Renewable energy is power generated by fuel sources that naturally restore themselves over a short period of time and do not diminish. Examples of renewable energy sources include sunlight, wind, geothermal heat, biomass, and tidal waves. Although some renewable energy technologies have an impact on the environment, renewables are considered environmentally preferable to conventional sources and have significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when replacing fossil fuels. Show
What are the Benefits?Renewable energy is becoming a larger piece of our energy pie and a growing market in the U.S. economy Benefits of switching to renewable energy include:
Types of Renewable Energy:Solar EnergySolar energy technologies harness energy from the sun to produce electricity with photovoltaic (PV) panels or heat water and air with a solar thermal collector. PV panels produce electricity from semiconductor materials that absorb sunlight and generate an electrical circuit. Solar hot water systems connect a solar collector to absorb sunlight to a storage tank, providing hot water on sunny days without using fossil fuels for heat. How do I Install a Solar Energy System?Follow these steps:
DEP recommends checking relevant licenses, requesting references and a list of itemized costs, and get multiple quotes before selecting an installer. Note, your installer will also need to submit an application for a residential solar PV system permit through the County’s Department of Permitting Services. Visit DOE’s websites to learn more about solar electricity generation or solar hot water heaters. Visit the MDV-SEIA for additional installation information. Join a Solar Co-OpSolar Co-ops make installing a solar system easy. Solar United Neighbors brings neighbors together and provides support throughout the entire process. The Solar Co-ops take advantage of a group of homeowners’ bulk-purchasing power to get discounted pricing and a quality installation. Volunteer co-op members choose an installer on behalf of the entire group through an open and competitive bidding process. The selected installer provides co-op participants a personalized proposal for their consideration. Community SolarThe sun shines everywhere in Maryland. But too few Marylanders could take advantage of solar energy until the advent of a statewide community solar program. Community, or shared, solar makes it possible for anyone with an electric bill to access solar energy, even if they can’t put it where they live. Shared solar means photovoltaic (PV) systems can be somewhere else in the community (in a field, on a building, over a parking lot, and elsewhere) but provide the benefits of solar electricity to participating subscribers. Community solar also represents a significant opportunity to expand direct access to Maryland’s renewable energy economy to everyone in the state. The Public Service Commission has a list of upcoming projects. Wind EnergyWind energy technologies use the energy to generate electricity. Wind energy is harnessed by turbines, or fan-like rotors—when the wind blows, the blades of the fan spin an internal generator that creates electricity. While wind turbines tend to be used for utility and commercial purposes, small wind electric systems can be used on appropriate residential sites as well. How do I Install a Wind Energy System?Follow these steps:
DEP recommends checking relevant licenses, requesting references and a list of itemized costs, and get multiple quotes before selecting an installer. Note, your installer will also need to submit an application for a residential electrical system permit through the County’s Department of Permitting Services. Read more about wind energy on DOE’s website or the American Wind Energy Association. Other Types of RenewablesSolar and wind energy technologies tend to dominate the renewable energy landscape, but there are other energy sources that are gaining popularity, such as geothermal energy and fuel cell technologies. Geothermal EnergyGeothermal resources include the energy (heat or coolness) retained in shallow ground, water and rock found beneath the Earth's surface. Geothermal systems capture and transfer the heat or coolness of the earth to supplement the heating and cooling of a building or home. Fuel CellsA fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen, bio-fuels, or other fuel sources to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity. Fuel cells operate at high efficiencies of up to 60% compared to combustion engines, and only generate heat and water when producing electricity. Fuel cell technology can be used in a number of practical applications, including back-up power sources, transportation, material handling, and emergency backup power applications. Fuel cells aren’t common in residential settings due to the high costs, but can be practical for commercial and industrial uses. Read more about fuel cells on DOE’s Fuel Cells Technologies Office website or visit the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) website for more information. Purchasing Clean ElectricitySince the energy market in Maryland is deregulated, you can choose your electricity supplier and the source of the electricity you want to buy. As a result, you do not need to install special equipment to receive clean energy. Through a competitive electricity supplier, you can choose to buy a percentage (or all) of your electricity from clean energy sources like wind or solar. This "clean" electricity is delivered to your house by your local utility, in the same way it provides fossil fuel generated electricity. You can switch electricity suppliers at any time—if you have an existing contract with an electricity supplier, be sure to check it before you switch products or suppliers to avoid penalties! Purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates from a Third-Party RetailerRenewable energy certificates (RECs) monetize the environmental benefits of clean energy that a generator has produced from a clean, renewable source (such as wind or solar) and transmitted to the power grid. When buying a REC through a third-party retailer, you're purchasing the environmental benefit of the clean energy without electricity service. This flexibility allows even those who do not directly communicate with their energy suppliers to offset the pollution from the fossil-fuel-sourced electricity they buy and use. Purchasing RECs creates the demand for more renewable energy, adding clean power to the electricity grid and decreasing the amount of electricity generated from fossil fuels. Both purchasing options - purchasing clean electricity directly from a utility company or purchasing RECs— help support clean energy development. By purchasing clean electricity from your utility or another retailer, you're creating a market for renewable energy and pushing energy suppliers to purchase more electricity from clean energy sources. Use the Green Power Locator to find a renewable energy retailer in your area. You are directly affecting the amount of clean electricity available in the grid and supporting suppliers of sustainable, renewable electricity! Renewable Energy Success Stories:
Visit My Green Montgomery for residential incentives for renewable energy systems and technologies. Have a renewable energy system on your home or business in Montgomery County? Tell us your story and appear on our blog! What type of sources are solar and wind energy?Examples of renewable energy sources include wind power, solar power, bioenergy (organic matter burned as a fuel) and hydroelectric, including tidal energy.
What are 3 examples renewable energy?Here are a few common sources of renewable energy:. SOLAR ENERGY. Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources and can even be harnessed in cloudy weather. ... . WIND ENERGY. ... . GEOTHERMAL ENERGY. ... . HYDROPOWER. ... . OCEAN ENERGY. ... . BIOENERGY.. What type of energy resource is solar wind water geothermal and wood?Renewable resources include biomass energy (such as ethanol), hydropower, geothermal power, wind energy, and solar energy. Biomass refers to organic material from plants or animals. This includes wood, sewage, and ethanol (which comes from corn or other plants).
Is geothermal an example of renewable energy?Why is geothermal energy a renewable resource? Answer: Because its source is the almost unlimited amount of heat generated by the Earth's core. Even in geothermal areas dependent on a reservoir of hot water, the volume taken out can be reinjected, making it a sustainable energy source.
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