Types of renewable energy What is a renewable energy source?
A renewable energy source means energy that is sustainable - something that can't run
out, or is endless, like the sun. When you hear the term 'alternative energy' it's usually
referring to renewable energy sources too. It means sources of energy that are alternative
to the most commonly used non-sustainable sources - like coal.
What is zero-carbon or low-carbon energy? Nuclear-generated electricity isn't renewable
but it's zero-carbon, which means its generation emits low levels or almost no CO2, just like
renewable energy sources. Nuclear energy has a stable source, which means it's not dependent
on the weather and will play a big part in getting Britain to net zero status.
All our tariffs are backed by zero-carbon electricity and if you choose to switch to
us, you could play your part now in achieving the net zero target.
The most popular renewable energy sources currently are:
Solar energy Wind energy
Hydro energy Tidal energy
Geothermal energy Biomass energy
How these types of renewable energy work 1) Solar energy
Sunlight is one of our planet’s most abundant and freely available energy resources. The
amount of solar energy that reaches the earth’s surface in one hour is more than the planet’s
total energy requirements for a whole year. Although it sounds like a perfect renewable
energy source, the amount of solar energy we can use varies according to the time of
day and the season of the year as well as geographical location. In the UK, solar energy
is an increasingly popular way to supplement your energy usage. Find out if it’s right
for you by reading our guide to solar power. 2) Wind energy
Wind is a plentiful source of clean energy. Wind farms are an increasingly familiar sight
in the UK with wind power making an ever-increasing contribution to the National Grid. To harness
electricity from wind energy, turbines are used to drive generators which then feed electricity
into the National Grid. Although domestic or ‘off-grid’ generation systems are available,
not every property is suitable for a domestic wind turbine. Find out more about wind energy
on our wind power page. 3) Hydro energy
As a renewable energy resource, hydro power is one of the most commercially developed.
By building a dam or barrier, a large reservoir can be used to create a controlled flow of
water that will drive a turbine, generating electricity. This energy source can often
be more reliable than solar or wind power (especially if it's tidal rather than river)
and also allows electricity to be stored for use when demand reaches a peak. Like wind
energy, in certain situations hydro can be more viable as a commercial energy source
(dependant on type and compared to other sources of energy) but depending very much on the
type of property, it can be used for domestic, ‘off-grid’ generation. Find out more by
visiting our hydro power page. 4) Tidal energy
This is another form of hydro energy that uses twice-daily tidal currents to drive turbine
generators. Although tidal flow unlike some other hydro energy sources isn’t constant,
it is highly predictable and can therefore compensate for the periods when the tide current
is low. Find out more by visiting our marine energy page.
5) Geothermal energy By harnessing the natural heat below the earth’s
surface, geothermal energy can be used to heat homes directly or to generate electricity.
Although it harnesses a power directly below our feet, geothermal energy is of negligible
importance in the UK compared to countries such as Iceland, where geothermal heat is
much more freely available. 6) Biomass Energy
This is the conversion of solid fuel made from plant materials into electricity. Although
fundamentally, biomass involves burning organic materials to produce electricity, and nowadays
this is a much cleaner, more energy-efficient process. By converting agricultural, industrial
and domestic waste into solid, liquid and gas fuel, biomass generates power at a much
lower economic and environmental cost. What isn’t a renewable energy source?
Fossil fuels are not a renewable source of energy because they are not infinite. Plus,
they release carbon dioxide into our atmosphere which contributes to climate change and global
warming. Burning wood instead of coal is slightly better
but it’s complex. On the one hand, wood is a renewable resource – provided it comes
from sustainably managed forests. Wood pellets and compressed briquettes are made from by-products
of the wood processing industry and so arguably it’s recycling waste.
Compressed biomass fuels produce more energy than logs too. On the other hand, burning
wood (whether it be raw timber or processed waste) releases particles into our atmosphere.
The future of renewable energy As world population rises, so does the demand
for energy in order to power our homes, businesses and communities. Innovation and expansion
of renewable sources of energy is key to maintaining a sustainable level of energy and protect
our planet from climate change. Renewable energy sources make up 26% of the
world’s electricity today, but according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) its
share is expected to reach 30% by 2024. “This is a pivotal time for renewable energy,”
said the IEA’s executive director, Fatih Birol.
In 2020, the UK hit a new amazing renewable energy milestone. On Wednesday 10th June,
the country celebrated two months of running purely on renewable energy for the first time
ever. This is a great step in the right direction for renewables.
In the future, it’s expected that the number of renewable energy sources will continue
to increase as we see an increase in demand for power. This will drive down the price
of renewables – great for the planet, and great for our wallets.
Renewable energy and your home The advantages of using renewable energy in
a domestic setting are persuasive: Cut your electricity bills: Once you’ve
paid for the costs of installing a renewable energy system, you can become less reliant
on the National Grid and your energy bills can be reduced.
Get paid for the electricity you generate: The UK Government’s Feed-in Tariff pays
you for the electricity you generate, even if you use it.
Sell electricity back to the grid: If you are generating enough energy to export an
excess back into the National Grid, you can receive an additional payment from the Feed-in
Tariff scheme. Reduce your carbon footprint: Green, renewable
sources of energy don’t release carbon dioxide or other harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.
According to the Energy Saving Trust's Solar panels page, a typical solar PV system could
save around 1.5 - 2 tonnes of carbon per year. You can find out more in our solar panels
guide. Renewable energy facts:
Solar PV could account for 5% of global demand by 2020 and up to 9% by 2030.
By the year 2050, our energy needs can be met by 95% renewable energy.
Price Waterhouse Cooper predicts that Africa could run on 100% renewable energy by 2050.
Over the last four decades, the price of solar PV panels has declined 99%.
A US study showed that renewable energy creates three times more jobs than fossil fuels.
Investment in renewable energy has surpassed fossil fuel investment. The global renewable
energy market is now worth over $250 billion.