RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICES

What is Renewable Energy?

What is Renewable Energy? Renewable energy is a source of green energy that can never be exhausted or is continually replenished by some natural process We can obtain renewable energy from the sun (solar energy), from the water (hydropower), from the wind (windmills), from hot dry rocks, magma, hot water springs (geothermal) and even from firewood, animal manure, crop residues and waste (Biomass). In 2006, about 18 percent of global energy consumption came from renewable energy, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, like wood-burning. Hydropower was the next largest renewable source, providing 3%, followed by hot water/heating which contributed 1.3%. Other technologies, such as geothermal, wind, solar, and ocean energy together provided some 0.8% of final energy consumption. Renewable energy technologies are sometimes criticised for being unreliable or unsightly, but the market is growing for many forms of renewable energy. Wind power has a worldwide installed capacity of 74,223 MW

Renewable Energy - Supply & Demand

Climate change concerns, high oil prices and increasing government support are leading to increasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization. The EU reached agreement in March 2007 that 20 percent of the bloc's energy should be produced from renewable energy by 2020, as part of its drive to cut emissions of carbon dioxide Currently demand for renewable energy far outweighs supply. In fact renewable energy only accounts for 4% of the UK’s electricity supply. There's still some way to go to meet the Government’s target of 10% by 2010.