Renewable energy, also regenerativ energy mentioned, designates energy from lasting sources, which are inexhaustible after human yardsticks. The basic principle of the use of renewable energy consists of the fact that from the processes taking place constantly in our environment energy is branched off and supplied to the technical use.

The energy flows usable of humans rise in principle from different primary sources almost unlimited after human

• the thermonuclear transformation in the sun
• the isotope decay in the interior of the earth
• the Himmelsgestirnbewegung, earth rotation and associated effects

On earth these energy sources can in the form of wind energy, water power, tidal currents, sunlight and - terrestrial heat as well as warms to be used.

Term

In the physical sense energy is not renewed, but is not constantly supplied from the sources specified above, is continuously converted during natural processes and space-radiated finally again in. Their use means a bypass (small) of a part of these energy flows, in order to make it usable for humans. The "consumption" of energy physically actually means their feedback into the environment.

Contrary to the use of current processes the dismantling of fossil sources of energy stands such as hard coal or oil, which are again formed today very many faster used up than. In a strict sense also they would be renewable, however not on human time scales (several 100 millions years). The colloquial use of the terms "renewableness "and "refers to this difference: The principle of the lastingness is crucial, i.e. that humans do not stress resources more strongly, than it can regenerate.

Not to the renewable energies the not-solar nuclear fission is likewise counted, since this likewise from finite not resources regeneratable on earth (uranium or thorium) feeds itself, as well as a hypothetical future use of nuclear fusion reactors, which use themselves in at present the developing form lithium, whose supply would hand however some 1000 years. Within this time is it however assessably that different forms of the nuclear fusion are already controlled technically, like e.g. the fusion of hydrogen, as it functions in the sun. This technology is however still future music.

The process of the renewal is particularly descriptive with energy from biomass. For almost all current processes in the terrestrial biosphere the sun is the constant energy supplier. These processes can bring so-called regenerating raw materials out.

Kinds of renewable energy

• Bio energy (from biomass such as wood or Raps)
  • Bio Diesel
  • Fermentation gas (biological gas facility)
  • Fuel vegetable oil
• Solar energy
  • Fotovoltaik (Fotovoltaikanlage)
  • Solarthermie (solar collector; Solar heat power station)
  • Solar chemistry
  • Thermionics (thermionics power station)
• Water power
  • Dams and concrete dams
  • Tidal force
  • Flow energy of the sea
  • Wellenenergie of the sea
  • Sea warmth
  • Osmose power station (different Salzgehalt of sweet and seawaters)
• Ambient heat (e.g. used by heat pump heating system or heat accumulator heating)
• Wind energy (windmills and/or wind energy plant)
• Geothermie

Articles in category "Renewable energy"

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