Posted by admin | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 08-11-2011
There are currently five different renewable energy sources used within the United States. Each is listed below with a brief description of them.
Hydro-power – Hydro-power is the use of turbines to harness the movement of water to generate electricity. Harnessed through the use of dams, the best example of Hydro-power is the Hover Dam.
Wind Power – Harnessing the wind as a source of renewable energy requires the use of windmills or huge wind turbines. This renewable energy source has been used for hundreds of years to pump water or grind grains in the mills.
Solar Power – While this renewable energy takes a bit more technology to harness than the previous two listed, the significant potential to harness the energy of the sun is not one that should be overlooked. The use of solar power is expected to drastically increase with the development of more efficient and affordable solar technologies.
Geothermal Power – This is a less commonly known source for renewable energy. Geothermal power harnesses the natural heat trapped within the earth to produce energy. These power plants use the hot water and steam found within the reservoirs underground to directly drive a turbine and create its electricity.
Biomass Power – Biomass power is gathered from the energy in plants and material created from plants. Good examples are food crops, woody plants, residues from agriculture and forestry as well as organic wastes from municipal and industrial wastes. A more direct example is burning “black liquor” which is a waste product from creating paper, paperboard products and pulp.You thought this was good? Brace yourself: Enel Green Power Wind Farm Enters Operation in Portugal