topics for research in renewable energy

118 Renewable Energy Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on renewable energy, 🌶️ hot renewable energy essay topics, 👍 good renewable energy research topics & essay examples, 💡 simple renewable energy essay ideas, ❓ renewable energy research questions.

• Solving the Climate Change Crisis by Using Renewable Energy Sources
• Electricity vs. Solar Energy Compared and Contrasted
• Siemens Energy: Renewable Energy System
• Environmental Degradation and Renewable Energy
• Renewable Energy Technology in Egypt
• How Wind Turbines Convert Wind Energy into Electrical Energy?
• Discussion of Renewable Energy Resources
• Renewable Energy: Why Do We Need It? Renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, or hydropower can bring multiple environmental benefits and tackle the problems of climate change and pollution in several ways.
• Solar Energy: Advantages and Disadvantages Renewable energy sources are being supported and invested in by governments to instigate a new environment-friendly technology.
• Wind Energy as an Alternative Source While energy is a must for our survival, wind energy as a seemingly perpetual source of energy is the potential answer to the energy security of our generations to come.
• Solar Energy and Its Impact on Environment The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of solar energy on the environment. The major positive impact is the minimal emission of greenhouse gases.
• Installing Solar Panels to Reduce Energy Costs The purpose of the proposal is to request permission for research to install solar panels to reduce energy costs, which represent a huge part of the company’s expenses.
• The Use of Renewable Energy: Advantages and Disadvantages Today’s world is dependent on electricity, which is supplied from many different sources such as fossils fuels which emit harmful gases that pollute the environment.
• Renewable Energy in Japan: Clean Energy Transition Renewable energy in Japan became significantly important after the Fukushima Daiichi tsunami that struck Japan in 2011.
• Discussion of Realization of Solar Energy Company ABC is interested in creating a “solar” project which will fully install and staff solar panels to ensure the safe transformation of solar energy into electricity.
• Full Renewable Energy Plan Feasibility: 2030-2040 The paper argues that green energy in its current state will struggle to meet the humanity’s demand and the development of better hybrid, integrated grids is required.
• Utilization of Solar Energy for Thermal Desalination The following research is set to outline the prospects of utilization of solar energy for thermal desalination technologies.
• Sunburst Renewable Energy Corporation: Business Structuring The proposed Sunburst Renewable Energy Corporation will function on a captivating value statement in product strategy and customer relationships as the core instruments of sustainable operations.
• Future of 100% Renewable Energy This article explores the future of renewable green energy and a review the topical studies related to 100% renewable energy.
• Renewable Energy Sources for Saudi Arabia This paper will provide background information on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its energy resources, and how it may become more modern and efficient.
• Renewable Energy: Economic and Health Benefits The US should consider the adoption of renewable sources of energy, because of the high cost of using fossil fuels and expenses related to health problems due to pollution.
• Renewable Energy Usage: Advantages and Disadvantages This treatise attempts to support the statement that there are both advantages and disadvantages to the use of renewable energy with focus on hydroelectric power.
• Renewable Energy: Benefits Outweigh Downfalls Renewable technology is becoming increasingly popular in today’s world. These inventions are often presented as an alternative eco-friendly solution that eliminates fossil fuels.
• Renewable Energy: Current State, Enablers, and Barriers The paper discusses the concept of sustainability takes a central role in the global discussion and presents of environment safety plan.
• The G20 Countries’ Competitiveness in Renewable Energy Resources “Assessing national renewable energy competitiveness of the G20” by Fang et al. presents an assessment of competitiveness in renewable energy resources among G20 countries.
• Renewable Energy: Proposal Argument and Mind Map This paper argues that green energy in its current state will struggle to meet humanity’s demand and the development of better hybrid, integrated grids is required.
• Profitability of Onshore and Offshore Wind Energy in Australia Undoubtedly, the recent increase in popularity of campaigns to decarbonize the globe proves renewable energy to be a current and future trend globally.
• Renewable Energy: The Use of Fossil Fuel The paper states that having a combination of renewable energy sources is becoming critical in the global effort to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
• Is Nuclear Power Renewable Energy? Renewable energy is obtained from the naturally-occurring elements, implying that it can be easily accessed, cheaply generated, and conveniently supplied to consumers.
• Solar Energy in China and Its Influence on Climate Change The influence of solar energy on climate change has impacted production, the advancement of solar energy has impacted climate change in the geography of China.
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Utilization This paper aims at expounding the effectiveness of renewable energy and the utilization of energy efficiency in regard to climate change.
• A World With 100% Renewable Energy Large corporations, countries, and separate states have already transferred or put a plan into action to transfer to 100% renewable energy in a couple of decades.
• Renewable Energy Programs in Five Countries Energy production is vital for the drive of the economy. The world at large should diversify the sources to reduce the over-usage of fossil energy that is a threat of depletion.
• Wind Works Ltd.: Wind Energy Development Methodology Wind Works Ltd, as the company, which provides the alternative energy sources, and makes them available for the wide range of the population needs to resort to a particular assessment strategies.
• Solar Power as the Best Source of Energy The concepts of environmental conservation and sustainability have forced many countries and organizations to consider the best strategies or processes for generating electricity.
• Renewable Energy Systems Group and Toyota Company The application of the Lean Six Sigma to the key company processes, creates prerequisites for stellar success, as the examples of Toyota and the Renewable Energy Systems Group have shown.
• Renewable Energy Sources: Popularity and Benefits Renewable fuels are not as pollutive as fossil fuels; they can be reproduced quickly from domestic resources. They became popular because of the decreasing amount of fossil fuels.
• Renewable Energy Sources: Definition, Types and Stocks This research report analyzes the growing interest of the use renewable energy as an alternative to the non-renewable energy.
• Renewable Energy Systems: Australia’s Electricity
• Accelerating Renewable Energy Electrification and Rural Economic Development With an Innovative Business Model
• Renewable Energy Systems: Role of Grid Connection
• Breaking Barriers Towards Investment in Renewable Energy
• California Dreaming: The Economics of Renewable Energy
• Marine Renewable Energy Clustering in the Mediterranean Sea: The Case of the PELAGOS Project
• Differences Between Fossil Fuel and Renewable Energy
• Addressing the Renewable Energy Financing Gap in Africa to Promote Universal Energy Access: Integrated Renewable Energy Financing in Malawi
• Causality Between Public Policies and Exports of Renewable Energy Technologies
• Achieving the Renewable Energy Target for Jamaica
• Economic Growth and the Transition From Non-renewable to Renewable Energy
• Between Innovation and Industrial Policy: How Washington Succeeds and Fails at Renewable Energy
• Increasing Financial Incentive for Renewable Energy in the Third World
• Does Financial Development Matter for Innovation in Renewable Energy?
• Financing Rural Renewable Energy: A Comparison Between China and India
• Alternative Energy for Renewable Energy Sources
• Low-Carbon Transition: Private Sector Investment in Renewable Energy Projects in Developing Countries
• Effective Renewable Energy Activities in Bangladesh
• China’s Renewable Energy Policy: Commitments and Challenges
• Analyzing the Dynamic Impact of Electricity Futures on Revenue and Risk of Renewable Energy in China
• Driving Energy: The Enactment and Ambitiousness of State Renewable Energy Policy
• Carbon Lock-Out: Advancing Renewable Energy Policy in Europe
• Big Oil vs. Renewable Energy: A Detrimental Conflict With Global Consequences
• Efficient Feed-In-Tariff Policies for Renewable Energy Technologies
• Balancing Cost and Risk: The Treatment of Renewable Energy in Western Utility Resource Plans
• Active and Reactive Power Control for Renewable Energy Generation Engineering
• Mainstreaming New Renewable Energy Technologies
• Carbon Pricing and Innovation of Renewable Energy
• Economic Growth, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, Renewable Energy and Globalization
• Figuring What’s Fair: The Cost of Equity Capital for Renewable Energy in Emerging Markets
• Distributed Generation: The Definitive Boost for Renewable Energy in Spain
• Biodiesel From Green Rope and Brown Algae: Future Renewable Energy
• Electricity Supply Security and the Future Role of Renewable Energy Sources in Brazil
• Contracting for Biomass: Supply Chain Strategies for Renewable Energy
• Advanced Education and Training Programs to Support Renewable Energy Investment in Africa
• Domestic Incentive Measures for Renewable Energy With Possible Trade Implications
• Affordable and Clean Renewable Energy
• Catalyzing Investment for Renewable Energy in Developing Countries
• Better Health, Environment, and Economy With Renewable Energy Sources
• Afghanistan Renewable Energy Development Issues and Options
• How Economics Can Change the World With Renewable Energy?
• Are Green Hopes Too Rosy? Employment and Welfare Impacts of Renewable Energy Promotion
• Marketing Strategy for Renewable Energy Development in Indonesia Context Today
• Biomass Residue From Palm Oil Industries is Used as Renewable Energy Fuel in Southeast Asia
• Assessing Renewable Energy Policies in Palestine
• Chinese Renewable Energy Technology Exports: The Role of Policy, Innovation, and Markets
• Business Models for Model Businesses: Lessons From Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries
• Economic Impacts From the Promotion of Renewable Energy Technologies: The German Experience
• Key Factors and Recommendations for Adopting Renewable Energy Systems by Families and Firms
• Improving the Investment Climate for Renewable Energy
• How Will Renewable Energy Play a Role in Future Economies?
• What Are the Advantages of Renewable Energy?
• What Is the Term for a Renewable Energy Source That Taps Into Heat Produced Deep Below Ground?
• What Are the Basic Problems of Renewable Energy?
• Why Is Solar Energy the Best Resource of Renewable Energy?
• How Can You Make a Potentially Renewable Energy Resource Sustainable?
• What Is a Possible Cost of Using Renewable Energy Resources?
• What Is the Contribution of Renewable Energy Sources to Global Energy Consumption?
• How Do Renewable Energy Resources Work?
• What Is the Most Viable Renewable Energy Source for the US to Invest In?
• Why Isn’t Renewable Energy More Widely Used Than It Is?
• Is Coal Still a Viable Resource Versus Windpower Being Renewable Energy?
• What Is the Difference Between Non-renewable and Renewable Energy?
• Why Is It Necessary to Emphasize Renewable Energy Sources in Order to Achieve a Sustainable Society?
• Is Aluminum an Example of a Renewable Energy Resource?
• What Fraction of Our Energy Currently Comes From Renewable Energy Sources?
• What Are the Disadvantages of Renewable Energy?
• What Would Have to Happen to Completely Abandon Non-renewable Energy Sources?
• Why Are Renewable Energy Better Than Fossil Fuels?
• How Could a Renewable Energy Resource Become Non-renewable?
• How Have Renewable Energy Resources Replaced a Percentage of Fossil Fuels in Different Countries?
• How Can Water Be Used as a Renewable Energy Resource?
• What Is the Most Practical Renewable Energy Source?
• What Steps Are Necessary to Further the Use of Renewable Energy Resources in THE US?
• Why Is Renewable Energy Use Growing?
• What Type of Renewable Energy Should Businesses in Your Region Invest In?
• How Does Renewable Energy Reduce Climate Change?
• Can the Development of Renewable Energy Sources Lead To Increased International Tensions?
• How Do Renewable Energy Resources Affect the Environment?
• Why Have So Many Governments Decided to Subsidize Renewable Energy Initiatives?

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StudyCorgi . 2022. "118 Renewable Energy Essay Topics." October 26, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/renewable-energy-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Renewable Energy were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 24, 2024 .

Top 60 Great Ideas on Renewable and Alternative Energy Topics

[Post information was updated in April, 2024]

Environmentalists from all around the world sound the alarm about the state of our planet. Scientists have predicted that if humanity does not change the way of using energy sources, our planet’s resources will run out in less than forty years.

Therefore, people have been changing their minds about using fossil fuels. In 2019, especially compared to previous years, the amount of young activists has increased. They are paying attention to global society and how to reduce the usage of resources with emissions that are harmful to our planet and our lives.

The United States gets 81% of its total energy from fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. People depend on those fuels to heat homes, drive cars, run the power industry and manufacturing, and provide electricity. Students and teachers of many faculties are researching this problem in theory and helping scientists come up with practical solutions. Papers with renewable energy research topics are useful more than ever to discuss and spread knowledge on this catastrophe.

Hopefully, these ideas will help in the future to generate highly qualified research papers for your college, otherwise you can get benefits of our essay writing app . The numbers and facts show that more young brains are tuned into the awareness that humanity faces one of the biggest crises in history.

Renewable energy research topics

These topics on renewable energy for the research paper can give you ideas for excellent papers in college.

• Renewable energy sources and the geological business plan.
• Should the European Union increase the usage of renewable energy as a mainstay?
• Renewable energy with the usage of hydrogen fuel technology.
• How can renewable energy help the natural environment of developing countries?
• Renewable energy is a necessary method in Japan: the world’s fifth carbon emitter.
• Methods of how renewable energy as the primary source of energy will affect society’s approach to a better standard of living.
• The use of renewable energy must be harnessed to reverse the negative impacts of climate change caused by global warming.
• Could the use of renewable energy sources realistically be the answer to global warming for Australia?
• Why landfills and recycling spaces are essential renewable energy sources.
• How can the negative impact on climate change be reduced by using renewable sources of energy?
• Why can’t we replace using fossil fuels with renewable energy?
• Energy savings programs of developed countries as an example to follow.
• Renewable energy development strategy.
• Businesses and energy communities that are using renewable energy sources.
• Renewable sources vs. fossil fuels energy.
• Sustainability and renewable energy.
• Benefits of renewable energy in 2020.
• New technologies for using renewable energy sources invented in 2019.
• How renewable energy affects our planet’s future.
• Usage of biomass as a source of renewable energy.
• The limitations of fossil fuels: the importance of renewable energy and its economic benefits.
• Power extraction methods from flow-structure interactions.
• The pros and cons of renewable energy usage in the EU.
• Why the US should use renewable energy.
• The real price of power: an environmental impact review of renewable energy use and mitigation strategies.
• Smart grid technology as a renewable energy source.
• The laws the government should enforce on citizens regarding environmental issues, such as renewable energy.
• The advantages of biofuels being renewable energy.
• Do renewable energy sources propose green methods of use?
• Hydropower is the best from available renewable energy sources.

Alternative energy topics

• Which changes in consumer preferences toward alternative energy sources have contributed to lower oil prices?
• Why the use of alternative energy is beneficial and economical.
• Are alternative energy sources like solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal more practical than fossil fuels?
• Why non-renewable energy is less valuable than alternative energy.
• Why should the government increase funding for the development of alternative energy sources?
• A classification of the alternative energy sources.
• Methods of alternative energy use.
• Why is the use of alternative energy beneficial and economical for modern businesses?
• Should the government implement taxes for the purchase of hybrid or alternative energy vehicles?
• Does the government justify alternative energy sources that are useful for the climate?
• Hydroelectric power as a popular alternative energy source in Australia.
• Alternative energy as a constructive and viable energy production method in comparison to destructive nuclear energy.
• The chances of alternative energy effectively replacing fossil fuels.
• Wind farms and their potential to provide alternative energy for commercial use.
• Qatar explores alternative energy sources to ensure Brunei’s economic prosperity in the light of its depleting oil and gas reserves.
• An alternative energy program that could be the answer to the nation’s energy problems.
• The economic arguments for and against bio fuels as a method of alternative energy.
• Alternative energy is no longer an option but a vital solution for humanity.
• Solar energy is a kind of alternative energy that is the best solution for the domestic needs of big cities and countrysides.
• Using wind energy as an alternative source for providing electricity.
• How does alternative energy as the primary source of energy affect society’s sustainability?
• Hydroelectric power: how is the public reacting to this new form of alternative energy?
• The role of alternative energy projects in solving South Africa’s energy crisis.
• How do alternative energy methods affect the ecosystem in Europe?
• What technical barriers are holding the alternative energy industry back from more considerable expansion and adoption in the consumer and commercial sectors?
• The reasons for alternative energy technologies taking off and costs dropping each year.
• Geothermal energy: the methods of implementing this technology as a compelling option of alternative energy.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of alternative energy methods?
• Is reliance on alternative energy a viable long-term strategy, or does the abundance and profitability of fossil fuels give no real incentives to switch to cleaner forms of energy?
• Pros and cons of moving the global economy from a fossil fuel base to alternative energy.

47 helpful resources on renewable and alternative energy topics

Writing a paper is a complicated process, especially in the ecological discipline. You may find out more interesting facts about alternative energy on our website, or use essay writing app for help. We also propose for students a list of more powerful tools for further inspiration.

• Ajayi, OO. (2009). “Assessment of utilization of wind energy resources in Nigeria.”
• Alnatheer, O. (2005). “The potential contribution of renewable energy to electricity supply in Saudi Arabia.”
• Anderson, D. (1997). Renewable energy technology and policy for development.”
• Bird, L., Bolinger, M., Gagliano, T., Wiser, R., Brown, M. and Parsons, B. (2005). “Policies and market factors driving wind power development in the United States.”
• Birgisson, G. and Petersen, E. (2006). “Renewable energy development incentives: Strengths, weaknesses, and the interplay.”
• Burns, J.R. (1982). “Solar energy and the national energy dilemma: A model for policy evaluation.”
• Cantono, S. and Silverberg, G. (2009). “A percolation model of eco-innovation diffusion: The relationship between diffusion, learning economies and subsidies.”
• Carley, S. (2009). “State renewable energy electricity policies: An empirical evaluation of effectiveness.”
• Charles, M.B., Ryan, R., Ryan, N. and Oloruntoba, R. (2007). “Public policy and biofuels: The way forward?”
• Christiansen, A.C. (2002). “New renewable energy developments and the climate change issue: A case study of Norwegian politics.”
• Cowan, K.R. and Daim, T. (2009). “Comparative technological road-mapping for renewable energy.”
• Dinica, V. (2008). “Initiating a sustained diffusion of wind power: The role of public-private partnerships in Spain.”
• Dritschilo, W., Monroy, M., Nash, E., Schuyler, B., Wallerstein, B.R., Vita, J.D., and Perrine, R.L. (1983). “Energy vs. food resource ratios for alternative energy technologies.”
• Elliott, D. (2000). “Renewable energy and sustainable futures.”
• Fouquet, D. and Johansson, T.B. (2008). “European renewable energy policy at crossroads – focus on electricity support mechanisms.”
• Gan, P.Y. and Li, Z. (2008). “An econometric study on long-term energy outlook and the implications of renewable energy utilization in Malaysia.”
• Harmon, R.R. and Cowan, K.R. (2009). “A multiple perspectives view of the market case for green energy.”
• Hope, C.W. (1982). “Assessing renewable energy research and development.”
• Huang, A.Y. and Liu, R. (2008). “Learning for supplying as a motive to be the early adopter of new energy technology: A study on the adoption of stationary fuel cells.”
• Huang, M., Alavalapati, J.R.R., Carter, D.R. and Langholtz, M.H. (2007). “Is the choice of renewable portfolio standards random?”
• International Energy Agency (IEA) (2006). Key World Energy Statistics 2006, http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2006/key2006.pdf.
• Inoue, Y. and Miyazaki, K. (2008). “Technological innovation and diffusion of wind power in Japan.”
• Jacobsson, S. and Johnson, A. (2000). “The diffusion of renewable energy technology: An analytical framework and key issues for research.”
• Kajikawa, Y. and Takeda, Y. (2008). “Structure of research on biomass and biofuels: A citation-based approach.”
• Kajikawa, Y., Yoshikawa, J., Takeda Y. and Matsushima, K. (2008). “Tracking emerging technologies in energy research: Toward a roadmap for sustainable energy.”
• Karger, C.R. and Bongartz, R. (2008). “External determinants for the adoption of stationary fuel cells – infrastructure and policy issues.”
• Kobos, P.H., Erickson, J.D. and Drennen, T.E. (2006). “Technological learning and renewable energy costs: Implications for US renewable energy policy.”
• Kydes, A.S. (2007). “Impacts of a renewable portfolio generation standard on US energy markets.”
• Linston, H.A. (1999). Decision making for technology executives: Using multiple perspective to improve performance. Boston: Artech House.
• Loiter, JM and Norberg-Bohm, V. (1999). “Technology policy and renewable energy: Public roles in the development of new energy technologies.”
• Lund, H. (2007). “Renewable energy strategies for sustainable development.”
• Mallett, A. (2007). “Social acceptance of renewable energy innovations: The role of technology cooperation in urban Mexico.”
• Neij, L. (1997). “Use of experience curves to analyze the prospects for diffusion and adoption of renewable energy technology.”
• Norberg-Bohm, V. (2000). “Creating incentives for environmentally enhancing technological change: Lessons from 30 years of US energy technology policy.”
• Owen, A.D. (2006) “Renewable energy: Externality costs as market barriers.”
• Patlitzianas, K.D., Doukas, H. and Psarras, J. (2006). “Enhancing renewable energy in the Arab states of the Gulf: Constraints and efforts.”
• Podobnik, B. (1999). “Toward a sustainable energy regime: A long-wave interpretation of global energy shifts.”
• Rogers, E. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). New York: Free Press. Ryan, C.J. (1980). “The choices in the next energy and social revolution.”
• Sawyer, S.W. (1982). “Leaders in change: Solar energy owners and the implications for future adoption rates.”
• Sherrington, C., Bartley, J. and Moran, D. (2008). “Farm-level constraints on the domestic supply of perennial energy crops in the UK.”
• Shinnar, R. and Citro, F. (2008). “Decarbonization: Achieving near-total energy independence and near-total elimination of greenhouse emissions with available technologies.”
• Sims, REH (2004). “Renewable energy: A response to climate change.”
• Stephens, J.C., Wilson, E.J. and Peterson, T.R. (2008). “Socio-political evaluation of energy deployment (SPEED): An integrated research framework analyzing energy technology deployment.”
• Tsoutsos, T.D. and Stamboulis, Y.A. (2005). “The sustainable diffusion of renewable energy technologies as an example of an innovation-focused policy.”
• Walker, G. (1995). “Renewable energy and the public.”
• Zoellner, J., Schweizer-Ries, P. and Wemheuer, C. (2008). “Public acceptance of renewable energies: Results from case studies in Germany.”

Renewable and alternative energy essay writing help

Within a few years of engaging with ecological methods of producing energy, activists reached the ears of global communities from different fields. By cooperating, specialists are inventing more and more new options for using solar, biomass, wind, geothermal, and other kinds of energy supplies. We propose you to use the topics and sources in this article to use for your in-depth research and creative writing of your academic paper.

We hope you choose the best topic suitable for your essay or order an essay sample on this discipline at EssayShark.com. In case you don’t have an idea of where to start, our specialists will give you a helping hand – just request write my essay help from us!

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Renewable Energy

Biden’s New $1.8-Billion Transportation Package Stars Climate Projects

Climate-related highway fixes and electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses are among the projects getting federal help in a new round of funding

David Ferris, E&E News

The Science Is Clear: Offshore Wind Isn’t What’s Killing Whales

Politicians and nonprofit groups have blamed offshore wind turbines for whale deaths, but the science doesn’t support those claims—at all

Josh Axelrod

Iceland’s Ice Is Melting So Fast That It’s Boosting Hydropower

Melting glaciers are creating a green energy windfall in Iceland—but for how long?

Francisco "A.J." Camacho, E&E News

Clean Energy Spending Will Surpass $2 Trillion This Year

Investments in carbon-free energy will be twice as large as fossil fuel spending in 2024, the International Energy Agency predicts

Benjamin Storrow, E&E News

Hydrogen-Powered Airplanes Face 5 Big Challenges

Hydrogen could help make flying greener, but switching away from fossil fuels poses some hefty challenges

Tommaso Lecca, E&E News

What Does Energy Independence Really Mean?

“Energy independence” doesn’t mean what politicians think it means

Scott Waldman, E&E News

A Golden Age of Renewables Is Beginning, and California Is Leading the Way

California has hit record-breaking milestones in renewable electricity generation, showing that wind, water and solar are ready to cover our electricity needs

Mark Z. Jacobson

Renewable Energy Shatters Records in the U.S.

The U.S. has never had as much wind, solar and hydropower. But experts say it’s not enough to meet future electricity demand

How the Solar Eclipse Will Impact Electricity Supplies

This April’s total solar eclipse will present a unique challenge to power grid operators because of the decline in solar power generation

Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation US

Renewable Power Set to Surpass Coal Globally by 2025

Renewable energy will surpass coal power by 2025 and, with nuclear energy, will account for nearly half the world’s power generation by 2026, the International Energy Agency forecasts

Jason Plautz, E&E News

Renewable Energy Capacity Could More Than Double by 2030

China is running away with clean energy expansion, with the E.U. and U.S. following far behind

Sara Schonhardt, E&E News

The U.S. Energy Transition Explained in 8 Numbers

Solar and natural gas surged last year in the U.S., while wind stumbled

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• 08 August 2023

Clean energy can fuel the future — and make the world healthier

You have full access to this article via your institution.

China is on track to reach its solar-power target for 2030. Credit: Zhao Yongtao/VCG/Getty

The 2030 targets laid out by the United Nations for the seventh Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 7) are clear enough: provide affordable access to energy; expand use of renewable sources; improve energy efficiency year on year; and enhance international cooperation in support of clean-energy research, development and infrastructure. Meeting those goals, however, will be anything but simple. As seen in many of the editorials in this series examining the SDGs at their halfway stage , the world is falling short.

This is due, at least in part, to the influence of the fossil-fuel industry, which drives the economics and, often, the politics of countries large and small, rich and poor. Rising human prosperity, as measured by economic growth, has long been linked to an abundance of fossil fuels. Many politicians fear that the pursuit of clean-energy sources will compromise that economic development. The latest science clearly counters this view — but the voice of the research community is not being heard in the right places. To meet the targets embodied in SDG 7, that has to change.

There is much to be done. In 2021, some 675 million people worldwide still did not have access to electricity. This is down from 1.1 billion a decade or so ago, but the pace of progress has slowed. On the basis of current trends, 660 million people, many of them in sub-Saharan Africa, will remain without electricity by 2030. And projections indicate that some 1.9 billion people will still be using polluting and inefficient cooking systems fuelled by coal and wood (see go.nature.com/3s8d887 ). This is bad news all round: for health, biodiversity and the climate.

Carbon emissions hit new high: warning from COP27

Achieving the energy-access targets was always going to be a stretch, but progress has been slow elsewhere, too. Take energy efficiency. More energy efficiency means less pollution, and energy efficiency has increased by around 2% annually in the past few years. But meeting the target for 2030 — to double the rate of the 1990–2010 average — would require gains of around 3.4% every year for the rest of this decade.

The picture for renewable energy is similarly mixed. Despite considerable growth in wind and solar power to generate grid electricity, progress in the heat and transport sectors remains sluggish. Renewable energy’s share of total global energy consumption was just 19.1% in 2020, according to the latest UN tracking report, but one-third of that came from burning resources such as wood.

One reason for the slow progress is the continued idea that aggressive clean-energy goals will get in the way of economic development. It’s easier and more profitable for major fossil-fuel producers to simply maintain the status quo. Just last month, ministers from the G20 group of the world’s biggest economies, including the European Union, India, Saudi Arabia and the United States, failed to agree on a plan to phase out fossil fuels and triple the capacity of renewable energy by 2030.

But this is where science has a story to tell. In the past, researchers say, many models indicated that clean energy would be more expensive than that from fossil fuels, potentially pricing the poorest nations out of the market as well as driving up people’s food bills and exacerbating hunger. But the latest research suggests that the picture is more complex. Energy is a linchpin for most of the SDGs, and research that merges climate, energy and the SDGs underscores this 1 . For example, the agriculture and food-transport sectors still depend on fossil fuels, and that generates pollution that kills millions of people each year. Other links are indirect: lack of access to light at night and to online information — as a result of energy poverty — hampers educational attainment and contributes to both long- and short-term inequality.

US aims for electric-car revolution — will it work?

The lesson from research is that it might be easier, not harder, to address these challenges together. In 2021, researcher Gabriela Iacobuţă at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability in Bonn and her colleagues showed that technologies centred on renewable resources and efficiency tend to come with few trade-offs and many benefits, including improved public health and wealth, thanks to a cleaner environment and better jobs 2 . And climate scientist Bjoern Soergel at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany and his colleagues found that a coordinated package of climate and development policies could achieve most of the SDGs while limiting global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels 3 .

The study assessed 56 indicators across all 17 SDGs. One proposed intervention is an international climate finance mechanism that would levy fees on carbon emissions that would be redistributed through national programmes to reduce poverty. A second focuses on promoting healthy diets — including reducing the consumption of meat, the production of which requires a lot of water, energy and land. This would benefit people on low incomes by lowering both food and energy prices.

The biggest challenge lies in translating these models to the real world. To do so, we need leaders who are not bound by outmoded thinking, are aware of the latest science and can draw on the research to build public support for the necessary energy transition. We require more national and international public institutions that are willing to address problems at the system level. And all of this needs a science community that is willing and able to champion knowledge and evidence.

Nature 620 , 245 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02510-y

Vohra, K. et al. Environ. Res. 195 , 110754 (2021).

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Iacobuţă, G. I., Höhne, N., van Soest, H. L. & Leemans, R. Sustainability 13 , 10774 (2021).

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Soergel, B. et al. Nature Clim. Change 11 , 656–664 (2021).

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Renewable energy is generated by sources that can be replenished within a relatively short period of time. Solar, wind, water, biomass, and geothermal are all renewable energy sources. 1 Green energy, while similar to renewable energy, is a subset of sources that have the highest environmental benefits. 2 Clean energy sources emit low carbon, and include renewable energy sources along with nuclear power. 3

Renewable energy sources have been used to generate heat and power for much of human history, and more relatively recently, electricity. Renewable energy makes up 12% of primary energy use in the United States and 11% worldwide. 4 While there is still a strong dependence on fossil fuels for heating, electricity and transportation, the oil crises of the 1970s pushed for stronger investment into alternative energy sources. Additionally, the negative effects of climate change have increased public demand in finding non-fossil fuel based energy, aided by government incentives and standards. 5

This guide focuses on resources relevant to researching the business of generating and distributing renewable energy. To that end, there are sections of this guide about the power grid and the electric power sector which consumes energy in order to generate and sell electricity. This guide does not include technical or engineering information on developing renewable energy technologies. Information on the power grid, climate change, and energy policy are included as they relate to the renewable energy industry. For information on corporate responsibility, which includes businesses that use renewable or green energies, see Corporate Social Responsibility: A Resource Guide . Additional information on green businesses is in Green Business: Sources of Information . Most of the guide takes a U.S. perspective, but international sources are included throughout.

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• 21st Century U.S. Energy Sources: A Primer. CRS Report R44854. Congressional Research Service, March 16, 2021. The section on renewable energy starts on page 25.

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Five Energy Topics That Will Be Key To The World’s Future

Mit energy conference 2015 brings together key energy innovators.

Leading CEOs, academics and entrepreneurs in global energy converged on MIT this past weekend for the tenth annual MIT Energy Conference, which explored “Global Energy Shifts.” Panels delved into four key areas: power and renewables, fossil fuels, global collaboration, and sustainable development.

Key speakers over the two day gathering included Thomas Siebel, Founder and CEO of C3 Energy, Bill Colton, Vice President of Corporate Strategic Planning at ExxonMobil Corporation, Ahmad Chatila, President and CEO of SunEdison, Dirk Smit, Chief Scientist at Shell Global, David Danielson, Assistant Secretary of Energy at the DOE, and William A. Von Hoene, Jr., Chief Strategic Officer at Exelon Group, among others.

MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) director Robert Armstrong delivered opening remarks to a packed auditorium. Armstrong lauded the conference’s ability to consistently touch upon the most pressing energy issues of our time, and to foster an atmosphere conducive to solving challenges in a creative and efficient way.

“There are five topics in particular that are going to be of importance in the energy world in the near future,” said Armstrong. “Solar is the first.”

“Though solar is admittedly difficult, because it’s a resource that’s not concentrated in one place, it also is an easily and cheaply manufactured technology, which will help widen its reach.”

Armstrong next pointed to both energy storage and then the grid. “Energy storage is essential for large scale incorporation of renewables on the grid. The grid’s size, resiliency, reliability, security and adaptability need to be taken into account if the full potential of emerging energy technologies is going to be achieved.”

MITEI’s director also urged his audience to pay attention to emerging technologies in two areas: nuclear energy and carbon capture and sequestration, or CCS.

“In a truly balanced energy ecosystem, nuclear needs to be part of the solution.  Leaps forward in affordable and predictable nuclear will change our energy landscape for the better.”

Armstrong has similarly high hopes for carbon capture and sequestration. Citing the projection that global energy demand will double by midcentury, he observed that fossil fuels will have to be a part of that equation.

“The need to remove carbon from the atmosphere is very real, and CCS technology will play a critical role in solving this problem.”

Armstrong’s vision for the MIT Energy Initiative within the energy landscape is clear –  “The MIT Energy Initiative has at its heart – just as the MIT Energy Club does – a goal of bringing all the talents of MIT together to bear on these very real challenges.”

The rest of the conference’s panels kept this solution-oriented spirit alive.

At an afternoon panel on fossil fuels called “Unconventional Resources: Present to Future, U.S. to Global,” Christopher Knittel , the William Barton Rogers Professor of Energy Economics at MIT Sloan and a MITEI-affiliated researcher, led a group of experts in a discussion of the future of shale gas drilling.

Another panel approached the issue of how to promote a different kind of unconventional resource: renewable energy. In the session “Securing the Future of Clean Energy Through a Stronger Transmission Backbone,” panelists from across the clean energy sector approached the issue of how to better integrate renewables into the grid.

In all, the sold-out conference featured over fifty speakers participating in over fifteen panels and keynotes tackling key global energy issues.

For more information about the day, visit the MIT Energy Conference’s website .

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More From Forbes

The Five Biggest New Energy Trends In 2022

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Today, nearly everyone accepts that in order to slow the damage we are doing to our planet and environment, humans must transition away from the use of fossil fuels. This has led to many science and business innovations as we search for new sustainable or renewable alternatives to coal, oil, and gas.

Although it would be nice to think everyone wants to do their part in order to save the world, there are strong financial incentives too. The value of the renewable energy market is set to grow from $880 billion to nearly $2 trillion by 2030. And the growing awareness of the importance of environmental and social governance (ESG) issues means there are tremendous political incentives, too.

2022 is set to be a record year in terms of the scale at which the switchover from fossil fuels to renewable sources will take place. It’s also a year in which we will see new and exotic sources of energy emerge from laboratory and pilot projects and start to become a part of everyday life. So let’s take a look at what is predicted to be some of the most impactful trends in the new energy sector over the next 12 months…

AI in the energy sector

As with every sector, artificial intelligence (AI) is having transformative effects across energy and utilities. It is used to forecast demand and manage the distribution of resources, to ensure that power is available at the time and place it's needed with a minimum of waste. This is particularly important in the renewable energy industry, where it often can’t be stored for long periods of time and has to be used close to the time and location where it is generated.

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The World Economic Forum predicts that AI will play an essential role in the world’s transition to clean energy. These gains in efficiency will be created by more accurate forecasting of supply and demand. Additionally, a switch is taking place away from centralized models of power generation and distribution towards decentralized models, where more power is generated by smaller, localized power grids (for example, solar farms) and coordinating the integration of these networks requires complex AI algorithms. The strategy here is to create an “ intelligent coordination layer ” that sits between the power infrastructure and homes and businesses where power is consumed.

In 2021 we can expect more innovation from startups putting AI to work in novel ways.

Green hydrogen energy

Hydrogen is the most abundant material in the universe and produces close to zero greenhouse gas emissions when burnt. These are two of the qualities that make it a very exciting potential source of energy. Traditionally, though, the difficulty has been that converting it into a form that can be used as fuel involves the consumption of fossil fuels and the creation of carbon emissions. Brown hydrogen, for example, is derived from coal, while grey hydrogen is derived from natural gas.

Green carbon, on the other hand, is created by a process involving electrolysis and water, and generating the required electricity from renewable sources like wind or solar power effectively makes the process carbon-free. This year, a number of major European energy companies, including Shell and RWE, committed to creating the first major green hydrogen pipeline from offshore wind plants in the North Sea throughout Europe. Although it won’t be complete until 2035, the European Union has committed to smaller projects aiming to create 40GW of renewable power to be used for green hydrogen generation by 2030. This means we can expect a ramping-up of innovation and projects concerned with this fuel source throughout 2020 – one example is the world’s first hydrogen-powered e-bike created by Dutch designers Studio MOM and Australian hydrogen fuel startup LAVO. Another is the at-home electric vehicle charging solutions using hydrogen fuel created by US startup ElektrikGreen .

The Internet of Energy

The area of the internet of things (IoT) is concerned with the generation and distribution of power. IoE is closely tied to the idea of energy decentralization – the move towards a more sustainable power infrastructure where energy is used as closely as possible to the time and place where it is created.

This new paradigm in energy infrastructure involves a significant level of automation in order to manage the new technology platforms as well as the financial framework required by markets to facilitate energy trading and distribution. Artificial intelligence (see above) will play a big role here, as will other emergent technology trends such as blockchain , which will enable transparent and secure records of trades and payments. As with IoT, IoE involves edge and cloud architecture, with sensors and scanners both processing information close to the source (at the point where power is generated or used) and via remote data centers. This technology layer will make it possible for utility companies to conduct real-time, data-driven decision-making and predictive maintenance in order to drive efficiency while also improving customer experience and satisfaction.

Advanced engineering in renewables

The technology used to generate renewable energy is constantly being improved, thanks to the enormous pressure to generate power more economically, efficiently, and safely. In 2022 we will see further advances in engineering, bringing us more powerful and adaptable photovoltaic panels used for solar power generation and turbine blades used in hydro and wind power generation. The blades created by US startup Helicoid , for example, use novel arrangements of structural fibers to create turbines that are stronger, more resistant to damage by environmental erosion, and impacted less by structural fatigue. This improves their efficiency by making them less affected by downtime and in need of less frequent replacement and repair.

In solar, companies including Dutch startup Lusoco are finding new ways to engineer photovoltaic panels using different reflecting and refracting materials – including fluorescent ink - to concentrate light onto the solar cells, leading to more efficient harvesting of energy. This results in panels that are lighter as well as cheaper, and less energy-intensive to produce and install. New materials are also being developed that convert energy more effectively. These include the monocrystalline silicon ingots created by Norwegian Crystals , which are produced via a super low-carbon hydropower process. Improvement to engineering processes will be a strong trend driving increased efficiency and reliability throughout the renewable energy sector in 2022.

Energy derived from biomass or biofuel has the potential to generate far more of the power used by human society than it does today, and in recent years we have seen a strong trend towards attempting to unlock this potential. Thermal, chemical, and biological processes are used to create more efficient forms of fuel from biological matter (such as wood, or crops like sugarcane, or even waste materials). This includes fermentation to produce bioethanol and biodiesel.

Although the classification as renewable is somewhat controversial, the International Energy Agency predicts that bioenergy will account for 30% of renewable energy production by 2023. It is considered by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to be fundamental to plans to restrict global warming this century to 1.5°C.

2022 will see an increase in projects looking at new methods of converting biological matter into energy, as well as practical applications for that energy. Brewer Heineken has unveiled plans to power its production site in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on waste rice husks produced by local farmers. Sewage waste discharged from cargo ships will be converted into biogas fuel for use in the transport industry in a project led by the Baltic Sea Action Group in 2022. And French startup BeFC has created paper biofuel cells that convert glucose and oxygen into electricity to create new forms of non-toxic, recyclable, and eco-friendly batteries for use in low-power applications such as IoT sensors and transmitters.

To stay on top of these and other trends, sign up for my newsletter , and check out my books ‘ Tech Trends in Practice ’ and ‘ Business Trends in Practice .'

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Renewable Energy

Renewable energy comes from sources that will not be used up in our lifetimes, such as the sun and wind.

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Wind Turbines in a Sheep Pasture

Wind turbines use the power of wind to generate energy. This is just one source of renewable energy.

Photograph by Jesus Keller/ Shutterstock

The wind, the sun, and Earth are sources of  renewable energy . These energy sources naturally renew, or replenish themselves.

Wind, sunlight, and the planet have energy that transforms in ways we can see and feel. We can see and feel evidence of the transfer of energy from the sun to Earth in the sunlight shining on the ground and the warmth we feel when sunlight shines on our skin. We can see and feel evidence of the transfer of energy in wind’s ability to pull kites higher into the sky and shake the leaves on trees. We can see and feel evidence of the transfer of energy in the geothermal energy of steam vents and geysers .

People have created different ways to capture the energy from these renewable sources.

Solar Energy

Solar energy can be captured “actively” or “passively.”

Active solar energy uses special technology to capture the sun’s rays. The two main types of equipment are photovoltaic cells (also called PV cells or solar cells) and mirrors that focus sunlight in a specific spot. These active solar technologies use sunlight to generate electricity , which we use to power lights, heating systems, computers, and televisions.

Passive solar energy does not use any equipment. Instead, it gets energy from the way sunlight naturally changes throughout the day. For example, people can build houses so their windows face the path of the sun. This means the house will get more heat from the sun. It will take less energy from other sources to heat the house.

Other examples of passive solar technology are green roofs , cool roofs, and radiant barriers . Green roofs are completely covered with plants. Plants can get rid of pollutants in rainwater and air. They help make the local environment cleaner.

Cool roofs are painted white to better reflect sunlight. Radiant barriers are made of a reflective covering, such as aluminum. They both reflect the sun’s heat instead of absorbing it. All these types of roofs help lower the amount of energy needed to cool the building.

Advantages and Disadvantages There are many advantages to using solar energy. PV cells last for a long time, about 20 years.

However, there are reasons why solar power cannot be used as the only power source in a community. It can be expensive to install PV cells or build a building using passive solar technology.

Sunshine can also be hard to predict. It can be blocked by clouds, and the sun doesn’t shine at night. Different parts of Earth receive different amounts of sunlight based on location, the time of year, and the time of day.

Wind Energy

People have been harnessing the wind’s energy for a long, long time. Five-thousand years ago, ancient Egyptians made boats powered by the wind. In 200 B.C.E., people used windmills to grind grain in the Middle East and pump water in China.

Today, we capture the wind’s energy with wind turbines . A turbine is similar to a windmill; it has a very tall tower with two or three propeller-like blades at the top. These blades are turned by the wind. The blades turn a generator (located inside the tower), which creates electricity.

Groups of wind turbines are known as wind farms . Wind farms can be found near farmland, in narrow mountain passes, and even in the ocean, where there are steadier and stronger winds. Wind turbines anchored in the ocean are called “ offshore wind farms.”

Wind farms create electricity for nearby homes, schools, and other buildings.

Advantages and Disadvantages Wind energy can be very efficient . In places like the Midwest in the United States and along coasts, steady winds can provide cheap, reliable electricity.

Another great advantage of wind power is that it is a “clean” form of energy. Wind turbines do not burn fuel or emit any pollutants into the air.

Wind is not always a steady source of energy, however. Wind speed changes constantly, depending on the time of day, weather , and geographic location. Currently, it cannot be used to provide electricity for all our power needs.

Wind turbines can also be dangerous for bats and birds. These animals cannot always judge how fast the blades are moving and crash into them.

Geothermal Energy

Deep beneath the surface is Earth’s core . The center of Earth is extremely hot—thought to be over 6,000 °C (about 10,800 °F). The heat is constantly moving toward the surface.

We can see some of Earth’s heat when it bubbles to the surface. Geothermal energy can melt underground rocks into magma and cause the magma to bubble to the surface as lava . Geothermal energy can also heat underground sources of water and force it to spew out from the surface. This stream of water is called a geyser.

However, most of Earth’s heat stays underground and makes its way out very, very slowly.

We can access underground geothermal heat in different ways. One way of using geothermal energy is with “geothermal heat pumps.” A pipe of water loops between a building and holes dug deep underground. The water is warmed by the geothermal energy underground and brings the warmth aboveground to the building. Geothermal heat pumps can be used to heat houses, sidewalks, and even parking lots.

Another way to use geothermal energy is with steam. In some areas of the world, there is underground steam that naturally rises to the surface. The steam can be piped straight to a power plant. However, in other parts of the world, the ground is dry. Water must be injected underground to create steam. When the steam comes to the surface, it is used to turn a generator and create electricity.

In Iceland, there are large reservoirs of underground water. Almost 90 percent of people in Iceland use geothermal as an energy source to heat their homes and businesses.

Advantages and Disadvantages An advantage of geothermal energy is that it is clean. It does not require any fuel or emit any harmful pollutants into the air.

Geothermal energy is only avaiable in certain parts of the world. Another disadvantage of using geothermal energy is that in areas of the world where there is only dry heat underground, large quantities of freshwater are used to make steam. There may not be a lot of freshwater. People need water for drinking, cooking, and bathing.

Biomass Energy

Biomass is any material that comes from plants or microorganisms that were recently living. Plants create energy from the sun through photosynthesis . This energy is stored in the plants even after they die.

Trees, branches, scraps of bark, and recycled paper are common sources of biomass energy. Manure, garbage, and crops , such as corn, soy, and sugar cane, can also be used as biomass feedstocks .

We get energy from biomass by burning it. Wood chips, manure, and garbage are dried out and compressed into squares called “briquettes.” These briquettes are so dry that they do not absorb water. They can be stored and burned to create heat or generate electricity.

Biomass can also be converted into biofuel . Biofuels are mixed with regular gasoline and can be used to power cars and trucks. Biofuels release less harmful pollutants than pure gasoline.

Advantages and Disadvantages A major advantage of biomass is that it can be stored and then used when it is needed.

Growing crops for biofuels, however, requires large amounts of land and pesticides . Land could be used for food instead of biofuels. Some pesticides could pollute the air and water.

Biomass energy can also be a nonrenewable energy source. Biomass energy relies on biomass feedstocks—plants that are processed and burned to create electricity. Biomass feedstocks can include crops, such as corn or soy, as well as wood. If people do not replant biomass feedstocks as fast as they use them, biomass energy becomes a non-renewable energy source.

Hydroelectric Energy

Hydroelectric energy is made by flowing water. Most hydroelectric power plants are located on large dams , which control the flow of a river.

Dams block the river and create an artificial lake, or reservoir. A controlled amount of water is forced through tunnels in the dam. As water flows through the tunnels, it turns huge turbines and generates electricity.

Advantages and Disadvantages Hydroelectric energy is fairly inexpensive to harness. Dams do not need to be complex, and the resources to build them are not difficult to obtain. Rivers flow all over the world, so the energy source is available to millions of people.

Hydroelectric energy is also fairly reliable. Engineers control the flow of water through the dam, so the flow does not depend on the weather (the way solar and wind energies do).

However, hydroelectric power plants are damaging to the environment. When a river is dammed, it creates a large lake behind the dam. This lake (sometimes called a reservoir) drowns the original river habitat deep underwater. Sometimes, people build dams that can drown entire towns underwater. The people who live in the town or village must move to a new area.

Hydroelectric power plants don’t work for a very long time: Some can only supply power for 20 or 30 years. Silt , or dirt from a riverbed, builds up behind the dam and slows the flow of water.

Other Renewable Energy Sources

Scientists and engineers are constantly working to harness other renewable energy sources. Three of the most promising are tidal energy , wave energy , and algal (or algae) fuel.

Tidal energy harnesses the power of ocean tides to generate electricity. Some tidal energy projects use the moving tides to turn the blades of a turbine. Other projects use small dams to continually fill reservoirs at high tide and slowly release the water (and turn turbines) at low tide.

Wave energy harnesses waves from the ocean, lakes, or rivers. Some wave energy projects use the same equipment that tidal energy projects do—dams and standing turbines. Other wave energy projects float directly on waves. The water’s constant movement over and through these floating pieces of equipment turns turbines and creates electricity.

Algal fuel is a type of biomass energy that uses the unique chemicals in seaweed to create a clean and renewable biofuel. Algal fuel does not need the acres of cropland that other biofuel feedstocks do.

Renewable Nations

These nations (or groups of nations) produce the most energy using renewable resources. Many of them are also the leading producers of nonrenewable energy: China, European Union, United States, Brazil, and Canada

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• Issues & Controversies This link opens in a new window This is a great database to use when you want to explore different viewpoints on controversial or hot-button issues. It includes reports on more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture. Use the search or browse topics by subject or A to Z.
• Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window Use this database for preliminary reading as you start your research. You'll learn about your topic by reading authoritative topic overviews on a wide variety of subjects.
• Gale In Context: Global Issues This link opens in a new window Use this database when you want to explore your topic from a global perspective or to analyze and understand the most important issues of the modern world with a global awareness. You'll find news, global viewpoints, reference materials, country information, primary source documents, videos, statistics, and more.
• Alternative Energy This 3-volume encyclopedia is available as an eBook. Use the search box to find articles on specific alternative energy topics
• What is renewable energy?
• What are the different types of renewable energy?
• What is the difference between renewable energy and clean energy?
• What is the history of renewable energy in the United States?
• What are the advantages of renewable energy?
• What are the disadvantages of renewable energy?
• What are the economic arguments for and against renewable energy?
• What are the political arguments for and against renewable energy?
• How should research into renewable energy be funded?
• Should the U.S. government provide subsidies or tax breaks to renewable energy companies?
• Based on what I have learned from my research, what do I think about the issue of renewable energy?

Why Use Books:

Use books to read broad overviews and detailed discussions of your topic. You can also use books to find  primary sources , which are often published together in collections.  

Where Do I Find Books?

You'll use the library catalog to search for books, ebooks, articles, and more.  

What if MJC Doesn't Have What I Need?

If you need materials (books, articles, recordings, videos, etc.) that you cannot find in the library catalog , use our  interlibrary loan service .

All of these resources are free for MJC students, faculty, & staff.

If you're working from off campus , you'll need to sign in. Once you click on the name of a database, simply enter your student ID (without the W) and your six-digit birth date.

• GreenFILE This link opens in a new window Well-researched information covering all aspects of human impact to the environment. This collection of scholarly, government and general-interest titles includes content on global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more.
• Today's Science This link opens in a new window Covers a full range of current scientific developments.
• Gale Databases This link opens in a new window Search over 35 databases simultaneously that cover almost any topic you need to research at MJC. Gale databases include articles previously published in journals, magazines, newspapers, books, and other media outlets.
• Access World News This link opens in a new window Search the full-text of editions of record for local, regional, and national U.S. newspapers as well as full-text content of key international sources. This is your source for The Modesto Bee from January 1989 to the present. Also includes in-depth special reports and hot topics from around the country. To access The Modesto Bee , limit your search to that publication. more... less... Watch this short video to learn how to find The Modesto Bee .

Find videos and documentaries about renewable energy in Films on Demand.  These film resources are free for MJC students, faculty, & staff.  If you're working from off campus, you'll need to sign in , using your student ID (without the W) and your six-digit birth date.

Type renewable energy  in the search box to access videos on this topic.

• Films on Demand This link opens in a new window Use Films on Demand when you want educational video content. This streaming video collection contains unlimited, 24/7 access to thousands of videos. Teachers can embed videos in Canvas. In addition, there are mobile options for iPad and Android. more... less... Instructions for embedding Films on Demand into Canvas .
• Kanopy This link opens in a new window Kanopy is a video streaming database with a broad selection of over 26,000 documentaries, feature films and training videos from thousands of producers. Instructions for embedding Kanopy into Canvas .

Use Google Scholar to find scholarly literature on the Web:

Browse Featured Web sites:

• Modesto Irrigation District Electrical power and water utility
• MIT Energy Initiative Use the search box or click on the Research and Studies tab to find information on energy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• United States Department of Energy The U.S. Department of Energy's site has information on all aspects of energy use and production. Use the search box at the top of the page to access specific information.

Your instructor should tell you which citation style they want you to use. Click on the appropriate link below to learn how to format your paper and cite your sources according to a particular style.

• Chicago Style
• ASA & Other Citation Styles
• Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024 1:28 PM
• URL: https://libguides.mjc.edu/renewable_energy

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and CC BY-NC 4.0 Licenses .

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Read our research on:

Full Topic List

Regions & Countries

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• Our Methods
• Short Reads
• Tools & Resources

Read Our Research On:

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in the U.S.

64% of Americans live within 2 miles of a public electric vehicle charging station, and those who live closest to chargers view EVs more positively.

How Republicans view climate change and energy issues

Just 12% of Republicans and Republican leaners say dealing with climate change should be a top priority for the president and Congress.

Growing share of Americans favor more nuclear power

A majority of Americans (57%) say they favor more nuclear power plants to generate electricity in the country, up from 43% who said this in 2020.

Why Some Americans Do Not See Urgency on Climate Change

As the Earth’s temperature continues to rise, climate change remains a lower priority for some Americans, and a subset of the public rejects that it’s happening at all. To better understand the perspectives of those who see less urgency to address climate change, the Center conducted a series of in-depth interviews designed to provide deeper insight into the motivations and views of those most skeptical about climate change.

What the data says about Americans’ views of climate change

Two-thirds of Americans say the United States should prioritize developing renewable energy sources over expanding the production of fossil fuels.

How Americans view electric vehicles

About four-in-ten Americans (38%) say they’re very or somewhat likely to seriously consider an electric vehicle (EV) for their next vehicle purchase.

Majorities of Americans Prioritize Renewable Energy, Back Steps to Address Climate Change

Large shares of Americans support the U.S. taking steps to address global climate change and prioritize renewable energy development in the country. Still, fewer than half are ready to phase out fossil fuels completely and 59% oppose ending the production of gas-powered cars.

Home solar panel adoption continues to rise in the U.S.

While residential solar power generates just a fraction of the country’s overall electricity, it has continued to grow rapidly.

Americans support incentives for electric vehicles but are divided over buying one themselves

Overall, two-thirds of Americans support providing incentives to increase the use of electric and hybrid vehicles.

A Majority of Americans Favor Expanding Natural Gas Production To Export to Europe

Yet renewable sources, like wind and solar, remain Americans’ overall priority for domestic production.

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER  Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of  The Pew Charitable Trusts .

© 2024 Pew Research Center

• DOI: 10.26689/jera.v8i3.7238
• Corpus ID: 270653328

Analysis of Current Research and Future Development Trends of Applying Solar Energy in Street Lighting

• Liyan Zhang , Qingying Zhou , +1 author Hu Guo
• Published in Journal of Electronic… 14 June 2024
• Environmental Science, Engineering

7 References

Regional feed-in tariff mechanism for photovoltaic power generation in china considering tradable green certificate revenue, review of deep learning techniques for power generation prediction of industrial solar photovoltaic plants, related papers.

Showing 1 through 3 of 0 Related Papers

Recent developments in PV/wind hybrid renewable energy systems: a review

• Bhimaraju, Ambati
• Mahesh, Aeidapu

Electrical energy plays a vital role in every individual, and also it is crucial for the economy of any country. Looking into the sustainability and environment factors, it is evident that the renewable energy sources are certainly the way forward for the future electricity needs. But, due to the dependency on climatic conditions, these sources are not entirely reliable when utilized individually. A Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) is a combination of two or more resources that will improve reliability and reduce the cost of the system. Hence, sizing of HRES for a particular area becomes an important research topic in this field. In this paper, a detailed and up-to-date review of research that has been carried out in the area of HRES primarily focusing on solar PV and wind energy systems in terms of technical, economic, and environmental aspects, is presented. At first, various configurations of HRES in both stand-alone and grid-connected mode were discussed. An effort has been made to highlight the different storage systems along with their benefits and drawbacks in this paper. Further various optimization methods used by the researchers were also summarized in the text and tabular forms. More importantly, this paper also includes a review of demand response methodologies that are used by the researchers when sizing the system and methodologies that involve the Electric Vehicles (EVs) as an additional battery storage/controllable load. The mathematical modelling of PEVs, various constraints used for optimization were also described in this paper with relevant explanation. Hence, this paper gives an overall perspective about various sizing methods of the HRES including DRM and EVs to the reader. Finally, the overall observations and few recommendations were presented in this paper, which will be helpful for the researchers, policy makers working in this field.

• Hybrid renewable energy systems;
• Optimal sizing;
• Energy storage systems;
• Demand response methodologies;
• Electric vehicles