Renewable energy: what it is, sources and types

Find out now everything about what it is renewable energy, See the sources of this type of energy and what types are available today!

Did you know that by 2050, more than two-thirds of the world's energy will come from renewable sources?

Climate change and the search for sustainability make understanding these sources essential.

Renewable energy is more than a concept; it is a reality in many cities.

In 2022, 83% of new electricity capacity came from inexhaustible sources of energy. This was revealed by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

In this article, we’ll talk about renewable energy. Let’s see what its main sources and types are. And how they help make the future greener.

Since the great hydroelectric plants from Brazil to new solar and wind energy technologies, you will understand the importance of this energy for sustainability global.

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Main Points

• Understand the concept of renewable energy and its ecological importance.
• Discover the main renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and hydro.
• Discover how biomass energy and geothermal energy complement the energy matrix.
• We will explore real cases of cities that already depend largely on clean energy.
• Appreciate the growing demand for professionals in the sector sustainability.

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy comes from natural resources that renew themselves. These include the sun, wind and water.

It is essential for the energy transition and helps create a green economy.

There are many sources of renewable energy. solar energy is one of them.

It can be used in two ways: photovoltaic and thermal. Photovoltaic converts sunlight into electricity, and thermal is used to heat water and environments.

THE wind energy uses wind to generate electricity without polluting.

However, it faces energy storage challenges.

In Brazil, hydroelectric power is very important. It uses the movement of river water to generate electricity.

Biomass is another renewable source. It is made from non-fossil organic matter and can be burned to generate energy.

Geothermal uses the Earth's heat to produce electricity, but it has an environmental impact and high costs.

Finally, wave and tidal power uses the movement of seawater to generate electricity.

This is an important innovation for a more sustainable future.

Use these sources green energy helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

This makes the green economy be stronger and more ecological. In short, investing in renewable energy makes the planet healthier and improves the lives of future generations.

Main sources of renewable energy

The main sources of renewable energy are solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy and marine energy.

Each of these sources generates energy sustainably, with a smaller impact on the environment.

They are inexhaustible renewable energy, as they regenerate and can be used endlessly, improving the global energy matrix.

In 2017, 18% of US energy came from clean energy sources, such as wind power.

In Brazil, the use of wind energy is growing, thanks to the great potential of the Northeast region.

Solar energy is very promising. It is clean, inexhaustible and abundant in countries close to the tropics.

For example, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay and the Bahamas use it heavily. photovoltaic energy.

Hydropower is clean and cheap, but it can have environmental impacts.

In Brazil, it is crucial for generating electricity, using river water.

Biomass energy, which includes biofuels, has less impact than traditional sources. But it must be used responsibly to avoid damaging the environment.

Finally, we have ocean energy and geothermal energy.

Ocean energy is clean, but still under technological development.

Geothermal energy, which comes from the Earth's heat, is most promising in areas with volcanic activity. Both are inexhaustible renewable energy.

Renewable energy: Solar energy

THE solar energy is a promising and sustainable form of energy.

She captures the solar radiation and converts it into electricity. This happens through photovoltaic energy.

It can also be used to heat water and other materials, thanks to solar thermal energy.

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In Brazil, there are about 30 thousand generators photovoltaic energy in operation.

In 2018, the country had around 2.5 gigawatts of installed capacity.

Prices have dropped and financing has become easier, which has led to an increase in the number of installations.

More than 500,000 homes in Brazil use solar collectors. This technology became popular in the 1970s.

Social programs helped a lot with this.

THE solar thermal energy It is also used for electricity and heat storage, but solar photovoltaic plants are more common and cheaper.

China accounted for 40% of the world's solar capacity in 2016.

In the United States, the solar energy is about 10% of electricity produced.

In Italy, this number is 7.8%. This data shows the great impact of solar energy capture globally.

Wind energy

THE wind energy, or wind power, is an important form of clean electricity generation.

She uses weather vanes, or wind turbines, to transform wind into electricity. This is done without polluting the air.

In Brazil, wind energy already accounts for 8.6% of total electricity. The Northeast is the largest producer, with 85.6% of the country's wind energy in 2020.

States such as Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará are leaders in this sector.

In comparison, wind power capacity in Brazil has grown a lot. Today, it is three times larger than before.

In the world, China is the largest producer, followed by the USA and Germany. Brazil is in seventh place, along with India, France, Spain and the United Kingdom.

To the wind farms can be installed on land or at sea. This helps different places make better use of the wind.

In addition, the use of hybrid systems, which combine wind and solar, is growing. This makes electricity more stable and reliable.

Wind energy is seen as a clean and long-lasting source.

But it faces challenges such as noise pollution and wind fluctuations.

However, the benefits for the environment and the reduction of fossil fuels are great. This helps to diversify energy in a healthy way.

With lower costs and greater public acceptance, the future of wind turbines looks promising.

They are essential for a more sustainable planet.

Renewable energy: Hydropower

Hydropower, or hydroelectric power, uses the movement of water to generate electricity.

It represents 16% of the world's energy, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

In Brazil, this percentage is even higher, reaching 67% of the electricity generated, according to the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel).

Worldwide, there are more than 60 thousand hydroelectric plants in operation. In Brazil, Itaipu, Belo Monte and Tucuruí are some of the largest.

The South and Southeast regions have the largest number of plants due to their relief.

Furthermore, 70% of Brazil's unused hydroelectric potential is in the Amazon and Tocantins-Araguaia river basins, says the Energy Research Company (EPE).

With a total potential of 172 GW, Brazil leads the hydraulic generation worldwide.

Global hydropower capacity is expected to grow by 17% by 2030. China, India, Türkiye and Ethiopia are leading this growth.

However, almost half of the potential hydroelectric power world has not yet been explored.

But the construction of hydroelectric plants brings environmental impacts.

This includes the displacement of populations and the loss of natural habitats. The hydraulic generation is crucial for a clean energy matrix.

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Biomass energy

THE biomass energy comes from non-fossil organic matter. In Brazil, it is widely used and helps a lot with the country's energy.

About 8.4% of electricity comes from biomass.

This energy comes from various things such as plant remains and sugarcane bagasse.

It also comes from biogas from landfills. It can be solid, liquid or gas, such as ethanol and biodiesel.

Brazil is the world's second largest producer of biomass.

THE Raízen is the largest producer of biomass in the sugar-energy sector. It helps to reduce gases that harm the climate.

According to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), biomass could provide up to 60% of renewable energy by 2030.

It is clean, abundant and cheap. It also creates jobs and reduces the use of fossil fuels.

However, biomass has challenges, such as the high cost of equipment. However, it is an important solution for the future.

Biomass is one of the cleanest and most important sources of energy. It greatly helps in the transition to renewable energy in Brazil and around the world.

Geothermal energy

THE sustainable geothermal energy use the internal heat of the earth to generate electricity and heat places. It is very efficient in areas with accessible underground heat.

For example, in Iceland, more than 90% of the energy comes from geothermal sources.

To the geothermal power plants use water that vaporizes underground.

This steam drives turbines to generate electricity. Countries like United States, Italy, Philippines and Mexico are big producers.

In Brazil, it is mostly used for leisure, such as in Poços de Caldas (MG) and Caldas Novas (GO).

The Brazilian states with the greatest potential for geothermal use are Goiás, Paraná, São Paulo, Santa Catarina and Tocantins. However, the high cost of drilling wells is a major challenge.

Geothermal energy accounts for only 2.5% of global energy. But its inexhaustible supply makes it an attractive resource for the future.

Geothermal energy has many applications besides generating electricity.

It can heat and cool buildings and provide hot water. This makes it a versatile and promising source.

Wave and tidal energy

THE ocean energy is a promising source of marine electricity.

It can be used 24 hours a day, all year round. This energy comes from waves and tides, moving turbines to generate electricity.

Because it is predictable and constant, tidal energy has great potential.

The development of ocean energy is beginning.

But it faces technical, environmental and regulatory challenges. The Ocean Energy Europe and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory are leading this advance.

Universities, industry associations and government agencies are researching.

They focus on wave and tidal energy.

The UK is a leader in developing these technologies, with Portugal, Australia, China and Canada also making progress.

Important projects include MeyGen in Scotland and the Agucadoura Wave Farm in Portugal.

Below is a summary of the main points about wave and tidal energy globally:

Brazil has great potential to generate tidal energy. Especially in the North and Northeast regions.

But there is still much to be done.

So far, the only Brazilian plant is in Pecém, Ceará. It has been converting ocean waves into electrical energy since 2012.

These technologies have great potential.

But they face challenges, such as the impact on marine ecosystems.

Technologies such as Specialized Cables Amphenol LTW DeepTronica® help to overcome these difficulties.

Conclusion

We explored renewable energy sources and saw that they are essential for the future.

Energies such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass and geothermal are infinite.

They also help solve the major environmental problems we face.

These energies have a much smaller impact on the environment.

They help reduce emissions of gases that cause global warming.

This is very important to protect our planet.

Adopting these technologies also drives innovation and creates new jobs.

Countries like Brazil are on the right path, showing the great potential of renewable energy.

So we can imagine a future with clean energy and sustainable for all.

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Written by Andre Neri

I am a member of the AgropecNews team and I produce content about agriculture, livestock, agricultural technology, and the agricultural market. My goal is to share relevant and up-to-date information to help producers, professionals, and enthusiasts stay informed about the agricultural sector.

Updated on October 2, 2024