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What is renewable energy?

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What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy is a source of energy that can never be exhausted.

Where can we obtain renewable energy?
Renewable energy can come from the sun (solar energy), from water (hydropower), from wind (wind turbines), from hot, dry rocks, magma, and hot water springs (geothermal), and from firewood, animal manure, crop residues and waste (biomass).

What is solar energy?
When the sun shines on “solar cells,” they absorb its energy causing a chemical reaction that generates electricity. The electricity generated by these solar cells can be used at homes and factories or it can be stored in a battery. This stored energy then can be used at night.

What is hydropower?
Hydropower is energy from water sources such as the ocean, rivers and waterfalls. Because the source of hydropower is water, hydroelectric power plants must be located on a water source. Electricity is produced by directing or channeling moving water to power electric generators. The flow or fall of the moving water determines the amount of energy available. There is a new technology on the horizon called Microhydro. It uses smaller water flows such as water flowing out of abandoned mines to run small generators. These small generators can then power equipment on remote sites to help treat the pollution in the abandoned mine water flow.

What are wind turbines?
Wind turbines can convert wind into energy. It consists of a nacelle, rotor, tower, foundation and transformer. The wind turns the rotor of the wind turbine. The rotor turns a generator (a dynamo), which makes electricity

What is geothermal energy?
The Earth’s heat is called geothermal energy. A well is drilled into a geothermal reservoir to provide a steady stream of hot water. The water is brought up through the well, and a mechanical system delivers the heat directly for its intended use. Geothermal hot water can be used for many applications that require heat. Its current uses include heating, raising plants in greenhouses, drying crops, heating water at fish farms, and several industrial processes, such as pasteurizing milk.

What is biomass?
Biomass is a renewable energy source from wood, manure, garbage and agricultural waste. Biomass has been used for hundreds of years to produce heat. People have used wood – a form of biomass – to heat their homes for centuries. Now, with new technology available, biomass can be used to generate electricity and cleaner fuels. When biomass is burned, energy is released as heat that can be transformed into electricity or fuel.