Renewables - how do they work?

 
A renewable energy resource will never run out, so many countries are using
more and more renewable energy sources.

1. _solar power___
The Sun provides an average of about 100 watts of solar power per square
metre of ground. The Sun's radiation is used by solar panels to heat water and
buildings. Other types of solar panels can also generate electricity: these are
called photovoltaic (PV) panels. Spain and Germany currently use more PV
panels than any other country.

2. _hydroelectric power___
Water is heated by the Sun, then it evaporates, and finally it falls as rain. On
high ground, this rainwater is stored behind a dam and it is used to turn
turbines in hydroelectric power stations. In countries with mountains and
rivers, hydroelectric power stations are common; for example, the majority of
electricity in Norway is from hydroelectricity and in Iceland, it's 70%.

 3. ____wind power____

Wind energy is also used to turn turbines, which drive electricity generators,
Currently, wind farms with large numbers of turbines produce an average 2W
per square metre. More than 5% of the UK's electricity is now produced by
wind farms and this figure will grow in the future, because, as a country with
long coastlines, the UK can build more and more offshore wind farms.

4. _____wave energy___
Gravity between the Earth and the Moon changes the movement of the oceans
and the ocean tides rise and fall. The water movement of the tides and waves
can drive turbines. Again, countries with long coastlines and surrounded by the
sea can use tidal power to provide around 11 kWh per person per day.

5. ___biofuel power__
In countries with large areas of farmland, certain plants are grown for energy,
not food. For example, the USA now produces more than 50% of its corn for
biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Increasingly, these biofuels are used in
transportation and some plants are also burned in thermal power stations.