Renewable Energy Facts
There are five main forms of renewable energy: solar, wind, water, biofuel and geothermal.
If it could be properly harnessed, enough sunlight falls on the earth in just one hour to meet world energy demands for a whole year!
The geothermal energy from the core of the Earth is closer to the surface in some areas than in others. Where hot underground steam or water can be tapped and brought to the surface it can be used to generate electricity.
One wind turbine can produce enough electricity to power up to 300 homes.
The largest wind turbine in the world, located in Hawaii, stands 20 storeys tall and has blades the length of a football field.
Water is the most commonly used renewable energy resource, providing enough power to meet the needs of 28.3 million people.
Energy Facts
Understanding Energy
It's important to understand what energy is and what it is not, the historical context of energy around the world, and where we will get our energy in the future. You will find the most current energy facts on this website.
Renewable Energy 101
Renewable Energy - Energy obtained from sources that are essentially inexhaustible (unlike, for example the fossil fuels, of which there is a finite supply). Renewable sources of energy include wood, waste, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic and solar thermal energy.
While there are many large-scale renewable energy projects and production, renewable technologies are also suited to small off-grid applications, sometimes in rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development.
Some renewable energy technologies are criticised for being intermittent or unsightly, yet the market is growing for many forms of renewable energy.
Renewable Energy 201
The majority of renewable energy technologies are powered by the sun.
Renewable energy systems encompass a broad, diverse array of technologies, and the current status of these can vary considerably. Some technologies are already mature and economically competitive like geothermal and hydropower, others need additional development to become competitive without subsidies such as solar and wind.
There is no shortage of solar-derived energy on Earth. Indeed the storages and flows of energy on the planet are very large relative to human needs.