What types of renewable energy sources are there?

Solar energy, biogas, wind energy, and nuclear energy. These are a few examples of energy sources, but not all of them are good for the environment. What sustainable energy sources are there?

Fossil and renewable energy sources

Before we look at different forms of renewable energy, it’s important to distinguish between fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. Fossil fuel sources are forms of energy that rely on raw materials that will eventually run out, such as petroleum, natural gas, nuclear energy, and coal. Not only are these sources finite, but they also cause air pollution and emit CO2. They have a negative impact on climate change.
Renewable energy sources are sustainable and can therefore be used indefinitely. The Earth provides these sources itself. They do not pollute the air—or pollute it much less—and emit less CO2. To combat climate change, it is important that we all switch to renewable energy sources.

Well-known renewable energy sources

You may already be familiar with these types of energy. Some examples of renewable energy sources are:

• Solar Energy
• Wind Energy
• Water Power
• Biomass
• Geothermal and Ground Heat

Solar Energy

The sun is an inexhaustible source of energy. Solar energy is generated by solar parks or fields, but it can also be generated right at your home using solar panels on your roof. Approximately 1.5 million households in the Netherlands have solar panels on their roofs. Of all renewable energy sources, solar energy is the easiest to generate at home.
It is a clean source. The production of solar panels consumes energy, but thanks to the panels’ high efficiency, that energy is offset within just a few years. At present, solar panels are still difficult to recycle. Various researchers are exploring how we can improve this in the future to make production more environmentally friendly as well.
Do you have solar panels on your roof and want to use your energy as efficiently as possible? You can with our innovative zappi. This smart system uses the solar energy you generate yourself to charge your electric car.

Wind Energy

Wind is also an inexhaustible source of renewable energy. This form of renewable energy is generated in wind farms, but can also be generated using your own wind turbine. You can often install your own turbine in your yard. They are much smaller in size and generate less energy than a turbine located in a wind farm. If you compare a personal wind turbine to solar panels, solar panels are more cost-effective and better suited to meeting your energy needs.

Hydropower

Flowing water can be converted into energy. The flowing water turns a turbine that is connected to an electric generator. We also refer to this renewable energy source as hydroelectricity. As much as 71 percent of the world’s renewable energy comes from hydroelectricity.
Although this form of renewable energy comes from a clean source, some critics argue that it is not sustainable. They point out that the large-scale power plants that need to be built are costly and can disrupt the lives of surrounding communities and ecosystems.

Biomass

Biomass is the most widely used form of renewable energy in the Netherlands. It consists of various organic materials, which are fermented or gasified to produce biofuel. This biofuel is then burned, releasing energy. The question of whether biomass can truly be called sustainable sparks a great deal of debate. This is because, in some cases, crops are grown specifically for biofuel, meaning that the source is not limited to residual waste from agriculture, for example.

Geothermal and Ground Heat

We can generate energy using currents and hot springs within the Earth’s crust. Special geothermal heat pumps convert this heat into energy. We also refer to this as geothermal energy. It is carbon-free and renewable. That is why geothermal energy is a sustainable energy source.
Interested? Read more: What’s the current status of renewable energy in the Netherlands?