What Is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy is, well... renewable.

What Is Renewable Energy? Sustainable energy sources can be diverted for our use without endangering their ability to produce more energy, like solar and this surprising type of renewable energy.

Renewable, abundant and sustainable energy sources.

what is renewable energy

Renewable energy sources are judged by their ability to regenerate themselves faster than they can be used.

The sun, for example, produces a type of renewable energy. Solar power is so abundant that every daylight hour thousands of times more energy than we can use is spilled upon the earth. It's limitless source is the sun and there is no foreseeable end to the availability of the solar energy it can produce.

The same can be said of wind and wave power. Like an investment account where we use the interest but never touch the principal, we can use the resources they produce without drying up the source.

Resources like coal or oil or silver (most mined resources) exist in finite amounts. They develop so slowly that once they're gone there simply won't be any more. These resources are NOT renewable and without the ability to regenerate themselves, will be used to depletion. When we consume these resources we're spending the principal.

Responsible industries and governments understand that continuing to use resources to their completion is counterproductive and many now actively support the switch to renewable energies and other resources.

It is evident that we can not build a sustainable future using non-sustainable resources.

What is Renewable Energy?

To answer the question "what is renewable energy" here is a list of 5 renewable resources that can rapidly regenerate themselves:

Solar
No matter how much of the sun's power we utilize we'll never use it all. Check out our list of top 10 advantages of solar power .
Wind
The wind can be used to turn giant generators that in turn produce power. Drawbacks are that it's only useful in windy areas and the turbines have caused harm and even death to some birds. Possibly some sound or other warning device could prevent this in the future.
Geothermal
Geothermal energy is derived from the heat under earth's crust. The heat produces steam which can be used to turn turbines which then provide power. Deep fissures (cracks) occur naturally in places such as Iceland and the heat that results is used to heat homes and buildings. In cases where there is no natural access holes are drilled into the earth to access the heat and water is added to produce steam.
Earth Energy - In some cases large trenches are excavated and pipe is situated inside then buried or pipe is coiled in the botton of a lake where the earth's temperature is more constant. Fluid circulated through the pipe absorbs the heat (in winter) and cool (in summer) and helps regulate the temperature of a home.
Hydropower
Hydro is one of our other sources of renewable energy. Rapidly moving water is directed through turbines. The force of the rushing water turns the turbines producing power. Although this has little effect on air quality it can harm aquatic wildlife and land based wildlife. Also water quality in the immediate area can be negatively affected.
Gravity
Our surprise renewable energy is gravity. Often overlooked, gravity is a constantly renewable resource that can be used to water livestock, crops and humanity in an emergency. That's why water towers were elevated. In the event of a complete power loss gravity would provide sufficient energy to distribute the water.
Biomass
Using biomass (organic waste such as wood chips and other waste products from forestry and agricultural industries) has some definite advantages. The technology even exists to convert garbage into fuel.

There are several types of energy that are considered renewable. Some (like sunshine), renew themselves very rapidly and others (like a tree), more slowly. In order to be considered for our "what is renewable energy" page it must be able to regenerate itself completely once it's been used.

* Please note * that although biofuels can be a very positive addition to our list of renewable energies when waste products are used, the editor of this website is NOT supportive of using food sources such as corn to produce biofuels nor of using valuable farmland to grow fuel rather than food.

Farmland is a NON renewable resource and those of us at Solar Power at Home believe that diverting it's use from producing food to producing fuels is irresponsible stewardship. Our energy issues can be remedied without trading one problem for another. When it comes to the bottom line - Food Trumps Fuel.

When you ask yourself, what is renewable energy? consider each source and whether it will be able to sustain itself as demand grows. Will the energy you use today be replaced tomorrow?