Alernative Energy Generation

Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished). In 2006, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3% from hydroelectricity. New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) accounted for another 2.4% and are growing very rapidly.http://www.ren21.net/pdf/RE2007_Global_Status_Report.pdf Global Status Report 2007 The share of renewables in electricity generation is around 18%, with 15% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3.4% from new renewables.

Wind power is growing at the rate of 30% annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 121,000 megawatts (MW) in 2008,REN21 (2009). Renewables Global Status Report: 2009 Update p. 9. and is widely used in European countries and the United States.Global wind energy markets continue to boom ? 2006 another record year (PDF). The annual manufacturing output of the photovoltaics industry reached 6,900 MW in 2008,REN21 (2009). Renewables Global Status Report: 2009 Update p. 15. and photovoltaic (PV) power stations are popular in Germany and Spain.[http://www.pvresources.com/en/top50pv.php World's largest photovoltaic power plants] Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354 MW SEGS power plant in the Mojave Desert.Solar Trough Power Plants (PDF). The world's largest geothermal power installation is The Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW. Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugar cane, and ethanol now provides 18% of the country's automotive fuel.America and Brazil Intersect on Ethanol Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the USA.

While most renewable energy projects and production is large-scale, renewable technologies are also suited to small off-grid applications, sometimes in rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development.World Energy Assessment (2001). Renewable energy technologies, p. 221. Kenya has the world's highest household solar ownership rate with roughly 30,000 small (20?100 watt) solar power systems sold per year.What Solar Power Needs Now Renewable Energy Access, 13 August 2007.

Some renewable energy technologies are criticized for being intermittent or unsightly, yet the renewable energy market continues to grow. Climate change concerns, coupled with high oil prices, peak oil, and increasing government support, are driving increasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization.United Nations Environment Programme Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investment 2007: Analysis of Trends and Issues in the Financing of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in OECD and Developing Countries (PDF), p. 3.

New government spending, regulation and policies helped the industry weather the 2009 economic crisis better than many other sectors.Clean Edge (2009). Clean Energy Trends 2009 pp. 1-4.