But nearly a third of all new generating capacity came from solar in 2017, second only to natural gas. Solar supplies a little more than 1 percent of U.S. Floating solar farms-or “floatovoltaics”-can be an effective use of wastewater facilities and bodies of water that aren’t ecologically sensitive. Solar farms can generate power for thousands of homes, using mirrors to concentrate sunlight across acres of solar cells. Distributed solar systems generate electricity locally for homes and businesses, either through rooftop panels or community projects that power entire neighborhoods. Solar, or photovoltaic (PV), cells are made from silicon or other materials that transform sunlight directly into electricity. To top it off, all these activities contribute to global warming. For example, oil drilling might require strip-mining Canada’s boreal forest, the technology associated with fracking can cause earthquakes and water pollution, and coal power plants foul the air.
Many nonrenewable energy sources can endanger the environment or human health. Prioritizing nonrenewable energy can also improve national security by reducing a country’s reliance on exports from fossil fuel–rich nations. By contrast, every country has access to sunshine and wind. Nonrenewable energy sources are also typically found in specific parts of the world, making them more plentiful in some nations than others. When we pump gas at the station, we’re using a finite resource refined from crude oil that’s been around since prehistoric times. Nonrenewable sources of energy are only available in limited amounts and take a long time to replenish. Nonrenewable, or “ dirty,” energy includes fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal. Even some entire rural communities rely on renewable energy for heating and lighting.Īs renewable use continues to grow, a key goal will be to modernize America’s electricity grid, making it smarter, more secure, and better integrated across regions. The expansion in renewables is also happening at scales large and small, from rooftop solar panels on homes that can sell power back to the grid to giant offshore wind farms. Now that we have increasingly innovative and less-expensive ways to capture and retain wind and solar energy, renewables are becoming a more important power source, accounting for more than one-eighth of U.S. But over the past 500 years or so, humans increasingly turned to cheaper, dirtier energy sources such as coal and fracked gas. The sun has provided warmth during the day and helped kindle fires to last into the evening. Wind has powered boats to sail the seas and windmills to grind grain. While renewable energy is often thought of as a new technology, harnessing nature’s power has long been used for heating, transportation, lighting, and more. For example, sunlight or wind keep shining and blowing, even if their availability depends on time and weather. Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy, comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished. Here’s what you should know about the different types of renewable energy sources-and how you can use these emerging technologies at your own home. Biomass and large hydroelectric dams create difficult tradeoffs when considering the impact on wildlife, climate change, and other issues. But not all sources of energy marketed as “renewable” are beneficial to the environment. This means that renewables are increasingly displacing “ dirty” fossil fuels in the power sector, offering the benefit of lower emissions of carbon and other types of pollution.
American solar and wind generation are breaking records and being integrated into the national electricity grid without compromising reliability. Renewable power is booming, as innovation brings down costs and starts to deliver on the promise of a clean energy future.
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