide and hydrogen) can be converted to any kind of hydrocarbon fuel.

10 Types of Renewable Energy Sources
biomass energy

What are the application of biomass ?

  • Cooking
  • Lightning
  • Mechanical Power
  • Generation of small electricity

Benefits

The use of biomass in energy production creates carbon dioxide that is put into the air, but the regeneration of plants consumes the same amount of carbon dioxide, which is said to create a balanced atmosphere. Biomass can be used in a number of different ways in our daily lives, not only for personal use, but businesses as well. In 2017, energy from biomass made up about 5 % of the total energy used in the U.S. This energy came from wood, biofuels like ethanol, and energy generated from methane captured from landfills or by burning municipal waste.

10.Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Hydrogen reacts with oxygen throughout the cell, such as electricity, water and batteries to generate small amounts of heat. Different types of fuel cells are available for a wide range of applications. hydrogen Energy ranks tenth among 10 types of renewable energy sources.

10 Types of Renewable Energy Sources
Hydrogen fuel car charging station white color visual concept design. 3d Illustration

Benefits

The electricity we produce with hydrogen and oxygen does not cause any harm to the environment. Carbon dioxide from this road reaction does not pollute the environment in any way. It is produced only using oxygen in the air so no one is harmed. This option ranks 10th in the Renewable Energy Rank

 

What are the advantages of renewable energy source?

  • Renewable energy source are available in nature free of cost.
  •  They are inexhaustible.
  • They have a low gestation period.

What are the disadvantages of renewable energy source?

  • Installation cost high
  • Maintenance cost high