Main Forms Of Green Energy
There are many different sources of renewable energy. All renewable energy comes from natural sources such as geothermal heat, tides, rain, wind, and sunlight. Currently only about 20% of all the energy used in the world is from renewable sources. Renewable energy is used on both large scale and small scale energy production and in many rural areas renewable energy is considered very important for energy production.
The largest percentage of renewable energy originates form the sun. Wind power is actually due to the sun because the heating and cooling of the atmosphere is responsible for the wind. The energy that is in the wind can be harnessed via wind turbines. The wind pushes the turbine and this then turns an auger which can run a generator. Wind power does not produce any carbon dioxide or methane and is the cleanest type of energy.
There are several various ways in which water power can be used. The most common form is through a dam where an electricity station will convert the energy released when the water runs form a high point to a low point. This energy can also be harnessed through flowing rivers. The energy in tides has also been converted into power as have the thermal differences in the oceans.
Solar energy is collected sunlight and this can be collected in several different ways. Solar energy can be created from photovoltaic solar cells, heating trapped air within a solar updraft tower, creating hydrogen from sunlight, heating air or water using sunlight form solar thermal panels.
Biofuel is another type of renewable energy that is created from plants. Common types of biofuel are ethanol, biodiesel and bagasse. When biofuel is burned it releases chemical energy which can be used to run things such as cars and other machinery. Biofuels create less gases than gasoline as they are up to 40% cleaner and no carbon dioxide is released.