Renewable source of energy is the energy sources which are being produced continuously in nature and are inexhaustible. Hydro energy, wind energy, solar energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy. are the major sources of renewable energy.
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.The most popular renewable energy sources currently are:
- Solar energy
- Wind energy
- Hydro energy
- Tidal energy
- Geothermal energy
- Biomass energy
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.