Besides the 7 energy sources listed above, other alternative energy sources include geothermal power, wave energy, hydroelectric energy, solar thermal energy and even space solar energy. Geothermal energy is that generated in the earth and harnessed, while wave and hydroelectric energy harness the power of water.

The most popular renewable energy sources currently are:

• Solar energy.
• Wind energy.
• Hydro energy.
• Tidal energy.
• Geothermal energy.
• Biomass energy.

The major types or sources of renewable energy are:

• Solar energy from the sun.
• Geothermal energy from heat inside the earth.
• Wind energy.
• Biomass from plants.
• Hydropower from flowing water.

5 Best Alternative Energy Sources

• Solar Energy.
• Wind Power.
• Hydropower.
• Geothermal Power.
• Biomass Power.

Out of all energy resources, we consider green power (solar, wind, biomass and geothermal) as the cleanest form of energy. So, if we were looking at clean energy on a spectrum, these would be farthest from “dirty” or emissions-heavy energy.

nuclear power

Academic journal articles are probably the most reliable source of current thinking in your field. To be the most reliable they need to be peer reviewed. This means that other academics have read them before publication and checked that they are making claims that are backed up by their evidence.

Hydroelectric power is currently the cheapest renewable energy source, costing $0.05 per kilowatt-hour on average 2. Hydroelectric power is the cheapest because the infrastructure has been in place for a long time, and it produces electricity consistently.

Renewables generate more energy than is used in their production, and produce fewer emissions than other power sources over their lifetime. While all sources of electricity result in some GHG emissions over their lifetime, renewable energy sources have substantially fewer emissions than fossil fuel-fired power plants.

So far, however, renewable energy sources have proven to be unreliable. Many nations are now moving away from wind and solar power in favor of more reliable energy sources, such as fossil fuels. The U.S. lacks the storage capability to handle the flow of solar and wind power.

Renewable energy should not be confused with alternative energy. The difference is that alternative energy specifically avoids fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal. But it is a source of biomass renewable energy in that new trees can be grown. Hydroelectric power is both renewable and alternative.

Benefits of Renewable Energy Generating energy that produces no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and reduces some types of air pollution. Diversifying energy supply and reducing dependence on imported fuels. Creating economic development and jobs in manufacturing, installation, and more.

Energy- abundant, versatile, reliable, portable, and affordable, fossil fuels provide over 80 percent of the worlds energy because they are superior to the current alternatives, Disadvantage of most of the renewable energy sources is its unreliable supply.

The decline in international oil prices and natural gas has meant that suppliers are even better equipped to deal with the rise in popularity of alternative energy sources. Ultimately, there is no single renewable energy source that can single-handedly replace fossil fuels.

Extraction processes can generate air and water pollution, and harm local communities. Transporting fuels from the mine or well can cause air pollution and lead to serious accidents and spills. When the fuels are burned, they emit toxins and global warming emissions.

But the fossil fuel industry’s bad behavior doesn’t stop with greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuel companies are also responsible for significant air and water pollution. The burden of this pollution is borne most heavily by low-income and communities of color — and by the industry’s own workers.

Gas is essentially made up of methane, a devastatingly powerful greenhouse gas that is 86 times more potent in its warming potential than carbon dioxide over a 20 year period.

Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas results in carbon pollution, which causes climate change. So if we want to stop climate change (and avoid devastating extreme weather, sea level rise wiping out communities, global conflict and instability, etc.), we have to stop burning fossil fuels.