With the ever increasing global demand for power, renewable “Green” energy technologies are key to creating a clean energy future of the world. The more we use renewable energy, the more we benefit the global environment.

Today the world relies primarily on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas for its energy. These types of fuels are non-renewable and will eventually dwindle and become too expensive or too environmentally damaging to retrieve. Renewable energy resources such as solar, wind and ocean energy are constantly replenished and will never run out.

This Web site describes various renewable energy technologies and provides resources to help make our planet Green.

Solar energy is created by heat and light radiated from the Sun. The majority of renewable energy sources come directly or in-directly from the sun. Solar energy is used directly for heating and lighting of homes and other buildings, for electricy, hot water heating, solar cooling as well as a wide variety of commercial and industrial uses.

 


Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into electricity using wind turbines. Groups of these turbines are called wind farms, that are connected to electrical grids. In some cases individual turbines can provide electricity to isolated locations or for a specific need. Although wind currently only produces about 1% of world-wide electricity use, at the end of 2007 the worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was over 90 gigawatts and continues to grow rapidly. Globally, wind power generation increased more than five-fold between 2000 and 2007.

Geothermal steam and hot springs have been used for centuries for bathing and heating, but it wasn't until the 20th century that geothermal power started being used to make electricity. This process uses energy generated by heat stored beneath the Earth's surface. Geothermal power is generated in over 20 countries and accounts for about 1% of the world's energy.

Hydropower or hydroelectricity is the most widely used form of renewable energy. Hydroelectricity now supplies about 15% of world electricity and accounts for over 35% of the total electricity from renewables. Most hydroelectric power comes from the energy of dammed water driving a water turbine and generator. In this type of application the energy extracted from the water depends on the volume and on the difference in height between the source and the water's outflow.

Using waste Biomass or waste to energy plant to produce energy can reduce the use of fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as reducing waste management problems. Most electricity generated using biomass today is by the direct combustion method, primarily burning waste wood products generated by the agriculture and wood-processing industries. Biomass can also be gasified prior to combustion, the gases generally burn cleaner and more efficiently.