7.3: Renewable Energy and Conservation

BIOL 101- Environmental Science · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Hidden Sources of Renewable Energy

    When most people think of renewable energy, they picture wind turbines spinning on a hillside or solar panels covering rooftops. Few would expect a city's drinking water system to generate electricity. Yet in Portland, Oregon, hydroelectric turbines installed inside municipal water pipes produce power around the clock as water flows downhill to homes and businesses. Because the system uses existing infrastructure, it generates renewable electricity without building a dam or disrupting river ecosystems.

    Portland's project highlights an important idea: renewable energy can come from many sources and can be produced in unexpected places. As societies work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, scientists and engineers continue to develop new ways to harness Earth's renewable energy flows. Could the energy systems of the future be built into the infrastructure we already use every day?

    Water turbine
    Figure \(\PageIndex{a}\): Water turbine example. Image by Pixabay(opens in new window) (Public Domain)

     

    • 7.3.1: Renewable Energy History and Consumption
      This page discusses renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower, and biofuels, emphasizing their lower carbon footprints and minimal environmental impact compared to fossil fuels. It notes a surge in interest due to the 1970s oil crises and highlights that by 2019, renewables made up 11.4% of global energy consumption, with biofuels, wind, and hydropower leading in the U.S. This reflects a significant transition toward low-carbon energy alternatives.
    • 7.3.2: Wind Energy
      This page discusses wind energy, which is produced by turbines powered by air movement caused by solar energy. It's a cost-effective renewable source that aids job creation and pollution reduction while being compatible with agriculture. However, it faces challenges such as reliance on wind availability, intermittent output, aesthetic concerns, and impacts on wildlife. Despite these challenges, wind energy is crucial for addressing renewable energy needs.
    • 7.3.3: Solar Energy
      This page discusses solar energy as the most abundant renewable resource, highlighting its harnessing methods, including passive techniques and active technologies like photovoltaic cells. It outlines the benefits, such as environmental friendliness and job creation, while also addressing challenges like intermittency and land use conflicts. Additionally, it notes that advancements are working to reduce costs and environmental impacts associated with solar energy systems.
    • 7.3.4: Geothermal Energy
      This page discusses geothermal energy, which comes from the Earth's internal heat and is used in power plants that convert steam into electricity. Geothermal heat pumps leverage stable underground temperatures for home heating and cooling, promoting energy efficiency. Although geothermal energy is a reliable and eco-friendly option with low emissions, establishing power plants can be expensive and must be near geothermal hotspots.
    • 7.3.5: Hydropower
      This page discusses hydropower as a renewable energy source generated by moving water, influenced by solar energy. It outlines various types of hydropower systems, including dam-based and run-of-the-river systems, highlighting small projects for remote communities. The page addresses both the advantages of hydropower, such as recreation and flood control, and its environmental challenges, like habitat degradation.
    • 7.3.6: Biofuels (Biomass Energy)
      This page explores biofuels as an alternative energy source derived from biomass, emphasizing their carbon neutrality, local production potential, and waste reduction benefits. However, concerns about land use and air pollution during combustion are noted. Sustainable practices are crucial to alleviate environmental and social impacts.
    • 7.3.7: Energy Efficiency and Conservation
      This page discusses energy conservation techniques aimed at reducing waste and enhancing efficiency through behavioral changes and technological investments. It covers simple actions like turning off electronics and adjusting water heater settings, as well as complex strategies like energy audits that identify inefficiencies.
    • 7.3.8: Data Dive- Global Renewable Energy Generation
      This page discusses Our World in Data (OWID), an online resource that uses research and data to tackle global challenges like poverty, disease, and climate change. It is notable for its variety of graphs and visual data representations. Additionally, the page encourages exploration of renewable energy, examining its usage trends from 1965 to 2019 and making projections for growth over the next 50 years.

     

     

    Attribution

    This page was heavily revised and rewritten by Erin Rempala and contains adapted content from content originally authored by Melissa Ha and Rachel Schleiger and is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. 

     

    Modified by Rachel Schleiger (CC-BY-NC(opens in new window)).

    This page titled 7.3: Renewable Energy and Conservation was last modified on Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:11:32 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Melissa Ha and Rachel Schleiger (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative) .