Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy, comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished
While renewable energy is often thought of as a new technology, harnessing nature’s power has long been used for heating, transportation, lighting, and more. Wind has powered boats to sail the seas and windmills to grind grain. The sun has provided warmth during the day and helped kindle fires to last into the evening
But over the past 500 years or so, humans increasingly turned to cheaper, dirtier energy sources such as coal and fracked gas (Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.).
Now that we have increasingly innovative and less-expensive ways to capture and retain wind and solar energy, renewables are becoming a more important source power. The expansion in renewables is also happening at scales large and small, from rooftop solar panels on homes and businesses, that can sell power back to the grid.