Types of Renewable Energy Used in 2021

In the last couple of years, renewable energy becomes a much more preferred option due to the fact it is acquired from natural inexhaustible sources, such as the sun. Myriads of people have switched the traditional energy for renewable and believe that there is a huge possibility to live in a better world without fossil fuels polluting the air. Using renewable energy is certainly not a new or modern thing. In the past, individuals used to rely on wind and sun every day of their lives.

Sailors were able to travel by virtue of the winds, and windmills were put in motion, again, thanks to the wind. People used to rely on the sun to give them warmth and light. Over the years, however, such energy quickly got exchanged for energy that relies on natural gas, coal, oil, or nuclear power. Recently, millions of individuals wish to make the world a better place, and they believe that using renewable energy may be one way to do so. Below, we’ll list the most commonly used types of renewable energy in 2021.

Commonly Used Types of Renewable Energy in 2021: Solar Energy

There is no doubt that one of the most commonly used types of renewable energy in 2021 is solar energy. In the past, people used to rely on the sun to keep them warm, to provide them with light, to grow their crops so that they can feed themselves. Nowadays, a significant number of individuals have also chosen to ditch the conventional energy for solar energy.

Simply put, Photovoltaics is the process of transforming light into energy. This phenomenon is emerged by solar modules, which consist of solar cells. The energy from the sunlight is captured and then converted into electricity, heat, or hot water. Many believe that solar panels are a huge investment; however, in the long term, it’s not that expensive. Using solar energy for an extended period of time will save you a lot of money.

Solar energy can be derived either from rooftop panels or a community solar project. The latter is shared by several properties rather than one. A key benefit of using solar panels is that sunlight is an endless source of energy. Of course, you should carefully consider which will be the best place to position the panel in order for it to capture sunlight throughout the whole day. What’s more, using solar energy is quite favourable for the environment.

Commonly Used Types of Renewable Energy in 2021: Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is derived from the heat stored under the Earth’s crust. This warmth has formed ever since the formation of the planet, and the geothermal heat is created due to the radioactive decay. In ancient times, hot springs’ water has been used for bathing and space heating. The crust of the Earth is extremely hot, and it can easily be compared to the warmth radiating from the sun.

When the temperature and the pressure are too high, solid rocks begin to melt. There are occurrences when huge amounts of this warmth escape on the surface and result in natural phenomena like geysers or volcanic eruptions. Such heat is commonly used to produce geothermal energy. The warmth derived from the hot waters underneath the surface is pumped through a turbine. This, of course, results in the creation of electricity.

One of the biggest advantages of using geothermal energy is that you achieve this by leaving minimal tracks on the Earth’s surface. The reason being is that the whole process happens underneath. What’s more, it’s almost impossible for geothermal energy to be consumed to the fullest. It’s said that this type of renewable energy has very low emissions, which can be beneficial for global warming. The power plants of this type are considered eco-friendly in case they pump the used water and steam back into the reservoir.

Commonly Used Types of Renewable Energy in 2021: Wind Energy

The last in our list of most commonly used types of renewable energy in 2021 is wind energy. Similar to other types of renewable energy, wind power also has a minimal impact on the environment and is a much better option than fossil fuel electricity. In a few words, wind energy refers to the use of wind in order for electricity to be created.

The wind flow delivers mechanical power through special turbines, and this power is then transformed into electricity. Once the turbine’s blades start spinning, the generators are provided with the necessary power. It’s believed that wind energy is the cheapest form of renewable energy used all around the world. Additionally, wind power has an almost inexistent effect on global warming. Currently, there are two types of wind turbines, namely HAWTs and VAWTs.

• Horizontal-axis wind turbines or HAWTs use three blades. Nevertheless, there are turbines of this type that have two or five blades. Manufacturers say that HAWTs are quite noisier than the VAWTs. Horizontal wind turbines should be placed in a position that faces the wind direction.
• Vertical-axis wind turbines or VAWTs usually have two, three, or five blades that are in a vertical position. Their biggest advantage is that regardless of their positioning, they will take the wind stream from any direction. Additionally, it has a smaller number of elements that can break.

Final Thoughts

All things considered, renewable energy sources seem to enter into the lives of myriads of people from all around the world. That is far from surprising given the fact that the Earth gets more and more polluted every single day. Additionally, global warming is a serious potential problem, and fortunately, a large amount of the population seems to realize it. If more people choose to give up on fossil fuel, oil, and coal electricity, the world can be a better place to live.