Renewable resource facts for kids
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A renewable resource is something we can use over and over again. It can also be replaced naturally. Think of it like a never-ending supply! For example, solar energy comes from the sun and will not run out. Other examples include oxygen, fresh water, and biomass (like plants).
Some things, like gasoline, coal, natural gas, and plastic, are not renewable. These are called fossil fuels. They take millions of years to form deep underground. This means they cannot be replaced in a human's lifetime. Scientists are working on ways to make things like biodiesel and biodegradable plastic. These new materials come from renewable sources like corn, sugar cane, and soybeans.
Using renewable resources usually helps the environment. They often do not cause pollution or add to global warming. More and more countries are using renewable energy. Some places, like Bhutan and California, are even trying to use only renewable energy. Between 2008 and 2012, the U.S. doubled its renewable energy from wind, solar, and geothermal sources. America and Britain now have some of the biggest wind and solar farms.
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What are the main types of renewable resources?
There are several important types of renewable resources. Each one uses natural processes to create energy or materials.
Solar energy
Solar power uses light from the sun to create useful energy. It is very helpful in places without regular electricity. This includes remote areas or even space.
Solar energy is used for many things:
- Heating: It can heat water, buildings, or even cook food using solar ovens.
- Electricity: Photovoltaics (solar panels) turn sunlight directly into electricity. Solar thermal systems use the sun's heat to make electricity.
- Cleaning water: It can remove salt from seawater, making it safe to drink or use for farming.
- Lighting: Solar-powered lights are common.
Wind energy
Wind power uses the power of moving air. For thousands of years, wind has moved ships. For hundreds of years, it has pumped water or ground grain. Today, wind is mostly used to make electricity with wind turbines.
In 2008, wind farms around the world could make 100,000 megawatts of power. Wind power produced 1.3% of the world's electricity that year. In some countries, wind makes a much bigger share. For example, it makes about 19% of electricity in Denmark. The United States is a fast-growing market for wind power. By 2012, the U.S. could produce 60,000 megawatts (60 gigawatts) of wind power each year.
Most modern wind power comes from large turbine blades. These blades spin and turn a generator to create electricity. Older windmills used wind energy to do physical work, like crushing grain.
Wind power is clean and renewable. It helps reduce the use of fossil fuels. However, there are some challenges. Some people do not like the look of tall wind towers. They can also cause flickering shadows or a small amount of noise near homes. Early wind farms sometimes harmed birds. But newer, larger turbines with slower blades have reduced this problem. Wind turbines do not make power when there is no wind. So, other power sources are still needed as a backup.
Hydropower
Hydropower uses the energy of moving water. Long ago, people used hydropower to water crops and grind grain into flour. Later, it helped make cloth and cut wood in sawmills.
The Romans used water powered mills. In China, "pot wheel" pumps lifted water for farming. In the 1830s, hydropower even moved barges up and down hills using special railroads.
In the past, industries using water power had to be very close to the water, especially near a waterfall. For example, in the late 1800s, many mills were built at Saint Anthony Falls. This helped the city of Minneapolis grow.
Today, the biggest use of hydropower is with dams. Falling water from a dam spins turbines to make electricity. This electricity can travel hundreds of miles through wires. This means industries no longer need to be right next to the water source.
Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy uses heat from deep inside the Earth. This heat can create steam that rises through pipes. The steam then pushes a turbine to make electricity. It works best in places where the Earth's crust is thin. In the United States, many western states use geothermal energy. California produces the most geothermal energy in the U.S. Iceland uses the most geothermal energy per person in the world.
Once a geothermal plant is built, it provides clean energy. However, it requires drilling deep wells. These areas often have volcanoes or earthquakes. Sometimes, adding or removing water underground can cause small earthquakes.
Biomass
Biomass includes materials like sawdust and other leftover parts from trees. It can also be grease, food waste, straw, and plants grown specifically for energy. Some biomass is burned to make electricity. Other types are turned into biogas or biofuel, like ethanol. Ethanol can replace gasoline.
Ethanol is already widely used in the United States and Brazil. In the U.S., it is made from corn. While making corn ethanol uses some energy, there are ongoing efforts to make it more efficient. Biomass is a promising renewable resource for the future.
Images for kids
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Alaska wild "berries" from the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge - Renewable Resources
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Polyculture practices in Andhra Pradesh
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Illegal slash and burn practice in Madagascar, 2010
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Douglas fir forest created in 1850, Meymac (Corrèze), France
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An adult and sub-adult Minke whale are dragged aboard the Nisshin Maru, a Japanese whaling vessel
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Hemp insulation, a renewable resource used as building material
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In vitro-culture of Vitis (grapevine), Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute
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A packaging blister made from cellulose acetate, a bioplastic
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Atlantic cod stocks severely overfished leading to abrupt collapse
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Deforestation in Brazil in 2016
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Over-hunting of American Bison
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Panorama of a natural wetland (Sinclair Wetlands, New Zealand)
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See also
In Spanish: Recurso renovable para niños
