A renewable resource is one that replaces itself naturally at a rate equal to or greater than human consumption. The term generally describes renewable energies, which self-sustain over time. There are five main types of renewable resources: solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal and biomass.
Solar
Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into usable energy, usually with solar panels. Solar energy has an extremely high potential because it is widely available. According to the weekly science journal "Nature," the sun provides Earth with more energy in a single hour than humans use in a year.
Wind
Wind power is the conversion of airflow into usable energy by wind turbines. Wind power is clean and can be collected onshore or offshore. A study by Harvard found that a land-based network of 2.5 megawatt wind turbines could supply 40 times more electricity than is annually used worldwide.
Hydropower
Hydroelectricity, electricity produced from the energy of moving water, is generally produced at large dams positioned along lakes and rivers. The U.S. hydropower potential is high because of its vast amounts of lakes and rivers. Data from the Idaho National Laboratory shows that five states have the potential to produce at least 2,000 more megawatts of electricity than they are currently.
Geothermal
Geothermal power is collected from the Earth's internal heat and is most often collected along tectonic plate boundaries where the heat is readily available. Recent advances in technology, however, have allowed increases in availability and use. The International Geothermal Association predicts the use of geothermal energy to increase from 8,933 megawatts in 2005 to 18,500 megawatts in 2015.
Biomass and Biofuel
Biomass power is harnessed by burning plants and retrieving the energy plants collected through photosynthesis. Unlike other renewable energies, the conversion of biomass into usable energy as biofuel is not clean. A study by the Nature Conservancy claims that the clearing of natural ecosystems for replacement by biofuel crops may actually worsen global warming.
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