Renewable Energy 101 ｜ National Geographic

Around the world , renewable energy use is on the rise , and these alternative energy sources could hold the key to combating climate change .

What is renewable energy ?

Renewable energy is generated from sources that naturally replenish themselves and never run out .

The most common sources are solar , wind , hydro , geothermal , and biomass .

Over 80% of the total energy consumed by humans is derived from fossil fuels .

However , renewables are the fastest growing source of energy in the world .

Renewable energy has many benefits .

First , it can combat climate change because it creates no direct greenhouse gas emissions .

The only emissions that they produce are indirect , meaning those that result from manufacturing parts , installation , operation and maintenance .

But even those are minimal .

2nd , renewable energy can decrease pollution and therefore reduce threats to our health .

Wind , solar , and hydroelectric systems create no air pollution emissions .

And geothermal and biomass energy systems emissions are much lower than nonrenewable energy sources .

3rd , renewable energy is a reliable source of power .

Because renewable energy sources are , well , renewable , they will never run out .

Once built , renewable facilities cost very little to operate and the fuel is often free .

As a result , renewable energy prices tend to be stable over time .

While renewable energy has many advantages , it is not without downsides .

It is difficult for renewable energy sources to generate power on the same large scale as fossil fuels .

Building wind farms and dams can disrupt wildlife and migration patterns and lead to ecological destruction .

Both solar and wind energy are intermittent .

They only generate power while the sun is shining or while the wind is blowing .

Batteries can store excess energy for later use .

However , they are often costly .

While renewable energy presents some challenges , it also offers an environmentally friendly alternative to the greenhouse gas emissions and pollution of fossil fuels .

And as advances in technology make renewable energy more accessible , affordable , and efficient , an end to climate change could be within our reach .