Types of Renewable Energy and Their Sources

Types of Renewable Energy and Their Sources

What is energy exactly? Energy is the power of matter to do work actively. The word itself indicates energy in two distinct ways. First, energy is defined as a force or power that is directed. Second, energy is defined as a characteristic or condition.

When we talk about energy, what comes to our minds first are atoms, molecules, or solar systems. These units hold different forms of energy. The atoms are made up of a nucleus and electrons, all of which orbit around the center of the atom. The electrons move about this tiny world and create electrostatic charges, which are in different forms. The electrons also get attached to the atoms and change their various shapes and sizes, creating different types of radiation.

When it comes to nuclear energy, the primary forms are atomic energy and nuclear fission energy. Atomic energy is created by splitting an atom in half. By splitting the atom, the nucleus no longer stays bound to the outer shell, thus releasing the atomic energy that makes up the atom. This energy is then converted into heat by the process of nuclear fission.

Now we move inside of a star, which is made up of many smaller pieces which are orbiting around the main body. When a star burns out, its outer shell falls back to reveal the core, which holds vast amounts of hydrogen fuel (a.k.a. “thermal energy”). The core heats up due to interactions with other cool gases in the star, creating what we know as “solar heat energy” or “radial heat energy.”

This is how nuclear power plants harness electrical energy. Nuclear fission allows them to make energy by splitting atoms and creating heat. When these atoms split, they release enormous amounts of heat, enough to generate electricity. The plants are constantly working at creating more nuclear power, with a goal of producing enough to reliably power the world. Some nations, like India, even hope to run completely off of their own nuclear power plants by 2032.

Solar energy is another form of renewable energy. It works on the same basic premise as nuclear power, but instead of using hydrogen fuel, solar power uses the energy produced by the sun to create electrical energy. This is one of the better ways of storing energy because the sun will always shine, making this type of energy inexpensive. In fact, it has already been developed and built in some isolated places in the world. Even developing nations like India are investing in solar technology, and while it’s not yet available everywhere, anyone who can afford it is using it to harness new sources of energy.