Renewable energy
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This article originated from the Critical Issues Program authored by the American Geosciences Institute. To learn more about AGI or the Critical Issues Program, visit http://www.americangeosciences.org/critical-issues. |
Renewable energy comes from sources that can be replenished on a human timescale, like biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar power. Renewable energy technologies generally have fewer environmental and health impacts than non-renewables. Like all energy sources, each renewable energy technology has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Why does renewable energy matter?
Renewable energy sources account for around 10% of U.S. energy consumption and are a fast-growing source of low-carbon electricity.[1][2] While cost can be a barrier to the adoption of renewable energy sources, policy incentives have contributed to their considerable growth in the United States in recent years.[3][4] The spread of wind and solar technologies has also contributed to increasing demand for certain minerals such as rare earth elements.
How does geoscience help inform decisions about renewable energy development?
Geoscientists study the distribution of solar, wind, hydro, tidal, and geothermal energy resources, and help to identify suitable sites for their development. They assess the impacts of renewable energy development on climate, local ecosystems, and water resources. They also locate and extract the minerals used in many renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels.
Introductory resources
- What You Need to Know About Energy: Renewable Sources, The National Academies
- An in-depth overview of the current role of each energy source in the United States, the benefits and disadvantages of each energy source, and opportunities and challenges for using that energy source in the future. (Discusses geothermal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass.)
- Renewable Energy Explained, Energy Information Administration
- A basic discussion of the five commonly used renewable energy sources (biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar). Briefly overviews where each type of energy is found and how it is harnessed or utilized. Also provides a general overview of the role of renewable energy in the United States and barriers to renewable energy adoption.
- Renewable Energy Technology Basics, Department of Energy
- Basic overview of renewable energy technologies for developing biomass, geothermal, hydrogen & fuel cells, hydropower, ocean, solar, and wind energy resources. Also links to Department of Energy research on these technologies.
Frequent questions
- What are the major sources and users of energy in the United States?
- How much of the U.S. electricity supply comes from wind and how does that compare with other countries?
- How much U.S. electricity is generated from renewable energy?
- How much of world energy consumption and electricity generation is from renewable energy?
References
- ↑ What are the major sources and users of energy in the United States?, EIA, Energy in Brief, http://www.eia.gov/energy_in_brief/article/major_energy_sources_and_users.cfm
- ↑ How much U.S. electricity is generated from renewable energy?, EIA, Energy in Brief, http://www.eia.gov/energy_in_brief/article/renewable_electricity.cfm
- ↑ Most States Have Reneable Portfolio Standards, EIA, Today in Energy, http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=4850
- ↑ How much U.S. electricity is generated from renewable energy?, EIA, Energy in Brief, http://www.eia.gov/energy_in_brief/article/renewable_electricity.cfm
See also
- Renewable Energy Basics, American Geosciences Institute
- Coal
- Geothermal
- Hydraulic fracturing
- Nuclear energy
- Oil and gas
External links
| find literature about Renewable energy |
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