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A renewable source of energy can be used again and again
A renewable energy source is an energy that can’t run out, like the sun. This type of energy is called “renewable.” The term ” alternative energy ” usually refers to renewable energy sources. When you attend the time “alternative energy,” it usually suggests renewable energy sources. It refers to sources of energy that are not as bad for the environment as coal.
Zero-carbon or low-carbon energy is energy that doesn’t have any carbon
Nuclear power isn’t renewable, but it’s zero-carbon, which means it doesn’t produce a lot of CO2 when it’s made. This is similar to how renewable energy sources have little or no CO2. Nuclear energy comes from a stable basis, which means it doesn’t depend on the weather and will play a significant role in getting Britain to the net-zero point. Every one of our tariffs is backed by electricity that isn’t made up of carbon dioxide. If you select to switch to us, you can help us reach the net-zero goal right away.
Renewable energy sources that are most popular now are:
- Hydro energy
- Tidal power:
- Solar energy
- Biomass energy
- Geothermal energy
- Wind energy
How these types of renewable energy are made and used
Hydro energy
Hydropower is one of the most commercially used renewable energy sources. When you build a dam or barrier, a lot of water can be used to make a steady flow of water that can power a turbine, which will produce electricity. Energy from tidal or river power can be more reliable than solar or wind power, especially if it’s tidal and not river-based. It can also be stored for use when there is a lot of demand. Depending on the type of property and other energy sources, hydro can be more viable as a commercial energy source in some cases. Hydro can also be used for domestic, “off-grid” generation, depending on the property type. Please find out more about hydropower by going to our page.
Tidal energy
One more type of hydro energy is used to make turbine generators run by water movement two times a day. Even though the tidal flow isn’t always the same, it is very predictable and can make up for low tide. Please find out more about marine energy by going to our page.
Solar energy
Sunlight is one of our planet’s most abundant and accessible energy sources. When the sun glows on the earth’s exterior for one hour, it sends more energy to the surface than the planet needs for the whole year. Even though it sounds like a great source of renewable energy, the amount of solar energy we can use varies based on the time of day, the season of the year, and where we live. In the UK, solar energy is becoming more and more popular to get extra energy. You can find out if solar power is right for you by reading our guide to solar power.
Biomass Energy
Solid fuel made from plants is turned into electricity in this process. On the other hand, biomass is when organic materials are burned to produce electricity. These days, this process is much cleaner and more energy-efficient than it used to be. Biomass generates power at a much lower cost for the economy and the environment because it turns waste from farming, industry, and home use into solid, liquid, and gas fuel.
Wind energy
It’s straightforward to get wind power, and it’s very cheap. There are more wind farms in the UK because wind power makes a more extensive and significant contribution to the National Grid. Wind turbines drive generators that feed electricity into the National Grid. Domestic or “off-grid” power systems are available, but not every home can use a wind turbine. On our wind power page, you can learn more about wind power.
Geothermal energy
It can heat homes directly or make electricity by taking advantage of the heat from the earth’s surface. Geothermal energy isn’t as crucial in the UK as in Iceland, where geothermal heat is much easier to get. Even though it’s right under our feet, geothermal energy isn’t vital in the UK.
What isn’t a renewable energy source?
They’re not an energy source that can be used repeatedly because fossil fuels are not infinite. They also put carbon dioxide into the air, making it worse for climate change and global warming. Burning wood instead of coal is a little better, but it’s a lot of work. On the other hand, wood is a renewable resource if it comes from properly cared for trees.
People who make wood pellets and compressed briquettes might say it’s a way to reuse waste from the wood processing business. Compressed biomass fuels also give off more energy than logs. Burning wood, whether raw lumber or wood that has been processed, sends particles into the air.
The future of renewable energy
As the world’s population grows, so does the demand for electricity to run our homes and businesses as well as our communities. It’s essential to find new ways to get energy from renewable sources and keep our planet warming up. Renewable energy sources create up 26% of the world’s electricity today, but the International Energy Agency (IEA) says that by 2024, that number will be 30%.
The head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said that this is a significant time for renewable energy. In 2020, the UK set a new record for renewable energy. This is the first moment the nation has run entirely on renewable energy for two months. There has been a big step in the right direction for renewable energy with this.
