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Descriptions |
The Direct 300 is
the main content of the
Renewable Energy 500.
These are the companies
that are directly
involved in the
development and
production of energy
from renewable
resources. These
companies employ various
technologies to generate
energy and these
technologies are
outlined below:
Biofuels
- Biofuels are those
fuels that are derived
from biological
components rather than
petroleum. These
components usually
involve components such
as corn, sugar, soybeans
and more. Biofuels
are associated with the
concepts of ethanol and
methane as well as
biodiesel.
Furthermore, biomass is
considered to be part of
this energy resource
group. Biomass
includes traditional
fuel sources such as
timber as well as
specially cultivated
crops that can be
transformed into energy.
Fuel Cells
- This energy
technology is based on
hydrogen and is a
zero-emission
technology. Fuel
cells are being adapted
to power everything from
automobiles to mobile
computers and their only
by-product is ordinary
water.
Geothermal
- Geothermal energy is
harnessed from the crust
of the Earth and used
mainly geologically
active areas such as
California or Iceland.
Geothermal replies on
hotspots in the Earth's
crust to provide steam
to turn electricity
producing turbines.
Along with this,
geothermal can be used
to heat buildings
without harnessing steam
though turbines.
Hydropower -
By harnessing
the power of moving
water, electricity can
be generated from
something that we all
use every day.
Many hydroelectric
projects utilize dams to
capture the power of
water in a controlled
fashion. Along
with this, river-run
technologies harness the
power of quickly moving
river without diverting
the flow. Finally,
wave technologies
harness the power of
coastal waves to
generate electricity.
Solar -
Solar energy collect the
power of the sun to
create useful energy in
a variety of ways.
One technology employed
is photovoltaic
technology that
transforms sunlight
directly into
electricity (not unlike
the solar cells on a
pocket calculator)
through the use of
silicon wafers.
The other technology is
a fluidic technology
that uses the power of
the sun to heat a liquid
(usually water) in the
solar cells. This
liquid can then be used
as a heat source for
homes and other
buildings.
Wind power
- Wind power is probably
one of the most
widespread (on a large
scale) renewable energy
technologies.
Wind power uses the power
of the wind to turn
large turbines to
generate electricity.
This technology has had
problems in the past
with their damage to
wildlife. However,
new methods have created
safe windmills that can
be employed just about
anywhere. |
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