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Foundation ALTENER > Alternative Energy > Types of Renewable Energy

Types of Renewable Energy

In 2011, the renewable energy share in the global energy consumption was estimated at 19%. However, half of it was still the traditional biomass, including wood for example. The share of modern renewables was around 10% of the world’s energy consumption, and is expected to rise dynamically over the next decades.

These are some types of modern renewable energy which present an immense potential for the future:

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Sea Turtle Conservation

ALTENER helped WIDECAST to install solar panels and supply the isolated center with electricity, to enhance the quality of sea turtle conservation work (read more).

Foundation ALTENER

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Purasol donated $2,000 in support of foundation ALTENER

Solar energy
Solar energy is energy coming directly from the sun, which is converted into other forms of energy. The term solar power usually refers to photovoltaic and concentrating solar thermal technologies that can convert sun's energy into electricity. Solar panels installations are known to be a very reliable energy source with tremendous potential. An interesting fact is that in one hour the earth is hit with more solar energy than our total fossil fuel energy consumption over a whole year! The challenge of solar technologies is to be able to use bigger part of this shower of energy than we are able to do now. Solar energy does not produce waste or pollution and is ecologically friendly. Any solar panel installation demands a considerable investment at the

beginning, but once installed, it has almost zero variable cost. Similarly, the maintenance of the solar system is minimal and low-cost. One of the great pros of solar energy is the ability to harness electricity in remote locations that are not linked to a general grid. Despite its huge potential, solar energy is still a very tiny fraction on global world energy market, estimated for less than 1 % (2011). In the upcoming decades, solar energy should play a more effective role in meeting the electricity needs of the world, as scientific research works on more affordable technologies that will decrease the costs and increase the efficiency of solar energy.

Wind power
Wind power is one of the cleanest and safest methods to generate renewable electricity. It is a renewable source of energy that does not produce any pollutants or emissions which could harm the environment, other than those required for maintenance. In order to generate wind power, you need to be able to capture energy from the force of the wind. Wind energy is mostly harnessed by wind turbines, which can be as high as 20-story buildings and can have three blades up to 60 meters long. Wind turbines are used to convert the kinetic energy the wind provides by turning a generator which produces electricity. The effectiveness of wind energy

depends on well placed turbines, which are mostly found in coastal areas, open plains and gaps in mountains where the wind is reliable, strong and steady. In 2011, wind energy supplied 2.5 % of the total energy consumption in the world. Wind energy is rapidly becoming a more popular choice for many large scale renewable energy projects and construction. Larger scale wind energy developments have a well known fact of being able to provide electricity to large villages or small towns. Recently, many households also decide to have a small wind turbine attached to their homes in order to cut electricity bills.

Hydropower
Hydropower is electricity generated using the energy of moving water. Hydroelectric power provides over 3.7 % (2011) of the world's electricity and it is the cheapest and most efficient way to generate electricity today. A typical hydro plant is a system with three parts: an electric plant where the electricity is produced; a dam that can be opened or closed to control water flow; and a reservoir where water can be stored. The water behind the dam flows through an intake and pushes against blades in a turbine, causing them to turn. The turbine spins a generator to produce electricity. The amount of electricity that can be generated depends on how far the water drops and how much water moves through the system. The electricity can be

transported over long-distance electric lines to homes, factories, and businesses. However, damming rivers may destroy or disrupt wildlife and other natural resources. For example, a dam often changes the migration patterns of some fish and can hurt whole populations, or even the surrounding ecosystem. Moreover, hydropower can't be used in all areas, as it needs fast flowing water throughout the whole year.

Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is energy generated by the heat stored underneath the earth's surface. The power from beneath the earth is taken with the help of geothermal heat pumps and is utilized for three main uses: heating, electricity generation and geothermal heat pumps. At the moment it supplies less than 1 % (2011) of world's energy supply. The power generated from geothermal energy is both cost effective and environmentally friendly, and there have been significant advances in drilling and exploration technologies, which present us with an excellent opportunity to fully harness the enormous quantity of energy that is offered. Although geothermal energy is very price competitive, it can only be extracted in suitable areas,

which aren't widespread. Great sources of the earth's energy can be found in the form of volcanoes, hot springs and geysers, therefore it is a very important energy source in volcanically active places such as New Zealand, Iceland, and of course Costa Rica. One of geothermal energy's advantages is the fact that geothermal power plants run continuously, day and night, with an uptime typically exceeding 95 % and without depending on the weather like many other renewable energy technologies. What is more, geothermal power stations are relatively small, and have a smaller impact on the environment than, for instance, hydroelectric plants.




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Foundation ALTENER > Alternative Energy > Types of Renewable Energy
Types of Renewable Energy In 2011, the renewable energy share in the global energy consumption was estimated at 19%. However, half of it was still the traditional biomass, including wood for example. The share of modern renewables was around 10% of the world’s energy consumption, and is expected to rise dynamically over the next decades. These are some types of modern renewable energy which present an immense potential for the future:		Current Projects PAST PROJECTS WIDECAST Sea Turtle Conservation ALTENER helped WIDECAST to install solar panels and supply the isolated center with electricity, to enhance the quality of sea turtle conservation work (read more). Foundation ALTENER LATEST CONTRIBUTIONS Purasol donated $2,000 in support of foundation ALTENER
	Solar energy Solar energy is energy coming directly from the sun, which is converted into other forms of energy. The term solar power usually refers to photovoltaic and concentrating solar thermal technologies that can convert sun's energy into electricity. Solar panels installations are known to be a very reliable energy source with tremendous potential. An interesting fact is that in one hour the earth is hit with more solar energy than our total fossil fuel energy consumption over a whole year! The challenge of solar technologies is to be able to use bigger part of this shower of energy than we are able to do now. Solar energy does not produce waste or pollution and is ecologically friendly. Any solar panel installation demands a considerable investment at the
beginning, but once installed, it has almost zero variable cost. Similarly, the maintenance of the solar system is minimal and low-cost. One of the great pros of solar energy is the ability to harness electricity in remote locations that are not linked to a general grid. Despite its huge potential, solar energy is still a very tiny fraction on global world energy market, estimated for less than 1 % (2011). In the upcoming decades, solar energy should play a more effective role in meeting the electricity needs of the world, as scientific research works on more affordable technologies that will decrease the costs and increase the efficiency of solar energy.
	*Wind power* Wind power is one of the cleanest and safest methods to generate renewable electricity. It is a renewable source of energy that does not produce any pollutants or emissions which could harm the environment, other than those required for maintenance. In order to generate wind power, you need to be able to capture energy from the force of the wind. Wind energy is mostly harnessed by wind turbines, which can be as high as 20-story buildings and can have three blades up to 60 meters long. Wind turbines are used to convert the kinetic energy the wind provides by turning a generator which produces electricity. The effectiveness of wind energy
depends on well placed turbines, which are mostly found in coastal areas, open plains and gaps in mountains where the wind is reliable, strong and steady. In 2011, wind energy supplied 2.5 % of the total energy consumption in the world. Wind energy is rapidly becoming a more popular choice for many large scale renewable energy projects and construction. Larger scale wind energy developments have a well known fact of being able to provide electricity to large villages or small towns. Recently, many households also decide to have a small wind turbine attached to their homes in order to cut electricity bills.
	Hydropower Hydropower is electricity generated using the energy of moving water. Hydroelectric power provides over 3.7 % (2011) of the world's electricity and it is the cheapest and most efficient way to generate electricity today. A typical hydro plant is a system with three parts: an electric plant where the electricity is produced; a dam that can be opened or closed to control water flow; and a reservoir where water can be stored. The water behind the dam flows through an intake and pushes against blades in a turbine, causing them to turn. The turbine spins a generator to produce electricity. The amount of electricity that can be generated depends on how far the water drops and how much water moves through the system. The electricity can be
transported over long-distance electric lines to homes, factories, and businesses. However, damming rivers may destroy or disrupt wildlife and other natural resources. For example, a dam often changes the migration patterns of some fish and can hurt whole populations, or even the surrounding ecosystem. Moreover, hydropower can't be used in all areas, as it needs fast flowing water throughout the whole year.
	Geothermal energy Geothermal energy is energy generated by the heat stored underneath the earth's surface. The power from beneath the earth is taken with the help of geothermal heat pumps and is utilized for three main uses: heating, electricity generation and geothermal heat pumps. At the moment it supplies less than 1 % (2011) of world's energy supply. The power generated from geothermal energy is both cost effective and environmentally friendly, and there have been significant advances in drilling and exploration technologies, which present us with an excellent opportunity to fully harness the enormous quantity of energy that is offered. Although geothermal energy is very price competitive, it can only be extracted in suitable areas,
which aren't widespread. Great sources of the earth's energy can be found in the form of volcanoes, hot springs and geysers, therefore it is a very important energy source in volcanically active places such as New Zealand, Iceland, and of course Costa Rica. One of geothermal energy's advantages is the fact that geothermal power plants run continuously, day and night, with an uptime typically exceeding 95 % and without depending on the weather like many other renewable energy technologies. What is more, geothermal power stations are relatively small, and have a smaller impact on the environment than, for instance, hydroelectric plants.