Energy is currently produced in over 21 countries of earth. Alternative energy is becoming a common idea in many areas of the planet. Relegated to rural areas and nature nuts in the past, it is now a growing option for homeowners and businesses who want to be eco-friendly and save money at the same time.

The usage of renewable energy has grown to about 30-40% of total consumption, but there are many untapped opportunities, in particular in Africa where investment tends to take longer to arrive.

There are five major kinds of renewable energies (wind, hydropower, solar, geothermal and bioenergy). Renewable energy is also referred to as green energy. It is not that easy to define. Renewable energy is already utilized to give electricity for aluminium smelters, especially in Norway, but there are several other high energy users who’d benefit from more predictable expenses. It has been a major area of research by scientists since the beginning of 21st century.

Solar power

I would put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that!

– Thomas Edison, American inventor

Solar power has amazing potential to power our everyday lives because of constantly-improving technologies. Today it is used mainly to create heat and to create electricity. The ideal thing about solar power is it does not decrease with its usage. It is energy generated from the sun. It is totally renewable and has no measurable impact on the environment which is why it’s the renewable energy system of choice for many environmentally conscious people.

Wind Energy

Presently, wind energy is utilized to create electricity via wind turbines. Even though it is theoretically free, a lot of energy and resources are needed for the construction of wind turbines. It major flaw is that sometimes wind simply stops blowing and it has to be combined with other sources of power.