Evergreen Residential Solar array on a house rooftop angled with clouds in the background

Categories

Newsletter

Renewable energy sources are, by definition, constantly replenished. Fossil fuels like coal or gasoline burn up and are gone, but the sun keeps shining and the wind keeps blowing no matter how many homes use them to make electricity.

The main types of renewable energy sources include solar, wind, geothermal, bioenergy, hydropower, and hydrogen. These types of energy are also called clean energy.

Below, we take a closer look at six of the most common alternative energy types, along with their benefits:

Solar Power

Solar power is a type of renewable energy that captures the sun’s energy. There are several types of solar power, but the best known is photovoltaic (PV) solar, which uses solar cell technology to convert sunlight.

SunPower® solar panels feature Maxeon® solar cells that contain a unique, light-trapping surface to harvest power from visible light as well as infrared and ultraviolet light waves. It’s this technology that not only makes SunPower solar panels the most efficient in the market1 but also helps solar system owners generate enough power to save money over time. With the most comprehensive 25-year warranty in the industry, a SunPower solar system can go on to produce clean energy for decades.

Wind

Wind and solar are the two fastest-growing types of utility-scale electrical generation in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Wind flow is captured by giant turbines and converted into electricity. In fact, wind turbines can convert almost half of the wind that hits them into electrical power.

Geothermal

Geothermal power plants harness heat generated from the earth, usually in areas near volcanoes or tectonic activity, though geothermal power can be found in other places as well. A geothermal plant can be put on a small plot of land as long as there’s plenty of heat coming up from the earth.

Bioenergy

People have been using biological matter to create energy for centuries. This can include a simple campfire or turning biological matter into fuel (like using corn to make ethanol for cars). Bioenergy can also involve using bacteria to release gas that can generate power. Materials for bioenergy can be found everywhere, and using them for this purpose often gets rid of waste in a constructive way.

Hydropower

This type of energy is created by moving water. Damming a river forms a reservoir, and the water from the reservoir spins a turbine that produces electricity.

Like hydropower, hydrokinetics uses the energy created by moving water. However, hydrokinetic power uses the motion of ocean waves and free-flowing water in rivers. Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the planet, and the energy generated by all those waves can be used to spin turbines. More than half of Americans live near coastlines, so the power would be near large population centers. However, hydrokinetic energy is still largely experimental, and the environmental impacts on marine life remain unclear.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, and it can generate a lot of energy while producing little or no pollution. Liquid hydrogen has been used since the 1950s to launch rockets into orbit. Hydrogen fuel cells in cars and other vehicles convert the potential chemical energy of hydrogen into electricity, with water and heat as the only byproducts.

All of the sources mentioned above have been developed to create a more environmentally friendly approach toward powering our world. Unlike fossil fuels, which have a limited lifespan, these six types of alternative energy provide innovative solutions to utilize resources that are readily available. Some, like bioenergy, are even taking on two environmental challenges by eliminating both greenhouse gases and waste. These efforts, paired with their increasing affordability, provide more accessibility to cleaner power options, making them more commonplace.

While many of the forms mentioned above are still being perfected, solar technology remains one of the least polluting forms of renewable energy, as well as one of the most affordable. With multiple solar solutions that are readily available for home and business installation, SunPower provides an easy and reliable way to start enjoying the benefits of renewable energy right away. To find out more about how to go solar, sign up for an online consultation with one of our knowledgeable solar consultants.

This post originally appeared on the SunPower Resource Blog.

Try Our FREE Solar + Storage Calculator

Learn about solar and claim a free vacation!

Icon

Quick

Icon

More thorough

Hi ,
Besides saving money on your utility bill, what else motivates you to go solar?
(please choose one)

Icon

Be more Green

Icon

Use more Power
Guilt Free
(i.e. AC/Devices)

Icon

Fear of Outages
(i.e. Grid Down)

Icon

Cash in on 'Going
Solar' Incentives

What best describes you?

Icon

I’m retired or dreaming of retirement

Icon

I just bought my first home

Icon

I’m ready to start my career/family

Icon

My kids are in college

Fill in the blank. "When picking a solar partner, getting the best            is most important to me."
(please choose one)

Icon

Warranty

Icon

Value

Icon

Technology

Icon

Company

I'm interested in (select one)...

Icon

Solar only

Icon

Solar

Icon

+ Storage

Icon

Solar

Icon

+ EV

Icon

Solar

Icon

+ Storage

Icon

+ EV

What best describes you?

Icon

I have an EV

Icon

I want an EV

Thank You !
We're building your solar persona.

Now, it's time to calculate the perfect system size for your house and find out how much you can save when you go solar.

Solar Wizard

is calculating your system size

Here are your results!

Panel


Environmental Impact ( years)

Icon

metric tons

Icon

car miles driven

Icon

Number of Trees Planted


# of Panels:

System size:

Battery:

How do you plan on aquiring your system?

# of Panels:

System size:

Battery:

Environmental Impact
( years)

Icon

metric tons

Icon

car miles driven

Icon

Number of Trees Planted


# of Panels:

System size:

Battery:

Thank You !

Schedule a no-obligation solar consultation and receive a two-night stay at one of over 30 enchanting destinations valued at $375.
To get started upload a copy of your utility bill to see if solar is right for your home.

All personal information is confidential.

Following file types allowed: jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, pdf, gif.
File size must be less than 3MB.

Wizard Logo

Thank you for using Solar Wizard. Data submitted successfully.

Thank You

Our representative will contact you soon.

Step 1/

I'm interested in (select one)...

Icon

Solar only

Icon

Solar

Icon

+ Storage

Icon

Solar

Icon

+ EV

Icon

Solar

Icon

+ Storage

Icon

+ EV

What best describes you?

Icon

I have an EV

Icon

I want an EV

Thank You !
We're building your solar persona.

Now, it's time to calculate the perfect system size for your house and find out how much you can save when you go solar.

Solar Wizard

is calculating your system size

Here are your results!

Panel


Environmental Impact ( years)

Icon

metric tons

Icon

car miles driven

Icon

Number of Trees Planted


# of Panels:

System size:

Battery:

How do you plan on aquiring your system?

# of Panels:

System size:

Battery:

Environmental Impact
( years)

Icon

metric tons

Icon

car miles driven

Icon

Number of Trees Planted


# of Panels:

System size:

Battery:

Thank You !

Schedule a no-obligation solar consultation and receive a two-night stay at one of over 30 enchanting destinations valued at $375.
To get started upload a copy of your utility bill to see if solar is right for your home.

All personal information is confidential.

Following file types allowed: jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, pdf, gif.
File size must be less than 3MB.

Wizard Logo

Thank you for using Solar Wizard. Data submitted successfully.

Thank You

Our representative will contact you soon.

Step 1/

How much will solar cost you?
Find out. It’s FREE!