Renewable Energy Science

Renewable energy is energy that comes from sources that will not run out. The Sun keeps shining. The wind keeps blowing. Water keeps flowing in rivers. Scientists and engineers have figured out how to capture this energy and turn it into electricity. Renewable energy is cleaner than burning fossil fuels.

Types of Renewable Energy

Solar energy uses panels to capture sunlight and turn it into electricity. Wind turbines use spinning blades to generate power from the wind. Hydroelectric dams use flowing water to spin generators. Geothermal energy uses heat from inside the Earth. All of these sources are renewable and produce little or no pollution.

The Future of Energy

Renewable energy is growing fast around the world. Solar panels and wind turbines are getting cheaper and more efficient every year. Many countries are building large solar and wind farms. Scientists are also working on better batteries to store renewable energy for when the Sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing.

Fun Facts

• In 2023, renewable energy sources generated more than 30 percent of the world's electricity.
• A single modern wind turbine can power over 1,000 homes.
• The cost of solar panels has dropped by more than 90 percent since 2010.

Did You Know?

Some countries already get almost all their electricity from renewable sources. Costa Rica runs on nearly 100 percent renewable energy, mainly from hydroelectric and geothermal power!