Renewable energy
Renewable energy includes a wide range of naturally occurring, replenishable energy sources.
Most renewable energy sources are derived directly or indirectly from solar radiation, including the direct use of solar energy for heating (solar thermal) or electricity generation (photovoltaics); and indirectly from the wind, waves and running water (hydroelectric power), and from plants and animals (biomass such as wood, plant wastes, dung and biodiesel). Tidal energy results from the gravitational pull of the moon and sun, and geothermal energy comes from the heat generated within the earth.
Why renewable energy?
- finite extent of fossil fuel resources
- rising populations
- the wish for higher standards of living
- the desire to increase employment
- the need to diversify the rural economy
- to provide safe, secure and sustainable energy supplies
- to limit the environmental implications of the increasing demand for energy
Solar radiation powers most renewable energy sources
Further renewable energy pages on this site
Please use the links on the left or click below:
Prospects for renewable energy technologies worldwide
Available now: small hydroelectric, energy from waste (via collection of landfill gas), onshore and offshore wind power, active and passive solar thermal for heat, stand alone photovoltaics (PV), biomass residues and high temperature geothermal in volcanically active areas.
The technologies that will become commercial over the next 10 to 15 years are: large scale PV, energy crops (such as short rotation coppice or miscanthus, hydrogen fuel cells and low temperature geothermal aquifers.
Those that may become commercial within 25 years are: onshore and offshore wave, photoconversion (conversion of sunlight to electrical power, heat or chemical fuel other than by photovoltaics), solar thermal electricity.
The Action 21 Energy Group actively promotes the use of all forms renewable energy and is developing various renewable energy projects. See 'Projects' and 'Archive' for details.