Renewable Energy Resources

A renewable energy resource is one that can be quickly replenished. Certain renewable resources will always be available no matter how they are used (eg, solar energy), while other renewable resources can be depleted when their rate of use exceeds their rate of replacement (eg, wood). Some of these renewable energy resources are used to heat water just as in a thermal power station.

Geothermal Energy

See how it works
In some volcanic areas hot water and steam rise to the surface. The steam can be tapped and used to drive turbines. This is known as geothermal energy.

Reykjanes Geothermal
Power Plant

Geothermal Energy
See how it works	In some volcanic areas hot water and steam rise to the surface. The steam can be tapped and used to drive turbines. This is known as geothermal energy.	Reykjanes Geothermal Power Plant

Biomass

See how it works
Biomass is formed by living things. For example a tree forms it mass from carbon dioxide in the air. This is done by effectively capturing energy from the Sun and using it to rearrange chemical bonds. We can burn this biomass to release this stored chemical energy. Animal dung can also be dried and then burnt.
We can also collect the methane (natural) gas created by anaerobic bacteria as they decompose dead things and dung.

The world's first poultry litter
fuelled plant in Eye, Suffolk.

Biomass
See how it works	Biomass is formed by living things. For example a tree forms it mass from carbon dioxide in the air. This is done by effectively capturing energy from the Sun and using it to rearrange chemical bonds. We can burn this biomass to release this stored chemical energy. Animal dung can also be dried and then burnt. We can also collect the methane (natural) gas created by anaerobic bacteria as they decompose dead things and dung.	The world's first poultry litter fuelled plant in Eye, Suffolk.

Energy from renewable energy sources can be used to drive turbines directly (which then turn a generator). Renewable energy sources used in this way include wind, the rise and fall of water due to waves and tides, and the falling of water in hydroelectric schemes.

Wind

See how it works
The Sun's heating of the Earth's surface causes large scale convection currents in the air known as wind. A wind turbine harnesses this kinetic energy to turn a generator.
The wind farms can be either on land or off shore (at sea). They suffer from N.I.M.B.Y. as some people feel that they are an eyesore and complain of the noise they make. It is also thought that they could disrupt food chains as insects may be affected by them.

North Hoyle
Offshore Wind Farm

Wave Power

There are two main methods of harnessing the wave energy.

See how it works 1. 'Shore Line Blow holes'
Air is forced through a 'blow hole' as the water rises in an enclosed chamber.

Examples of Wave power 2. Nodding Ducks
As the wave goes past the duck, the side of the duck nods up and down, causing rotation which can turn a generator.

Tidal Power

See how it works
Twice a day the moon's gravity causes water to rise in the sea and estuaries (tidal parts of rivers). Water is allowed to flow into the estuary at high tide and then held back by a barrage (dam). At low tide, when the sea at the mouth of the estuary is low, the water is allowed to flow back into the sea. As it flows back through the barrage it turns a turbine.
Problems with Barrages: They block navigation; they impede fish migration; they destroy wetlands; they change the tidal regime downstream.

The Rance Estuary in France.
built in 1966.

Hydroelectric Power

See how it works

Hoover Dam, USA
Water gains gravitational potential energy when it is evaporated by the Sun's heat. Rivers can be dammed, causing the water level to rise. The water can then be made to turn a turbine as it flows through the dam to the original, lower level.
In Snowdonia excess electricity from the National grid is used to pump water back up to high level storage lakes, as a way of storing the energy. Later when more energy is needed the water flows down to a lower lake, turning a turbine as it goes.
HEP dams flood huge areas of land. The largest HEP project in the world is the Three Gorges Dam in China, which will flood 632 sq km and has displaced 1.9 million people, not to mention the effect on fauna.
BBC News: Three Gorges dam's social impact

Wind
See how it works	The Sun's heating of the Earth's surface causes large scale convection currents in the air known as wind. A wind turbine harnesses this kinetic energy to turn a generator. The wind farms can be either on land or off shore (at sea). They suffer from N.I.M.B.Y. as some people feel that they are an eyesore and complain of the noise they make. It is also thought that they could disrupt food chains as insects may be affected by them.	North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm

Wave Power
There are two main methods of harnessing the wave energy.
See how it works	1. 'Shore Line Blow holes' Air is forced through a 'blow hole' as the water rises in an enclosed chamber.
Examples of Wave power	2. Nodding Ducks As the wave goes past the duck, the side of the duck nods up and down, causing rotation which can turn a generator.

Tidal Power
See how it works	Twice a day the moon's gravity causes water to rise in the sea and estuaries (tidal parts of rivers). Water is allowed to flow into the estuary at high tide and then held back by a barrage (dam). At low tide, when the sea at the mouth of the estuary is low, the water is allowed to flow back into the sea. As it flows back through the barrage it turns a turbine. Problems with Barrages: They block navigation; they impede fish migration; they destroy wetlands; they change the tidal regime downstream.	The Rance Estuary in France. built in 1966.

Hydroelectric Power
See how it works Hoover Dam, USA	Water gains gravitational potential energy when it is evaporated by the Sun's heat. Rivers can be dammed, causing the water level to rise. The water can then be made to turn a turbine as it flows through the dam to the original, lower level. In Snowdonia excess electricity from the National grid is used to pump water back up to high level storage lakes, as a way of storing the energy. Later when more energy is needed the water flows down to a lower lake, turning a turbine as it goes. HEP dams flood huge areas of land. The largest HEP project in the world is the Three Gorges Dam in China, which will flood 632 sq km and has displaced 1.9 million people, not to mention the effect on fauna. BBC News: Three Gorges dam's social impact

Solar Power
See how it works	Photovoltaic (solar) cells convert light energy directly into electrical energy. In the past however, they have taken nearly as much energy to manufacture as they would produce in their lifetime. Only now with the latest developments are solar arrays a viable energy source. Solar panel are useful in remote areas (where there is no national grid) that receive plenty of sunlight, for example, deserts, space or when camping	Bavaria Solarpark, Germany

Solar Power

See how it works

Photovoltaic (solar) cells convert light energy directly into electrical energy. In the past however, they have taken nearly as much energy to manufacture as they would produce in their lifetime. Only now with the latest developments are solar arrays a viable energy source.

Solar panel are useful in remote areas (where there is no national grid) that receive plenty of sunlight, for example, deserts, space or when camping

Bavaria Solarpark, Germany

All Animations (and more) can be found at the Science Museum Energy Gallery

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