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Renewable energy is energy that is generated from sunlight, rain, tides, geothermal heat and wind. These sources are naturally and constantly replenished, which is why they are deemed as renewable. The usage of renewable energy sources is very important when considering the sustainability of the existing energy usage of the world. While there is currently an abundance of non-renewable energy sources, such as nuclear fuels, these energy sources are depleting. In addition to being a non-renewable supply, the non-renewable energy sources release emissions into the air, which has an adverse effect on the environment.
While there are many different types of renewable energy sources, wind power and water power are two of the most popular, only surmounted by solar power. The use of wind power and water power is popular because they are actively found throughout the world and readily available for use.
Wind power is a commonly used renewable energy. Wind power produces no methane or other greenhouse gasses while in operations, which makes it a popular source of renewable power. Wind can be used to operate wind turbines, which are especially very popular in the commercial arena. The main issue with wind is that it is not constant, thus it tends to be less energy producing than solar power. In addition to consistency, wind turbine farms generally require significant space for construction and operation. Even though it is not as popular or as efficient as solar power, wind power is believed to be able to produce more than five times the amount of global energy used.
Water power is the use of energy located in water as a renewable energy source. From large oceans and rivers to a small brook or stream, significant amounts renewable energy can be collected and used from all type of moving bodies of water. Types of water energy that are being used today include hydroelectric energy, damless hydro systems, ocean energy, tidal power, wave power, and deep lake water cooling, just to name a few. As water is a part of the entire world, advancements have been made and developments continue to try to better enhance the understanding and usage of water energy.
Renewable energy is a very important topic for the future survival of the planet Earth. It is important that the world works together in order to share discoveries and research, especially regarding how to reduce the use of non-renewable resources and lowering the cost of renewable resource technology.
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