What is the definition?
Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat.
Renewable energy sources
Wind
Wind energy is the kinetic energy of the wind around the earth. This is an indirect kind of solar energy: solar radiation absorbed into the atmosphere causes differences in temperature and pressure. As a result, the air masses move and accumulate kinetic energy.
Solar
Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available.
![Incoming wave at the Giant’s Causeway Andrew Coombes [CC BY-ND 2.0]](https://www.goodenergiesalliance.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Waves_Giant-causeway.jpg)
Ocean
Ocean is also becoming a more a more popular renewable energy source. There are two ways of capturing energy from it: by capturing the tide, or by interacting with the waves created by the wind blowing on the water surface.
Hydroelectric
Flowing water creates energy that can be captured and turned into electricity. This is called hydroelectric power or hydro-power.
Geothermal
Thermal energy means “heat energy”. Geothermal energy is the heat energy of the Earth’s crust. It comes from the original formation of the planet and from radioactive decomposition of materials.
Rewenable Energy and Critical Minerals
The type of minerals used can vary but those such as rare earth elements, lithium, nickel and cobalt, and defined under the category of critical minerals, are essential for the creation and durability of batteries, turbines and EV motors
Bioenergy
Biomass
Biomass is biological material derived from living, or recently living, organisms. It most often refers to plants or plant-based materials but animal waste can also be considered biomass.
Biogas
Biogas belongs to the category of bio-fuels and is a renewable source of energy. Biogas is produced from the breakdown of biological material in the absence of oxygen (the lack of oxygen is called anaerobic condition).
Community Engagement in Renewable Energy Projects
Renewable energies are one of the most important assets for national and international economies to achieve the 2030 targets. The rapid technological development and expansion of renewable energies in many countries, certainly confirms that renewable energies will be one of the most important actors, economically and environmentally, of our time.