Renewable Energy Sources (APES)

Solar Energy

Energy derived from the Sun, captured primarily through photovoltaic (PV) cells and solar thermal systems.

Photovoltaic (PV) Cells

Devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials.

Solar Thermal Systems

Systems that use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight to produce heat, generating steam to drive turbines.

Intermittency

A challenge of solar energy due to reliance on daylight and effects of weather conditions.

Land Use

A challenge for solar farms as they require extensive land that may disrupt habitats.

Manufacturing Impact

Energy-intensive processes involved in producing solar panels, using materials with environmental challenges.

Wind Power

Energy harnessed from the kinetic energy of moving air using turbines.

Turbines

Devices that convert wind energy into electricity by spinning a generator.

Offshore Wind Farms

Wind farms located in oceans that utilize stronger, more consistent winds.

Environmental Impact

A challenge where wind turbines risk harming bird and bat populations.

Public Concerns

Local community resistance to wind power due to noise and aesthetic issues.

Hydroelectric Power

Energy produced by capturing the energy of flowing or falling water.

Dams

Structures that store water in a reservoir and release it through turbines to generate electricity.

Run-of-River Systems

Hydropower systems that use the natural flow of rivers without large reservoirs.

Ecosystem Disruption

A challenge where dams block fish migration and disrupt river ecosystems.

Community Impact

Potential displacement of local communities and flooding of areas due to large hydroelectric projects.

Dependence on Water Availability

Challenge for hydropower as droughts or climate changes can reduce generation.

Geothermal Energy

Energy that utilizes heat from beneath the Earth's surface to generate electricity.

Geographic Limitation

Geothermal energy is most viable in high geothermal activity regions like volcanic zones.

Environmental Risks

Challenges related to drilling, which can release harmful gases and induce seismicity.

Biomass Energy

Energy generated by burning or processing organic materials.

Biofuels

Renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel made from biomass used in transportation.

Land Use Competition

Challenge from growing energy crops reducing land for food production.

Deforestation

Unsustainable sourcing of biomass leading to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss.

Tidal Energy

Energy derived from gravitational interactions leading to tidal movements.

Tidal Turbines

Underwater devices that capture energy from tidal currents.

Environmental Impact

Challenge where tidal structures disrupt marine habitats and flow patterns.

Wave Energy

Energy captured from the motion of surface waves in oceans or seas.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Devices that generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

Experimental Status

Refers to nuclear fusion still being in development with projects like ITER.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)

Process that generates electricity from temperature differences in ocean water.

Experimental Technology

Challenge of OTEC, which is not widely implemented and requires further research.

Efficiency Concerns

Concern regarding OTEC's low energy output relative to investment.

Intermittency

Challenge for renewable energy sources due to variability in natural conditions.

Hydropower

Renewable energy generated by harnessing water flow.

Turbine Blades

Components of wind turbines that convert wind energy into mechanical energy.

Rare Metals

Materials used in the manufacturing of solar panels posing environmental challenges.

Infrastructure Costs

High financial investments required for developing tidal and wind power systems.

Resource Extraction

Processes that can be harmful to the environment when accessing geothermal energy.

Energy-Intensive Processes

Processes involved in the manufacturing of renewable energy technologies requiring vast energy.

Energy Generation Reliability

Dependability of energy production from renewable sources in varying conditions.

Climate Change Mitigation

Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy adoption.

Renewable Energy Integration

Prioritizing the combination of different renewable sources for sustainable energy supply.

Sustainable Energy Future

The goal of transitioning all energy systems to one grounded in renewable sources.

Electricity Generation

The process of producing electrical energy from alternative sources like solar and wind.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Greenhouse gas released during biomass combustion that needs management for sustainability.

Habitat Disruption

Negative consequences on wildlife and ecosystems from the expansion of renewable energy.