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renewable energy
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images, Videos & Interactives
Geothermal power station A panoramic countryside landscape is divided into sections illustrating different energy sources: wind with turbines and a windmill, water with a hydroelectric dam and watermill, sunlight with solar panels on a house and solar cells, food with animals pulling wagons and grazing, oil, coal, and natural gas with a red car, a furnace, and a jet plane, and uranium with a nuclear power plant in the distance. A river runs through the scene, and a sailboat is on the water.
The Transition to Renewable Energy Explained by Phil the Fixer
Concentrated solar-power plant World map color-coded to show photovoltaic solar power potential, with higher potential indicated by warmer colors such as orange and red, and lower potential by cooler colors such as green and blue. Regions with the highest solar energy potential include parts of western North America, northern and southern Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and parts of South America, while areas with lower potential are found in northern Europe, Russia, and parts of Canada. The map includes a scale for daily Labeled diagram of a wind turbine showing its main components, including blades attached to a rotor, nacelle housing gears and generator, controller, yaw drive and motor, power cable, and tower, with an anemometer on top. United States: 17.1% renewable energy breakdown (2017)
View to learn about renewable energy, its types, and also how the coronavirus pandemic has changed energy consumption and production patterns
Harnessing wave power: The Pelamis generator
At a Glance
Combination shot of Grinnell Glacier taken from the summit of Mount Gould, Glacier National Park, Montana in the years 1938, 1981, 1998 and 2006.
Pop Quiz: 18 Things to Know About Global Warming
Geothermal power station
alternative energy summary
Quizzes
Electric power lines against sunset (grid, power, wires, electrical, electricity)
Energy & Fossil Fuels
Related Questions

renewable energy: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • Noelle Eckley Selin
    Associate Professor of Engineering Systems and Atmospheric Chemistry, Engineering Systems Division and Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: Biology LibreTexts - Renewable Energy and Conservation. Aug 01, 2026
Revised introductory paragraph. Added a list of the major types of renewable energy and expanded the discussion of fossil fuels. Added Top Questions. Jun 18, 2026
Add new Web site: Biology LibreTexts - Renewable Energy and Conservation. Feb 03, 2026
Add new Web site: Energy.gov - Renewable Energy. Apr 19, 2024
Media added. Jun 20, 2023
Add new Web site: World Nuclear Association - Renewable Energy and Electricity. Jan 16, 2023
Add new Web site: United Nations - What is renewable energy? Sep 15, 2022
Add new Web site: Natural Resources Defense Council - Renewable Energy: The Clean Facts. Oct 17, 2021
Media added. Jul 30, 2020
Updated statistics related to electricity generated by photovoltaics, wind power, and other renewable energy sources. May 01, 2018
Add new Web site: ThoughtCo. - Top Renewable Energy Sources. Apr 19, 2018
Add new Web site: National Geographic - Renewable Energy. Apr 20, 2017
Add new Web site: PennState Extension - What is Renewable Energy? Apr 20, 2017
Add new Web site: Advocacy for Animals - Green vs. Green. Apr 19, 2017
Add new Web site: Advocacy for Animals - Green vs. Green. Apr 19, 2017
Text added noting the push by the state of California to generate 33 percent of its total electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. Apr 12, 2011
Added image of windmills. Jan 28, 2011
Added image of various renewable energy resources. May 26, 2010
Wind turbine and tidal barrage diagrams added. May 21, 2009
Added new Web site: U.S. Energy Information Administration - Energy Kids - Energy Sources - Renewable. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: International Energy Agency - Energy Security, Growth and Sustainability through Co-operation and Outreach. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: International Energy Agency - Energy Security, Growth and Sustainability through Co-operation and Outreach. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: The National Center for Appropriate Technology. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: The National Center for Appropriate Technology. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology - Renewable Energy Policy Project. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology - Renewable Energy Policy Project. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: NREL - National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Innovation for Our Energy Future. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: NREL - National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Innovation for Our Energy Future. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: The State of Queensland - Power for a Sustainable Future - Renewable Energy. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: The State of Queensland - Power for a Sustainable Future - Renewable Energy. Sep 18, 2008
Added new Web site: U.S. Energy Information Administration - Energy Kids - Energy Sources - Renewable. Sep 18, 2008
New article added. Sep 17, 2008
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