presentation alternative energy

The Understand Energy Learning Hub is a cross-campus effort of the Precourt Institute for Energy .

Introduction to Renewable Energy

Exploring our content.

Fast Facts View our summary of key facts and information. ( Printable PDF, 270 KB )

Before You Watch Our Lecture Maximize your learning experience by reviewing these carefully curated readings we assign to our students.

Our Lecture Watch the Stanford course lecture.

Additional Resources Find out where to explore beyond our site.

Fast Facts About Renewable Energy

Principle Energy Uses: Electricity, Heat Forms of Energy: Kinetic, Thermal, Radiant, Chemical

The term “renewable” encompasses a wide diversity of energy resources with varying economics, technologies, end uses, scales, environmental impacts, availability, and depletability. For example, fully “renewable” resources are not depleted by human use, whereas “semi-renewable” resources must be properly managed to ensure long-term availability. The most renewable type of energy is energy efficiency, which reduces overall consumption while providing the same energy service. Most renewable energy resources have significantly lower environmental and climate impacts than their fossil fuel counterparts.

The data in these Fast Facts do not reflect two important renewable energy resources: traditional biomass, which is widespread but difficult to measure; and energy efficiency, a critical strategy for reducing energy consumption while maintaining the same energy services and quality of life. See the Biomass and Energy Efficiency pages to learn more.

Significance

14% of world 🌎 9% of US 🇺🇸

Electricity Generation

30% of world 🌎 21% of US 🇺🇸

Global Renewable Energy Uses

Electricity 65% Heat 26% Transportation 9%

Global Consumption of Renewable Electricity Change

Increase: ⬆ 33% (2017 to 2022)

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency measures such as LED light bulbs reduce the need for energy in the first place

Renewable Resources

Wind Solar Ocean

Semi-Renewable Resources

Hydro Geothermal Biomass

Renewable Energy Has Vast Potential to Meet Global Energy Demand

Solar >1,000x global demand Wind ~3x global demand

Share of Global Energy Demand Met by Renewable Resources

Hydropower 7% Wind 3% Solar 2% Biomass <2%  

Share of Global Electricity Generation Met by Renewable Resources

Hydropower 15% Wind 7% Solar 5% Biomass & Geothermal <3%

Global Growth

Hydropower generation increase ⬆6% Wind generation increase ⬆84% Solar generation increase ⬆197% Biofuels consumption increase ⬆23% (2017-2022)

Largest Renewable Energy Producers

China 34% 🇨🇳 US 10% 🇺🇸 of global renewable energy

Highest Penetration of Renewable Energy

Norway 72% 🇳🇴 of the country’s primary energy is renewable

(China is at 16%, the US is at 11%)

Largest Renewable Electricity Producers

China 31% 🇨🇳 US 11% 🇺🇸 of global renewable electricity

Highest Penetration of Renewable Electricity

Albania, Bhutan, CAR, Lesotho, Nepal, & Iceland 100%

Iceland, Ethiopia, Paraguay, DRC, Norway, Costa Rica, Uganda, Namibia, Eswatini, Zambia, Tajikistan, & Sierra Leone > 90% of the country’s primary electricity is renewable

(China is at 31%, the US is at 22%)

Share of US Energy Demand Met by Renewable Resources

Biomass 5% Wind 2% Hydro 1% Solar 1%

Share of US Electricity Generation Met by Renewable Resources

Wind 10% Hydropower 6% Solar 3% Biomass 1%

US States That Produce the Most Renewable Electricity

Texas 21% California 11% of US renewable energy production

US States With Highest Penetration of Renewable Electricity

Vermont >99% South Dakota 84% Washington 76% Idaho 75% of state’s total generation comes from renewable fuels

Renewable Energy Expansion Policies

The Inflation Reduction Act continued tax credits for new renewable energy projects in the US.

Production Tax Credit (PTC)

Tax credit of $0.0275/kWh of electricity produced at qualifying renewable power generation sites

Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Tax credit of 30% of the cost of a new qualifying renewable power generation site

To read more about the credit qualifications, visit this EPA site .

*LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) - price for which a unit of electricity must be sold for system to break even

Important Factors for Renewable Site Selection

• Resource availability
• Environmental constraints and sensitivities, including cultural and archeological sites
• Transmission infrastructure
• Power plant retirements
• Transmission congestion and prices
• Electricity markets
• Load growth driven by population and industry
• Policy support
• Land rights and permitting
• Competitive and declining costs of wind, solar, and energy storage
• Lower environmental and climate impacts (social costs) than fossil fuels
• Expansion of competitive wholesale electricity markets
• Governmental clean energy and climate targets and policies
• Corporate clean energy targets and procurement of renewable energy
• No fuel cost or fuel price volatility
• Retirements of old and/or expensive coal and nuclear power plants
• Most renewable resources are abundant, undepletable
• Permitting hurdles and NIMBY/BANANA* concerns
• Competition from subsidized fossil fuels and a lack of price for their social cost (e.g., price on carbon)
• Site-specific resources means greater need to transport energy/electricity to demand
• High initial capital expenditure requirements required to access fuel cost/operating savings
• Intermittent resources
• Inconsistent governmental incentives and subsidies
• Managing environmental impacts to the extent that they exist

*NIMBY - not in my backyard; BANANA - build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything

Climate Impact: Low to High

• Solar, wind, geothermal, and ocean have low climate impacts with near-zero emissions; hydro and biomass can have medium to high climate impact
• Hydro: Some locations have greenhouse gas emissions due to decomposing flooded vegetation
• Biomass: Some crops require significant energy inputs, land use change can release carbon dioxide and methane

Environmental Impact: Low to High

• Most renewable energy resources have low environmental impacts, particularly relative to fossil fuels; some, like biomass, can have more significant impacts
• No air pollution with the exception of biomass from certain feedstocks
• Can have land and habitat disruption for biomass production, solar, and hydro
• Potential wildlife impacts from wind turbines (birds and bats)
• Modest environmental impacts during manufacturing, transportation, and end of life

Updated January 2024

Before You Watch Our Lecture on Introduction to Renewable Energy

We assign videos and readings to our Stanford students as pre-work for each lecture to help contextualize the lecture content. We strongly encourage you to review the Essential reading below before watching our lecture on  Introduction to Renewable Energy . Include the Optional and Useful readings based on your interests and available time.

• The Sustainable Energy in America 2023 Factbook (Executive Summary pp. 5-11) . Bloomberg New Energy Finance. 2023. (7 pages) Provides valuable year-over-year data and insights on the American energy transformation.

Optional and Useful

• Renewables 2023 Global Status Report (Global Overview pp. 11-40) . REN21. 2023. (30 pages).  Documents the progress made in the renewable energy sector and highlights the opportunities afforded by a renewable-based economy and society.

Our Lecture on Introduction to Renewable Energy

This is our Stanford University Understand Energy course lecture that introduces renewable energy. We strongly encourage you to watch the full lecture to gain foundational knowledge about renewable energy and important context for learning more about specific renewable energy resources. For a complete learning experience, we also encourage you to review the Essential reading we assign to our students before watching the lecture.

Presented by: Kirsten Stasio , Adjunct Lecturer, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University; CEO, Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) Recorded on:  November 16, 2022   Duration: 52 minutes

Table of Contents

(Clicking on a timestamp will take you to YouTube.) 00:00 What Does "Renewable" Mean? 12:56 What Role Do Renewables Play In Our Energy Use? 20:29  What Factors Affect Renewable Energy Project Development? 52:13 Conclusion

Lecture slides available upon request .

Additional Resources About Renewable Energy

Stanford university.

• Precourt Institute for Energy Renewable Energy , Energy Efficiency
• Stanford Energy Club
• Energy Modeling Forum
• Sustainable Stanford
• Sustainable Finance Initiative
• Mark Jacobson - Renewable energy
• Michael Lepech - Life-cycle analysis
• Leonard Ortolano - Environmental and water resource planning
• Chris Field - Climate change, land use, bioenergy, solar energy
• David Lobell - Climate change, agriculture, biofuels, land use
• Sally Benson - Climate change, energy, carbon capture and storage

Government and International Organizations

• International Energy Agency (IEA) Renewables Renewables 2022 Repor .
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)
• US Energy Information Administration (EIA) Renewable Energy Explained
• US Energy Information Administration (EIA) Energy Kids Renewable Energy
• US Energy Information Administration (EIA) Today in Energy Renewables

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

• Carnegie Institution for Science  Biosphere Sciences and Engineering
• The Solutions Project

Other Resources

• REN21: Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century
• REN21 Renewables 2023 Global Status Report Renewables in Energy Supply
• BloombergNEF (BNEF)
• Renewable Energy World
• World of Renewables
• Energy Upgrade California
• Windustry Community Wind Toolbox

Next Topic: Energy Efficiency Other Energy Topics to Explore

Fast Facts Sources

• Energy Mix (World 2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Energy Mix (US 2022): US Energy Information Agency (EIA). Total Energy: Energy Overview, Table 1.3 . 
• Electricity Mix (World 2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Electricity Mix (US 2022): US Energy Information Agency (EIA). Total Energy: Electricity, Table 7.2a.  
• Global Solar Use (2022): REN21. Renewables 2023 Global Status Report: Renewables in Energy Supply , page 42. 2023
• Global Consumption of Renewable Electricity Change (2017-2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Renewable Energy Potential: Perez & Perez. A Fundamental Look at Energy Reserves for the Planet . 2009
• Share of Global Energy Demand (2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Share of Global Electricity Demand (2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Global Growth (2017-2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Largest Renewable Energy Producers (World 2022): International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Renewable Capacity Statistics 2023 . 2023.
• Highest Penetration Renewable Energy (World 2022): Our World in Data. Renewable Energy . 2023.
• Largest Renewable Electricity Producers (World 2022):   Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Highest Penetration Renewable Electricity (World 2022): Our World in Data. Renewable Energy . 2023.
• Share of US Energy Demand (2022): Energy Information Administration (EIA). Electric Power Monthly. 2023.
• Share of Electricity Generation (2022): Energy Information Administration (EIA). Electric Power Monthly. 2023.
• States with Highest Generation (2022): Energy Information Administration (EIA). Electric Power Monthly. 2023.
• States with Highest Penetration (2021): Energy Information Administration (EIA). State Profile and Energy Estimates. 2023.
• LCOE of US Renewable Resources: Lazard. LCOE. April 2023.
• LCOE of US Non Renewable Resources: Lazard. LCOE. April 2023.

More details available on request . Back to Fast Facts

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[Updated 2023] Top 25 Green Renewable Energy PowerPoint Templates for a Sustainable Coexistence

Malvika Varma

The Mother   Earth  is struggling to keep pace with the rising energy demands because of the exponential rise in population over the past few decades. Therefore, there is a need to push our energy systems from conventional to more sustainable means on a war-footing. Human activities are overburdening our atmosphere with each passing day and have accelerated the need for renewable energy development across the globe.

The intervention of humans is disrupting the earth’s natural course of adaptation, causing many climatic changes and environmental deterioration. The outcome is a web of significant and detrimental ramifications, from more damaging, more frequent storms to drought, sea-level rise, global warming, carbon emission, ozone layer depletion, and extinction of flora and fauna. Immediate actions are needed to change our energy systems, which must be prompt and proactive.

To do this in organized manner, it is important to know all about the latest clen technologies. Access the world’s best 20 clean technology templates with a click here.

"We can create a more sustainable, cleaner, and  safer  world by making wiser energy choices." – Robert Alan Silverstein .

Embracing renewable energy is the one solution that dominates every discussion on environmental conservation. Going green and renewable is cost-effective, and the panacea will likely work.

Adopting green renewable energy is the most crucial action we can take to reduce environmental damage. Renewable energy is also called green and clean energy and comes from natural resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower, which are abundant and constantly replenished. Harnessing natural resources to conserve energy must be widely practiced in all possible domains.

In the wake of preserving our planet, here are the Top 25  Green Renewable Energy PowerPoint Templates  designed by SlideTeam professionals. Download these pre-designed renewable energy PowerPoint presentations and promote the use of alternative energy.

Top 25 Green Renewable Energy PowerPoint Templates To Download 

Template 1: Renewable Energy PowerPoint Presentation Slides

Use this complete deck in 80 slides to showcase your expertise as a green energy power plant setting up and servicing firm and educate your clients, investors, and audience on why investment in renewable energy is the future. Highlight your successful projects and your mission as a green energy service provider. The Why to invest in green energy is also explained on two fronts; ONE, in terms of problems with traditional energy sources, and SECOND, emphasizing the economic viability of green energy. This template clearly distinguishes between GREEN, CLEAN, and RENEWABLE power to give you the edge and share tips (yes, do not use these interchangeably). This comparison is made in a tabular format on the parameters of energy sources used, whether they are ‘renewable’ (as per industry standard), and their environmental impact. For instance, renewable energy does impact the atmosphere, even as it employs natural resources as fuel. The working and benefits of types of green energy follow in considerable detail. The types of green energy you can illustrate your expertise on are:  Solar power, wind, hydropower, and geothermal energy (we also explain the components of a geothermal plant). Introduction to Biomass Energy and What are Biofuels is also covered. Remember, this knowledge is expert-curated and answers the HOW-TO aspect rather than merely theoretical. For instance, a single slide explains the working of a wind turbine. The cost and maintenance of each plant are also highlighted, with a 30-60-90 Day Plan concluding this life-changing experience for industry professionals. We finally conclude with a roadmap to set up a green energy plant, detailing steps like the contract, implementation planning, site preparation, etc. The provided dashboard lets you summarize the metrics associated with going green regarding business benefits and analysis. Download now and reap a rich harvest from your Go-Green efforts.

Download Renewable Energy PowerPoint Presentation Slides

Template 2: Industrial Shift to Renewable Energy PowerPoint Presentation Slides

This PPT Presentation addresses the industry’s major pain points of optimizing energy consumption and reducing annual electricity bills; shifting to solar power is the solution. Start with your energy consumption analysis, where usage by the resource is highlighted well and showcases your expertise in handling such a project. The energy utilization rate is also graphically illustrated in this section, akin to planning for the significant shift to another power source. The presentation template also lists ‘renewable technologies we can adopt’ as an option for the audience to consider, with a table on electricity cost overview of differing technologies following this slide. The How-to-guide also lists solar technology types before taking you through regulatory considerations that help you arrive at a decision. Then, we arrive at the business end of going GREEN (solar in this case) with details about the proposed power plant outlined like proposed capacity, project cost and duration, etc. We also state the expected outcomes. Then, the most critical part of your path-breaking initiative comes in the form of a decision-making checklist for the solar project (included with this template). This checklist is under the three heads of inverter selection; mounting structure selection, and PV Module selection. An ideal execution schedule is part of this beautiful complete deck. Slides on operational maintenance are next. Then, record building-wise planned capacity based on use in our templates. Our slide on electricity bill-saving forecasting takes the cake to ensure your clients and stakeholders are sufficiently impressed. End with a study of the risk and mitigation strategies, barriers, and solutions for solar energy applications and performance tracking dashboards. A well-designed Meet out Team template, and additional slides round off this delectable compendium of information that will save you thousands of dollars a year

Download Industrial shift to renewable energy PowerPoint presentation slides

Template 3: Application of Latest Renewable Energy Trends to Improve Market Share

Renewable energy is such a sunrise sector that evaluating growth opportunities can be a game-changer for businesses wanting to carve a niche. This PPT Presentation is a step toward increasing the market share, visibility, and even the green footprint of your business. Using this template, evaluate growth opportunities on the four evaluation criteria of competitive advantage, financial benefits, strategic fit, and growth potential against growth options. Get a feel of the offshore wind expansion strategy as well. Ultimately, the renewable energy model will follow the three steps of Economies of Scale leading to lower costs, maintaining and improving market share, before you, as a business, create your niche in manufacturing contracts. Technically, the business world names it a Feel/Sense the Breeze Strategy when the plan is to expand (bet big on) wind as a renewable source. Then, this deck also develops a timeline for activities to move toward storage technology launch for wind energy produced. At some time, the business model has to consider the diversification of demand, economies of scale, and reliable growth. The key performance indicators on company revenue, return on investment, performance ratio, wind energy levels, employees, and profitability is also mapped. This presentation template can also build an estimated market share and a renewable energy dashboard. The about our team, financials, and timeline templates are part of additional slides.   Download this template to learn that renewable energy is about the environment and a business tool to create value and market share.

Download Application of latest renewable energy trends to improve market share case competition complete deck

Template 4: Windmills Renewable Energy Science PowerPoint Templates

The wind is one of the resources which can be harnessed and put into use because it is available in abundance. The government can promote the wind energy application with this amazingly designed PowerPoint template. Statistics of wind energy production, consumption, resources required and other important details can be effectively illustrated with this completely editable green energy PowerPoint theme. Wind energy farms can also employ this pre-designed PPT background to highlight the different services available.

Template 5: Smart Grid Various Architectures and Applications About Renewable Energy and Modern

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Applications of green renewable energy are enormous and the research on them is still going on. Explain the concept of renewable energy and its implementation in making our lives and planet cleaner by incorporating this infographic PowerPoint template. The application of smart grid technology for public facilities, electric vehicles, smart houses, solar power plants, hydropower plants, factories, and other such places can be elaborated on with our informative PowerPoint presentation. Green Renewable Energy Templates are customizable and easy to incorporate.

Template 6: Green Energy PowerPoint Presentation Slides

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Children play a crucial role in shaping the future and hence educating them about renewable resources is a must. School authorities can organize camps for students and encourage them to look for innovative solutions to combat global issues regarding the exploitation of limited resources. Environmentalists can lay emphasis on educating young minds with our visually appealing renewable energy PowerPoint theme.  

Template 7: PPTx Green Plant Design Bulbs Nature Protection Flat PowerPoint Design

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Scientists and environmentalists are working day and night to find new and innovative methods to solve the issue of energy crises. This attractive PowerPoint template is a perfect fit to showcase their research and findings in an effective manner. Acknowledge the great intellectuals who have contributed to making the world a cleaner and greener place by highlighting their names and achievements using our PowerPoint background. The idea of nurturing green energy thoughts can be effectively communicated with our striking renewable energy PPT presentation. 

Template 8: Renewable Energy Icon With Windmill and Solar Panel

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The establishment of the windmill and solar energy farms can be promoted by the Government by introducing this renewable energy resources PowerPoint template. The requirements for setting up renewable energy harnessing plants can be discussed by utilizing our attractive green energy PowerPoint presentation. Inexhaustible energy and its benefits can be discussed with this editable PPT theme.

Template 9: Energy Crisis Covering Fossil Fuel Renewable Energy Improve Infrastructure

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Energy crises and the ways to deal with them can be discussed with the audience using this energy management PowerPoint template. Simple tips such as saving energy, less reliance on fossil fuels, and improved energy infrastructure can be conveyed to the masses in an effective way by employing our attractive green energy PowerPoint presentation. The significance of conserving natural resources can be highlighted with our professionally designed infographic PPT layout.

Template 10: Smart Grid Quality Efficiency Energy Generation Storage Options Power Distribution Demand

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Explain how a smart grid delivers electricity from the power plant to your home, factory, and other applications by incorporating this energy conservation PowerPoint template. Electrical departments can create awareness about using appliances that consume less energy and hence promote green energy using this PPT theme. An efficient and reliable end-to-end intelligent delivery system can be advertised with this striking editable PPT background.

Template 11: Green Energy Power Source Recycle System PPT Icons Graphics

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Mother Earth is exploited for its resources for quite a long time and is now in grave condition. Awareness regarding grave issues like global warming and ozone layer depletion can be conveyed with this energy-saving icon PowerPoint template. Our pre-designed renewable energy PowerPoint theme can be utilized for different purposes like seminars, conferences, and projects for discussing the need for cleaner energy methods. The message of using renewable energy can be communicated with this nature saving PPT theme.  

Template 12: Green Energy Level Indication With Solar Cell Plate PowerPoint Template

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A solar cell is an electrical device that converts light energy into electrical energy directly which makes it a very good source and it can be explained to the audience using this PowerPoint template. Our visually attractive renewable energy PowerPoint theme can be used for explaining the mechanism of solar cells by scientists and students for seminars, conferences, and projects. The set up required for solar cell plates can be discussed by manufacturing companies with this pre-designed PPT presentation. 

Template 13: Recycle Environment Icon Showing Green Earth in Recycle Frame

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Recycling the resources not only reduces the waste generated but also makes the Earth cleaner and greener. This versatile renewable energy PowerPoint template can be employed for spreading awareness. Schools, colleges, and offices can download this amazingly designed green energy PowerPoint theme to list out the necessary steps to be incorporated into the lifestyle. The urgency to reduce the burden on the planet can be highlighted with this recycle icon PPT background.

Template 14: Paper Recycling Factory Showing the Process of Waste Paper Recycling

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Recycling paper can meet many demands which can be discussed in detail with this inexhaustible PowerPoint template. Plant design engineers can incorporate this paper recycling plant PowerPoint theme to highlight the designing aspects of the plant. The establishment of green buildings can be promoted by architects with the help of this professionally designed PPT layout. The paper recycling industry can incorporate our energy conservation PowerPoint presentation to discuss the new methods to save energy during the process.

Template 15: Solar Energy Introduction PowerPoint Presentation Slides

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This renewable energy PPT complete deck explains the concept of solar energy. The usefulness of this solar energy PowerPoint template is immense as it can be employed to convey the message about increasing demand for solar energy to students, your customers, and employees. Discuss the mechanism and benefits of solar energy with our content ready PowerPoint presentation. Stats of energy consumption of the country can be elaborated using the graphs in our editable solar energy ppt PowerPoint layout. 

Template 16: Green Factory Showing Green Energy Industry With Ecology and Environment

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Factories are a major source of pollution. The need and methods for converting the manufacturing process to more green energy efficient sources can be illustrated with this PowerPoint template. Companies can download this green factory PowerPoint presentation to showcase the renewable energy methods adopted in their factory. Green Renewable Energy Templates are advantageous for NGOs and environmentalists.

Template 17: Eco System Shown by Earth Leaves and Buildings

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This amazingly designed renewable energy PowerPoint presentation is perfect for convincing the audience to go for green energy. Download this pre-designed PowerPoint background for any event related to the environment and climatic changes. Companies can employ this ecosystem PowerPoint theme to advertise their products that use renewable energy for functioning. Enterprise can also highlight the practices followed by employees to minimize waste and hence save energy. Students can incorporate this PPT layout to present their project on inexhaustible resources for projects and seminars. 

Template 18: Globe With Green Area Green Energy Production Flat PowerPoint Design

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Employ this PowerPoint template to display the vegetation of the world and discuss the positive impacts of afforestation and renewable resources. Encourage students to adopt a lifestyle that does not harm the environment. The awareness campaigns can include this renewable energy PowerPoint presentation to display statistics of plantation and scientific inventions to preserve natural resources. Environment day celebrations seminars can incorporate this PPT theme to list out eco-friendly activities. 

Template 19: Go Green Environment Nature Powerpoint Templates

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Environmentalists can organize campaigns to illustrate the significance of using renewable energy rather than exhaustible resources with our professionally designed PowerPoint template. Enterprises can utilize our awe-inspiring PPT background to showcase the clean and green practices of their company. Government policies about ecosystem preservation can be highlighted with our green energy PowerPoint presentation.  

Template 20: Image of Biogas Plant in the Fields

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Biogas can be used as an alternative energy source which can be discussed in detail by our infographic renewable source PowerPoint template. Download this clean energy PowerPoint theme to advertise the biogas plants and list out the requirements for its setup. Teachers can educate students about the processes involved in converting biogas for consumption with the help of our PPT presentation. Green Renewable Energy Templates are easy to download and portray the agenda effectively.

Template 21: Steps for a Company to Become Eco-Friendly

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Creating awareness about the exploitation of resources at the corporate level is a big step and often proves to be a successful one. NGOs and environmentalists can download this informative PPT theme to educate professionals about the importance of their contribution to save the natural habitat. Small changes in the manufacturing procedure of products, make a huge impact which can be discussed effectively with this content ready PowerPoint presentation.

Template 22: Green Technology Helping Growth and Environment Protection

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Green technology is responsible for making a better environment for animals, plants, and human beings. It saves from burdening earth with the never-ending demands of fossil fuels and also creates job opportunities in this sector which can be explained with the help of this informative PowerPoint template. With the assistance of this editable PowerPoint layout, environmentalists can elaborate on the advantages of green technology. 

Template 23: Green Technology Positive Impact and Advantages

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The impact of green technology and its various applications can be illustrated with this content ready renewable energy PowerPoint template. You can bring the spotlight on the positive impacts such as low toxicity, energy efficiency, waste minimization, improved ecosystem, and proper utilization of inexhaustible resources by incorporating our pre-designed PPT layout. You can also employ this renewable energy PowerPoint presentation to your seminars and conferences.

Template 24: Energy Crisis Defines Increasing Demand Power Wastage Water Shortage

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The energy crisis is a global issue and ways to tackle it are being researched extensively. The negative impacts of exploitation of non-renewable energy are affecting all the spheres of life. Discuss the consequences of the overutilization of exhaustible resources with the help of this green energy PowerPoint template. Illustrate the increasing demand for energy and the alternatives to it with the help of this amazingly designed PowerPoint theme. Students can incorporate this informative PPT background for addressing the issues mankind is facing and is about to face in the future due to negligence towards the imbalanced ecosystem. 

Template 25: Water Sun and Leaf Displaying Renewable Energy

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Renewable energy sources are found in abundance and harnessing them adequately can solve many problems. Highlight the need and the ways of using renewable energy for meeting the requirements by employing this striking PowerPoint template. The color palette used here instantly grabs attention and hence is excellent for utilizing it for environmental awareness campaigns and activities. Address how every person can contribute to a greener and cleaner planet by explaining to the audience about renewable energy with this engaging PowerPoint presentation. Green Renewable Energy Templates are a must to leave a great impact on the audience.

“To truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy.” – Barack Obama

The major challenge for mankind in today’s time is empowering the planet with newer, greener technologies. Download these Top 25 Green Renewable Energy PowerPoint Templates to leave the fossil fuel age behind by adopting more eco-friendly means, t hus saving your future generations.

So, use renewable energy to renew a happy future!

FAQs on Renewable Energy

What are five renewable energy sources.

Renewable energy is an endless source of energy. Its five sources are hydroelectric, wind, solar, geothermal, and ocean energy. There is also 6th kind of energy called bio-energy. It is called renewable as nature continuously replenishes it. Even though renewable energy systems employ natural resources as fuel, they can adversely impact the atmosphere. There is also a viewpoint that says that, ultimately, all renewable energy is a byproduct of the Sun's energies.

What are 4 main types of renewable energy?

The four main types of renewable energy are solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal. The Sun is a renewable energy resource as the energy that hits the Earth in one hour is more than what the world population consumes in a year. Wind energy is a byproduct of the Sun's uneven heating of the atmosphere and is abundantly available. It will remain a renewable resource for as long as the Sun's rays heat the Earth. Hydropower generates electricity from the natural flow of flowing water; it accounts for 37% of the entire renewable power output in the US. Finally, geothermal energy is derived from the Earth’s subsurface and is located inside rocks and fluid center.

Why is it called renewable energy?

In renewable energy, the critical phrase is RE+NEW. Hence, the name renewable energy refers to such kind of power obtained from sources that are renewed constantly and naturally. Also called sustainable energy, renewable power works on the principle of infinite energy sources at work due to the renewable nature of the raw material. Going green entails increasing financing for solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects. It also means developing technology to harness renewable energy sources better, making these more inexpensive and accessible.

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Free Renewable Energy Presentation Templates

Turn up the eco-volume on your presentations with free renewable energy powerpoint templates and google slides. explain the benefits of solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power with captivating visuals. impress your audience with clear diagrams, informative infographics, and inspiring quotes. encourage your audience to embrace a greener future with us.

Engaging Free Renewable Energy PowerPoint Templates And Google Slides Themes for Everyone to Empower Your Presentations!

• They're royalty-free, meaning you can use them worry-free.
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• Choose portrait or landscape – whatever suits your presentation vibe.
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• Informative Slides: Learn and teach with creative infographics about recycling, solar panels, windmills, and more!
• Easy to Understand: Our slides use simple layouts and cool visuals to make every point crystal clear.
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What are renewable energy presentation templates.

These templates are customizable slides designed to make your presentations on sustainable energy sources engaging and informative. They feature visuals like solar panels, windmills, and recycling diagrams to convey key concepts effectively.

How can I use Renewable Energy Presentation Templates?

Using our templates is a breeze. Simply download the template, open it in your preferred presentation software, and customize the content to fit your needs. Whether you're a student, teacher, or business professional, these templates are designed for easy use.

Are the slides in the Renewable Energy category free to use?

Yes, some of our slides are available for free! You can download them and start creating eco-friendly presentations without any cost. Explore our collection and find the perfect templates for your needs.

Can I edit these templates?

Absolutely! All our slides are 100% editable. You have the freedom to tweak the content, colors, and layouts to match your presentation style.

What formats and orientations are available for these templates?

Our templates come in multiple formats, including the classic 4:3 and widescreen 16:9. You can also choose between portrait and landscape orientations, providing flexibility for various presentation settings.

Are there specific themes covered in this category?

Yes, our templates cover a variety of themes, including solar energy, wind power, environmental sustainability, and more. Each theme is carefully crafted with creative infographics to make your presentations visually appealing and informative.

Can I use these templates for online presentations?

Our templates are suitable for both in-person and online presentations. Download the slides, and you're ready to captivate your audience, whether they're in the same room or connected virtually.

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No special software is required. Our templates are compatible with popular presentation tools like Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides. Download the template, open it in your preferred software, and start creating impactful presentations.

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Renewable Energy

Under this category you can find presentation templates and slides on Renewable Energy. 100% editable slides for presentations on Renewable Energy & environment useful to make slides of types of renewable energy or other energy related topics.

Green Hydrogen PowerPoint Template

Renewable Energy PowerPoint Template

Ecology Green PowerPoint Shapes

Renewable Energy Technology Slides for PowerPoint

Wind Power Diagram PowerPoint Template

Battery PowerPoint Template

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FREE K-12 standards-aligned STEM

curriculum for educators everywhere!

Find more at TeachEngineering.org .

• TeachEngineering
• Renewable Energy

Lesson Renewable Energy

Grade Level: 4 (3-5)

Time Required: 45 minutes

Lesson Dependency: None

Subject Areas: Earth and Space, Physical Science, Science and Technology

NGSS Performance Expectations:

• Print lesson and its associated curriculum

Curriculum in this Unit Units serve as guides to a particular content or subject area. Nested under units are lessons (in purple) and hands-on activities (in blue). Note that not all lessons and activities will exist under a unit, and instead may exist as "standalone" curriculum.

• Water Power
• Solar Power
• Wild Wind! Making Weather Vanes to Find Prevailing Winds
• Wind Energy: Making & Testing Pinwheels to Model Wind Turbines
• Gone with the Wind Energy: Design-Build-Test Mini Sail Cars!
• Build an Anemometer to Measure Wind Speed
• Wind Power! Designing a Wind Turbine
• Windmill of Your Mind — Distributed Energy Goes to School
• Falling Water
• Waterwheel Work: Energy Transformations and Rotational Rates
• A Case of Innovation: Technical Writing about River Current Power
• Stations of Light
• Capturing the Sun's Warmth
• Cooking with the Sun: Comparing Yummy Solar Cooker Designs
• Design and Test Model Solar Water Heaters
• Design a Solar City
• Power to the People

TE Newsletter

Engineering connection, learning objectives, more curriculum like this, introduction/motivation, associated activities, lesson closure, vocabulary/definitions, user comments & tips.

Engineers have a good understanding about energy, so they can harness renewable resources to create electricity for use in our everyday lives. Mechanical, electrical and civil engineers collaborate to develop new and more efficient ways to generate electricity from renewable resources. They design cleaner-burning engines and new car designs (such as hybrid cars) that require less fuel and result in improved gas mileage which in turns improves our planet.

After this lesson, students should be able to:

• Describe sources and uses of energy.
• Define renewable and non-renewable energy.
• Provide examples of common types of renewable and non-renewable resources.
• Understand and explain general ways to save energy at a personal, community and global level.
• Understand and explain, in general terms, how passive solar heating, hydropower and wind power work.
• Describe some general characteristics of solar power, hydropower and wind power.
• Understand the benefits and disadvantages to using renewable resources.
• Explain how engineers design more efficient ways to use generate electricity.
• Describe the role of engineers in energy conservation.

Educational Standards Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards. All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN) , a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org). In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g. , by state; within source by type; e.g. , science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc .

Ngss: next generation science standards - science, international technology and engineering educators association - technology.

View aligned curriculum

Do you agree with this alignment? Thanks for your feedback!

State Standards

Colorado - science.

Brainstorm a list of ideas about where and when we use energy. (Answer: We use energy all the time. Humans use energy to be active – to walk, talk, play basketball, etc. We use energy to power our appliances, vehicles, lights, etc. Cells use energy to perform the most basic life functions. Life as we know it would not be possible without energy production and consumption.)

Energy is everywhere! Although sometimes you can hear energy (sound), feel energy (wind), taste energy (food), and see energy (light), most often it is hard to figure out exactly where energy is.

Energy can move and change, but it cannot be destroyed. Almost every form of energy can be converted into other forms. It is similar to the heat you feel coming off a light bulb while it is on. The warmth is light energy changed to heat energy. Whatever form it is in, energy is essentially the ability for making something happen or, as scientists put it, "doing work."

Where do we get our energy? Well, a lot of energy originally comes from the sun. We get some energy directly from the sun when we use solar panels; however, most energy comes from fossil fuels (coal and oil), which got their energy from fossilized plants and other organisms that obtained their energy directly from the sun by a process called photosynthesis that occurred many years ago. There are many different types of energy, as we brainstormed earlier. Some of these types of energy are called renewable , or can be re-used, such as energy from the sun, wind or water. Other energy is called non-renewable because once it is used up, it is gone, like coal and oil.

Now, imagine yourself having surgery in a hospital and the power goes out. This scenario would be terrible. Fortunately, hospitals have backup generators (designed by engineers!) to prevent this from ever happening. Generators are like storage houses for energy and are usually powered by electricity from coal or fossil fuels. Generators are not normally attached to things like stoplights, railcars or computer networks, which is why we sometimes see stoplights that have gone out. Now, imagine that all of the above mentioned things are backed up with solar energy power or another type of stored renewable energy. This stored power, especially in the form of solar power, never becomes overloaded (which is what happens when the lights in your house or neighborhood go out). The renewable source is always supplying more energy; i.e., the sun is almost always shining on some part of the Earth, wind is always blowing, and rivers are always running. Storing renewable energy for power failures is a better idea because those energy supplies will never run out.

Engineers know all about energy and are currently designing new and more efficient ways to generate electricity using renewable resources. They are designing cleaner engines that use less fuel and new car designs that use electric motors. Today, we are going to look at how engineers can use sun, wind and water power to create electricity to run our homes, cars and everything else. Wow! What incredible engineering creativity!

Lesson Background and Concepts for Teachers

What Is Power?

Energy is the ability to do work (applying a force over a distance), to make things happen, to cause change, or to start motion (a change in position of an object with time). It is the capacity for vigorous activity.

Energy can move (be transferred) and change (be transformed), but it cannot be destroyed. Interactions produce changes in a system, although the total quantities of energy remain unchanged. For example, a power station produces electricity by changing the energy from fuel into electrical energy. A gas-fired power station burns gas, converting the gas' chemical energy into heat. Almost every form of energy can be converted into other forms. But whatever form it is in, energy is essentially the capacity for making something happen or, as scientists put it, "doing work."

Energy comes from many sources, directly or indirectly: power plants, people, food, light, windmills, turbines, fires, electrical circuits, the sun, machines, etc. All energy originally comes from natural resources, most of which originate from the sun.

We use energy to heat houses and buildings, provide light, heating water, break down food, play sports, do activities, operate vehicles, etc.

What are the Different Types of Energy?

• Biomass is the combustion of materials that originate from living things.
• Chemical is used to fuel automobiles and other vehicles.
• Electrical drives many small machines and keeps lights glowing.
• Geothermal taps steam from water heated underground (like geysers) and uses it to spin turbines.
• Hydrogen power uses electricity to break down water into hydrogen gas. The amount of energy released is less than the energy used to break it apart, so not currently feasible.
• Hydroelectricity generates electricity by harnessing the power of flowing water (a renewable resource as long as there is rain). Refer to the associated activity Water Power for students to observe and learn about water related methods of harvesting energy.
• Kinetic is the energy of motion. A spinning top, a falling object, and a rolling ball all have kinetic energy. The motion, if resisted by a force, does work. Wind and water both have kinetic energy. Refer to the associated activity Wind Power to give students an understanding of how wind energy is harvested and used. 
• Light energy is generated from light bulbs and computer screens, the sun.
• Nuclear fusion imitates the method the sun uses to produce energy. It involves the joining together of the nuclei of hydrogen atoms.
• Nuclear fission is when energy is given off from splitting nuclei of uranium atoms.
• Potential energy is the energy stored by an object as a result of its position. For example, roller coaster at the top of a hill.
• Sound energy is created, for example, when a door slams, it releases sound energy.
• Solar energy occurs from the sun (light). Refer to the associated activity Solar Power for students to explore this energy form. 
• Thermal energy (or heat) boils water, keeps us warm and drives engines.
• Tidal energy is when the energy from ocean tides is harnessed.

Other energy sources, for example, include energy created from old car tires: this source fuels five power stations in the U.S. Also, engineers are trying to design new gas power stations (gas drives the electricity generators and then is reused to heat the plant). Lastly, methane that is produced in sanitary landfills may be used to make power.

How are Energy Sources Categorized?

What are Engineers Doing to Improve Our Energy Sources?

Current uses of fossil fuels have catastrophic effects on our environment. Obtaining and using them destroys natural habitats and pollutes the air, water, and land. We can reduce this consumption of fossil fuels by finding alternative, renewable methods of energy production. Engineers are involved in many new technologies that will save our precious resources from devastating long-term effects.

And, engineers are improving the design of factories and products to make even more efficient use of our resources. They are designing cleaner engines that use less fuel and new car designs that run by electric motors. They are studying corals because they very efficiently use low levels of phosphate in the water for energy. Corals have fractal surfaces, and scientists believe that fractal surfaces could make many chemical reactions more efficient. They are working to make machines smaller and more efficient (industrial engineers/designers). For example, they developed fiber optics (thin glass cables to replace heavy metal ones for phones). These efforts contribute to a better, cleaner planet for all inhabitants. Wouldn't it be great to be an engineer making such an important difference in our lives?

Watch this activity on YouTube

Ask the students to describe some sources of renewable energy? (Answer: sun, wind, water) Can they list three specific ways that engineers are involved with renewable resources? (Possible answers: engineers study renewable resources to develop better ways to use these resources for energy generation; engineers design cars that run off renewable resources; engineers design generators that store the energy gathered from renewable resources; engineers develop wind farms to generate electricity for us to use; engineers develop hydropower plants to generate electricity for us to use; engineers are developing machines that are more efficient to reduce the amount of energy, renewable or non-renewable, that gets used; and engineers work to inform communities about what they can do to help conserve energy and use renewable resources.) Engineers work at developing new technologies that use renewable sources to contribute to greater health, happiness and safety of our Earth's inhabitants.

absorb: To be taken into a material without transmission or reflection.

active solar system: Solar power systems that use electrical or mechanical components, such as fans, pumps, and electrical controls in circulating fluids. These systems can be used for heating water or heating/cooling buildings.

anemometer: An instrument for measuring the velocity of wind.

convection: The transfer of thermal energy in a fluid (gas or liquid) by the circulation of currents in the heated fluid causing warmer packets to rise while cooler packets sink.

electromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic energy transmitted in the form of waves or particles (photons); the electromagnetic spectrum, in order of increasing energy: radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, x-rays, gamma rays, cosmic-ray photons.

generator: A device that transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy.

heat exchanger: A device, such as an automobile radiator, that transfers heat from one liquid to another without allowing them to mix.

heat-transfer fluid: A fluid circulated in a heat exchanger; this fluid gains energy from one region and transfers it to another region.

hydraulic head: The difference in depth of a liquid at two given points; the pressure of the liquid at the lower point expressed in terms of this difference.

insulation: A material used to prevent the passage of heat, electricity, or sound (i.e., a non-conducting material).

passive solar system: Solar power systems that do not require electrical or mechanical components; these systems can be used for heating water or heating/cooling buildings.

penstock: A pipe or conduit used to carry water to a water wheel or turbine.

photovoltaic system: This is a system which converts solar energy into electricity.

reflect: This is when something such as sound waves or light waves bend back or return upon striking a surface.

regenerate: To re-grow or replace.

renewable energy: Energy that is made from sources that can be regenerated or reused is renewable.

rotor: The rotating part of an electrical or mechanical device is the rotor.

thermal mass: Materials that store thermal energy, such as water, concrete, brick, stone, adobe, tile, etc.

transmit: To allow the passage through a material.

turbine: A machine in which the kinetic energy of a moving fluid is converted into mechanical energy by causing a series of buckets, paddles, or blades on a rotor to rotate.

Pre-lesson assessment

Brainstorming: Ask students to brainstorm ideas about where and when we use energy. (Possible answers: We use energy all the time. Humans use energy to be active – to walk, talk, play basketball, etc. We use energy to power our appliances, vehicles, lights, etc. Cells use energy to perform the most basic life functions. Life as we know it would not be possible without energy production and consumption.)

Post-introduction assessment

Guess the Amount!: Ask students the following questions and ask them to guess at the different percentages of energy use. Discuss and explain the answers.

• What percent of the energy the world uses today is derived from fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas)? (Answer: 80-85%. This means that only 15-20% of the energy we use is from renewable energy sources such as sun, wind and water.)
• The U.S. has less than 5% of the world's population. What percent of the world's energy do we use? (Answer: Around 17%. This means that the U.S. uses a lot more energy than other countries. Why do the students think that is? Discuss the amount of toys, appliances and other electric powered items in a single person's home.)
• What percent of the electricity consumed in the U.S. is used for light bulbs? (Answer: 5%. This means that we leave a lot of light bulbs on when unused. Can the students think of a time where they could save some electricity by turning off a light bulb?)

Discussion: Ask students the following questions. Discuss the answers.

• How do we know the energy is there? (Answer: We can see it, feel it, hear it, etc.)
• Ask students to describe where this energy comes from. (Answer: ultimately all of it comes from natural resources (renewable and non-renewable), but it is often moved (transferred) and changed (transformed) in the process. You may want to give an example here like coal being mined from the earth, sent to power plants where it is burned to produce steam. The steam turns a turbine and produces electricity that is sent to our houses via power lines, and used in our electrical items like a refrigerator. Or how solar energy is used by plants to create food so they can grow and then we, in turn, use the plants as food to provide energy for our bodies.)
• Ask students to describe where they get their energy. (Answer: from food) Ask them to describe what might happen if suddenly there was no more food. (Note: this is a stretch for some because generally food is considered a renewable resource and because the food supply often seems unlimited to people in the U.S.). What would they do? (Answer: Become hungry, eventually starve, engineer some new source of nutrients, etc.) How would they feel? (Answer: Hungry, sad, scared, motivated to find a way to survive, etc.)
• What if there was only a tiny bit of food? How would it get distributed? Who would decide? What are some other consequences? (Answer: equal world-wide distribution, war, the rich get it, others die, new source of nutrients discovered/engineered, etc.)

Lesson summary assessment

Future Timeline: Ask students to work in a group to imagine what today would be like if there were no electricity (permanently, not just a blackout situation). Ask them to develop a timeline describing what this typical day might be like. Ask them to really consider how they would feel and what they would do. Ask each group to present their timeline to the class.

Venn Diagram: Ask students to create a Venn Diagram to compare/contrast a form of renewable energy and a form of non-renewable energy. They should provide as many facts and details as they can.

Save a Watt: Ask students to engage in two energy saving activities before the next class period. Ask them to describe in detail the impact these actions had during the next class. You can have the students list the activities or write a paragraph and turn the assignment in.

Lesson Extension Activities

• Write and illustrate a children's story for 8-10 year olds about life in the year 2100. It should describe life without fossil fuels and should identify the energy sources used in everyday life as well as some type of conservation measures.
• Discuss what is happening with our world energy supply from fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources. (Examples: fossil fuels are being dangerously depleted, the rich countries receive a larger share of the energy and are more wasteful with it, wars are developing; e.g., the Gulf War, scientists and engineers are researching and developing renewable energy sources, etc.)
• Check out the awesome information and activities/games at Environmental Education for Kids (EEK) website from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at dnr.wi.gov
• Check out some of the activities at Watt Watchers: https://www.watt-watchers.com/student-activities/
• Check out some of the activities and games about energy online
• Play energy-themed games at NASA's Climate Kids website: https://climatekids.nasa.gov/menu/energy/
• Learn more about renewable energy at Alliant Energy's website: https://www.alliantenergykids.com/RenewableEnergy/RenewableEnergyHome
• Read, color, and solve puzzles in the "Saving Energy in My Home Coloring and Activity Book" at https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/consumer/saving-energy-home.pdf
• Try a Nuclear Chain Reaction activity at http://nuclearconnect.org/in-the-classroom/for-teachers/nuclear-chain-reaction-using-dominoes

Students explore the outermost planets of our solar system: Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. They also learn about characteristics of Pluto and its interactions with Neptune. Students learn a little about the history of space travel as well as the different technologies that engineers develop to make spa...

Students are introduced to the fabulous planet on which they live. They learn how engineers study human interactions with the Earth and design technologies and systems to monitor, use and care for our planet's resources wisely to preserve life on Earth.

Students are introduced to the International Space Station (ISS) with information about its structure, operation and key experiments.

Students learn the metric units engineers use to measure mass, distance (or length) and volume. They make estimations using these units and compare their guesses with actual values. To introduce the concepts, the teacher needs access to a meter stick, a one-liter bottle, a glass container that measu...

American Wind Association, www.awea.org

Boulder Community Network, Environmental Center, bcn.boulder.co.us/environment/

California Energy Commission, www.energyquest.ca.gov/

Energy Information Administration, Energy Kid's Page, www.eia.gov/kids/

Hewitt, Paul G. Conceptual Physics, Boston, MA: Addison Wesley Publishing Company, 2004.

Goswami, D. Yogi, Kreith, Frank, and Kreider, Jan F. Principles of Solar Engineering, Taylor & Francis Group, 2nd edition, 2000.

Graham, Ian, Taylor, Barbara, Fardon, John, Oxlad, Chris and Parker, Steve. Science Encyclopedia, Miles Kelly, 2000.

Milton Hydro, https://www.miltonhydro.com/Residential/Community/Power-Kids

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, www.nrel.gov

Snow, Theodore. The Dynamic Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy, Minnesota: West Publishing Company, 1988.

Steen, Anthena S., Steen, Bill, Bainbridge, David and Eisenberg. The Straw Bale House, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 1994.

Texas State Energy Conservation Office, www.infinitepower.org/lessonplans.htm

U.S. Department of Energy, energy.gov

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, www.eere.energy.gov

Contributors

Supporting program, acknowledgements.

The contents of this digital library curriculum were developed under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation GK-12 grant no. 0338326. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Education or National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

Last modified: January 19, 2024

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Solar Power 101

How renewable energy from the sun can mean a brighter future for people and the planet.

Solar farms, like this one located in the Carrizo Plain in California, use the sun's rays to generate clean, renewable energy.

Markus Altmann/Getty Images

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Did you know that people have harnessed the power of the sun at least as far back as 700 BCE, when glass lenses were used to magnify sunlight and create fire? It’s easy to imagine how the sun’s energy—the way it provides warmth and light—has always inspired the human mind.

Today, we know that the sun’s rays can actually provide endless clean electricity, and great progress has been made to make that renewable energy as affordable as possible. In fact, solar power is one of the nation’s fastest-growing energy sectors, with  more than half of all new generating capacity coming from solar in 2023.

But how can sunshine recharge your smartphone, refuel your electric car, warm your bath, and keep your appliances humming? Read on to learn more.

What is solar energy?

Types of solar power, advantages of solar energy, challenges with solar energy, the future of solar energy.

Solar energy refers to the electrical or thermal energy that is created from solar radiation—the power of the sun. Solar energy is also called  solar power, or even just  solar , for short.

The sun emits an enormous amount of radiation onto Earth: around 44 quadrillion watts of power a year. However, the amount of solar energy that can be generated depends not only on the technology and equipment used but factors like geography, season, time of day, and even the shade of local trees and buildings. 

Because the energy source—the sun—is not depleted over time (or at least in a timeline that concerns us mortal humans), it is considered renewable energy. 

One important note: Throughout this guide, we’ll reference solar power at two scales, which have different qualities and costs: 

• Residential, or rooftop, solar: small systems installed on top of or near homes or businesses. These energy sources are relatively easy to install, often taking advantage of existing infrastructure like rooftops. Because of the way these smaller, scattered systems plug into the grid, they’re considered “distributed” energy resources.
• Utility-scale, or commercial, solar: larger systems that operate like a typical power plant, providing energy to entire neighborhoods. These systems require more space and infrastructure than residential solar and are typically owned by utilities (aka power companies), which sell the energy to their customers on the local grid. Terms like  solar farms and  solar plants refer to these utility-scale solar power plants. While distributed solar may be cheaper to set up because they are smaller, utility-scale solar systems cost less per kilowatt-hour (kWh) because of economies of scale.

There are two main types of solar energy: photovoltaic power and thermal power. Both utilize sunlight as a fuel but they harness it in different ways. 

Photovoltaic power

Photovoltaic (PV) energy, which converts sunlight directly into electricity, is what most people think of when we talk about solar power. PV panels are the large black or blue modules you see in places like residential rooftops and parking lots, or clustered together in utility-scale solar farms. Each PV panel is made up of individual PV cells, and several connected panels form a solar array.

Solar installers set up panels at the Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles, taking advantage of the vast rooftop space.

Richard Vogel/AP Photo

But how does sunlight become electricity, exactly? PV cells contain semiconductor material: silicon, most commonly. When sunlight—which is made up of tiny bits of energy called photons—hits the PV cell, the material absorbs the photons, which dislodge electrons. This movement of electrons creates an electrical current. 

Metal connectors on the side of each PV cell then transfer the electricity to wires and to an inverter, which feeds this current into our electrical grid. 

It takes about 20 solar panels to satisfy the 11,000 kWh of power consumed by a typical U.S. household every year.

Thermal power 

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of warm sunlight on a cool, crisp day. Amazingly, we can harness this heat, or thermal energy, for many things. Thermal energy can be used to warm the water for your shower or, more passively, maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home. We can even use it to generate electricity at a massive scale.

When it opened in 2014, the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California was the world’s largest concentrated solar-thermal plant.

Mlenny/Getty Images

Concentrated solar-thermal power 

Just as humans first focused sunlight with glass lenses more than 2,700 years ago, concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP) creates electricity using the same basic mechanism. CSP utilizes mirrors to point sunlight into a receiver to heat up a fluid and generate steam. That steam spins the turbines that then create electricity. 

CPS systems are utility-scale solar plants that are typically built on large swaths of land and can power tens of thousands of homes and businesses.

One of the advantages of a CPS system is that the fluid can retain the heat for a long time, which is especially handy on cloudy days when CPS systems aren’t able to harness as much sunlight. However, the technology is still in limited use and the industry is not expected to grow as much as utility-scale PV solar. 

Gas- and coal-powered plants also use steam to spin turbines but with CSP, there’s no nasty pollution or waste—or climate-warming emissions—like there are from burning fossil fuels.

Passive solar design

Most of us have seen at least one example of passive solar heating: a greenhouse, which is designed to take maximum advantage of sunlight. 

A passive solar system isn’t so much about equipment as it is about strategy. This method of controlling indoor temperatures doesn’t even require electricity—just the right building materials and conditions to take advantage of the sun’s warmth.

Whether it’s primarily for heating or cooling, there are a few key requirements for a passive solar system in a building: 

• Aperture: large windows that face within 30 degrees of true south, with no shade between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. (In North America, this is where the sun sits the highest during the day.)
• Thermal mass: materials like concrete, brick, or stone that can hold onto heat
• Distribution: Thermal energy is distributed around the building via: conduction, like when you touch the thermal mass; convection, moving thermal energy through the air, as through vents and fans; or radiation, moving through electromagnetic waves.
• Controls: things like thermostats, awnings, or blinds that can help prevent overheating or under-heating the building throughout all kinds of weather 

Solar water heaters

The sun’s thermal power can also be used to heat tap water in a home or business. Similar to the PV systems, solar water heaters utilize collector panels to absorb solar radiation. Water will heat up as it’s circulated through the panels and sent to a storage tank. These panels are typically installed on rooftops to capture the most direct sunlight, and some systems include pumps and valves to move the water through the system. 

For a typical U.S. home, heating water accounts for a good chunk of its total energy use: about 20 percent. The cost of a solar water heater varies, based on factors such as the size of the storage tank, how many collector panels are needed, and installation fees. And while it can be pricier up-front compared with a conventional water heater, a solar water heater can cut your water heating bills by 50 to 80 percent. That’s because sunlight is free!

(If you’re not in such a sunny location,  heat pump water heaters are another efficient and eco-friendly option.)

Solar power—along with wind energy and other renewable technologies—is lighting the path toward a future without fossil fuels. 

Clean and renewable energy source

Unlike power plants that rely on fossil fuels, solar energy does not produce greenhouse gases or air and water pollution. That’s because nothing is burned. And the more we develop and install solar power, the less we will have to depend on dirty sources of electricity. 

Building up more solar energy at residential and utility scales also  makes our electrical grid more reliable , especially under the stress of extreme weather—like the heat waves that can send our energy consumption soaring to the point of blackouts. Solar energy is a major  climate solution , helping us not only adapt to climate change but to mitigate it.

Job creation and economic growth

Clean energy jobs are on the rise across the United States, especially as private and public investments are plugged in. Solar leads as a top employer within renewable energy, with more than  346,000 people employed in the U.S. solar sector in 2022. And these jobs aren’t limited to installing solar panels on rooftops but spread out across construction, manufacturing, software, and science.

The booming clean energy industry is making way for new jobs, including solar installation and manufacturing.

Sandy Huffaker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Megan Jelinger/Reuters

Cost savings

With the increased efficiency of solar technology comes decreased costs. And these aren’t small savings, either. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory found an  85 percent cost reduction in PV modules between 2010 and 2021, whether residential or utility scale. In fact, electricity from utility-scale solar is now almost always  less expensive than electricity from gas or coal.

And if we compare clean solar with the polluting fossil fuel technologies that have dominated the energy landscape for the past century, the  savings for public health care are astronomical.

Although solar technology isn’t new, the sector is still evolving to become more efficient, affordable, and accessible. Here are some of the challenges the sector is working to address.

Weather and location dependency

Naturally, solar power depends on how much sunlight can be reached. For instance, PV panels do not generate as much energy on a cloudy day, or if they’re blocked by a tree during daylight hours—and they stop generating electricity altogether at night. 

This is where  battery storage comes in. Whether at the residential or utility scale, batteries can store the energy generated during sunny periods so that it can be accessed when the sun isn’t shining or energy use is extra high.

Energy storage, like at Orsted’s Eleven Mile Solar lithium-ion battery storage facility in Coolidge, Arizona, helps maintain a steady supply of electricity when the sun isn’t shining.

Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo

The future looks even brighter as the United States  modernizes its grid infrastructure , including increasing capacity, plugging in more distributed energy sources (including small solar systems), and building new transmission lines. And solar energy isn’t the only renewable energy source on the market:  Wind energy is also rapidly expanding across the country.

High initial cost

While the cost of installing a residential solar system has dropped, a typical home system requires an average initial investment of about  $25,000 . The good news is that if the solar system can cover all of your electricity needs, you can save that amount or even thousands more over the 35-year lifetime of the system. And  clean energy tax credits are making it that much easier to recoup your initial investment.

Community solar projects, through which customers join together to collectively purchase and use locally produced solar energy, are also a great option for businesses and homes (benefiting owners and renters alike). Typically, participants can pay a monthly subscription to access solar energy or purchase a portion of the panels. Both subscribers and owners will also receive credit from the utility to cover any excess energy that their share of solar panels produce to reduce their electricity bills. Community solar is also a good solution if your rooftop isn’t suitable for solar panels, like if your property is shaded or your roof is aging.

Solar owners can potentially pay little or nothing for electricity if they generate more energy than they use. Depending on the specific city and state policies, some utility companies (as in  California ) offer net metering programs that exchange access to residents’ and businesses’ excess electricity for credits toward their bills.

Environmental concerns 

Since utility-scale solar farms and plants do not generate any carbon emissions while operating, solar energy is an asset in the fight against climate change. In fact, moving from fossil fuels to clean energy means reduced air and water pollution, as well as water consumption.

However, the siting, production, and end-of-life phases of solar equipment, like in any other power sector, involve resources and waste that can potentially have negative impacts.

A sorting machine breaks down solar panels at North America’s first utility-scale solar panel recycling plant, We Recycle Solar, in Yuma, Arizona.

Gregory Bull/AP Photo

Thankfully, end-of-life impacts from solar are low, as the materials in modern panels pose no threat of leaching. Nevertheless, recycling panels is better but currently very limited. NRDC, the electric utility industry, and the solar industry have jointly called for more investment and public support for building the infrastructure needed to support more recycling.

The growing industry is taking steps to address other issues head-on. For example, utility-size solar plants require a lot of space. One way to address this is with agrivoltaics, which  combines solar and farming on the same land. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has designated millions of dollars to researching how this promising field can grow. The land usage challenge can also be addressed by siting solar farms on degraded land, such as brownfields or retired  landfills .

Sheep graze and rest among solar panels at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Heather Ainsworth/AP Photo

Part of the responsibilities of the DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office is researching best practices for developing solar energy with minimal impacts on the environment. This includes how PV cells and other solar components might be built to last longer and then recycled at the  end of their lifespan .  

NRDC and other organizations are advocating for a circular economy approach, in which we invest the resources and build out infrastructure so that solar panel components are reused as much as possible, or otherwise safely recycled. 

Trade and labor concerns

As we push for a faster transition to renewable energy, it’s important that we avoid the harms that have become the trademarks of the fossil fuel industry. That means fostering an environment where workers are treated as valued stakeholders—investing in the skills and well-being of workers so they can provide positive contributions to local economies and workforce diversity. 

Investing in domestic manufacturing is another way in which we can address concerns around labor exploitation in the global solar industry. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which includes the Advanced Manufacturing Production tax credit, does just that by spurring the creation of  stable, family-supporting jobs as well as helping the U.S. solar industry compete on the international stage. Moreover, partnership with labor unions can help to reduce burdens on developers, contractors, and customers to meet the requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act and other regulatory hurdles, so we can get solar to market much more efficiently.

With greater incentives and access, more residents can benefit from rooftop solar, like these homes in Folsom, California.

Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo

As mentioned above, the  Inflation Reduction Act has helped to energize the clean power industry, with $369 billion in investments to help fight climate change. That includes billions to spur solar development, like the clean energy Investment Tax Credit, which provides a 30 percent credit for qualifying solar investments, as well as the extended Residential Clean Energy Credit, which can cover 30 percent of costs for solar installation, among others. 

While solar power accounts for just  4 percent of electricity generated in the United States right now, it’s an integral part of a broader, booming  renewable energy market. 

Unfortunately, fossil fuels are still the primary energy source in the world, by far, and we’ve got a long way to go in achieving  net zero emissions by 2050 , as scientists are telling us we must do to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. 

The good news is, according to  NRDC’s modeling , the recent tax credits could boost generation from utility-scale wind and solar to account for around one-third of the country’s electricity portfolio by 2030—and up to 46 percent by 2035. And unprecedented investments, like  Solar for All , are expanding access to residential solar and creating solar programs where none previously existed. So don’t count us down-and-out. A future where it’s lights out for fossil fuels remains in reach.

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The Economics of the Global Energy Challenge

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How Plant Biology Could Revolutionize Renewable Energy

By American Institute of Physics May 28, 2024

A groundbreaking study demonstrates that plants can generate electricity that varies with their circadian rhythms, opening up new possibilities for environmentally sustainable energy production. Credit: Aniruddha Guha, edited

New research has revealed that the hydraulic systems of plants generate a streaming electric potential in sync with their circadian rhythms, presenting innovative opportunities for sustainable energy production.

When plants draw water from their roots to nourish their stems and leaves, they produce an electric potential that could be harnessed as a renewable energy source. However, like all living things, plants are subject to a circadian rhythm — the biological clock that runs through day and night cycles and influences biological processes. In plants, this daily cycle includes capturing light energy for photosynthesis and absorbing water and nutrients from the soil during the day, and slowing its growth processes at night.

Study Insights on Electrical Potential in Plants

In a new study published this week in Physics of Fluids , by AIP Publishing, the researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur detailed how biological processes produce voltage in plants and the impact of the cyclic day and night changes on this voltage.

“This streaming potential, essentially a consequence of the natural energy gathered in the plant, offers a renewable energy source that is continuous and can be sustainable over long periods,” author Suman Chakraborty said. “The question we wanted to answer was how much potential it can produce, and how is electric potential influenced by the plant’s biological clock?”

Plant hydraulics drive the biological process that moves fluids from roots to plant stems and leaves, creating streaming electric potential, or voltage, in the process. This study closely examined the differences in voltage caused by the concentrations of ions, types of ions, and pH of the fluid plants transport, tying the voltage changes to the plant’s circadian rhythm that causes adjustments day and night. According to the authors, this consistent, cyclic voltage creation could be harnessed as an energy source. Credit: Aniruddha Guha

Methodology and Discoveries

To find out, the authors inserted electrodes into the stems of water hyacinths and attached reservoirs with electrodes to pieces of lucky bamboo to closely examine how electrical potential changes depending on types of ions, ion concentration, and the pH of the fluid flowing through the plants.

“Our eureka moment was when our first experiments showed it is possible to produce electricity in a cyclic rhythm and the precise linkage between this and the plant’s inherent daily rhythm,” Chakraborty said. “We could exactly pinpoint how this is related to water transpiration and the ions the plant carries via the ascent of sap.”

The study quantified the voltage response originating from the movement of ions through the plant’s pathways that align uniquely with the plant’s daily rhythms.

Potential for Sustainable Energy Harvesting

The authors discovered plants can actively moderate the flow of fluid or sap in sync with the day and night cycles. They also found the electric streaming potential increases with decreased concentration of ions or increased pH in the fluid.

“We not only rediscovered the plant’s electrical rhythm, articulating it in terms of voltages and currents, but we also provided insight into potentially tapping electrical power output from plants in a sustainable manner with no environmental impact and no disruption to the ecosystem,” Chakraborty said.

“The findings could help develop biomimetic, nature-inspired systems that can address the global energy crisis with an eco-friendly, sustainable solution in which planting a tree not only relieves the crises of climate change and declining environmental quality, but also provides a way to harness electricity from it.”

Reference: “How does the diurnal biological clock influence electrokinetics in a living plant?” by Aniruddha Guha, Saumyadwip Bandyopadhyay, Chirodeep Bakli, and Suman Chakraborty, 28 May 2024, Physics of Fluids . DOI: 10.1063/5.0195088

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Saudi Arabia Eyes a Future Beyond Oil

The kingdom is trying to juggle its still-vital petroleum industry with alternative energy sources like wind and solar as it faces pressure to lower carbon emissions.

Arrays of solar panels help power the Jazlah Water Desalination plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Credit... Iman Al-Dabbagh for The New York Times

Supported by

By Stanley Reed

Stanley Reed, who covers energy from London, reported from Saudi Arabia, where he toured oil and renewable energy projects.

• May 29, 2024

At a two-hour drive from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, rows of solar panels extend to the horizon like waves on an ocean. Despite having almost limitless reserves of oil, the kingdom is embracing solar and wind power, partly in an effort to retain a leading position in the energy industry, which is vitally important to the country but fast changing.

Looking out over 3.3 million panels, covering 14 square miles of desert, Faisal Al Omari, chief executive of a recently completed solar project called Sudair, said he would tell his children and grandchildren about contributing to Saudi Arabia’s energy transition. “I’m really proud to be part of it,” he said.

Although petroleum production retains a crucial role in the Saudi economy, the kingdom is putting its chips on other forms of energy. Sudair, which can light up 185,000 homes, is the first of what could be many giant projects intended to raise output from renewable energy sources like solar and wind to around 50 percent by 2030. Currently, renewable energy accounts for a negligible amount of Saudi electricity generation.

Analysts say achieving that hugely ambitious goal is unlikely. “If they get 30 percent, I would be happy because that would be a good signal,” said Karim Elgendy, a climate analyst at the Middle East Institute, a research organization in Washington.

Still, the kingdom is planning to build solar farms at a rapid pace.

“The volumes you see here, you don’t see anywhere else, only in China,” said Marco Arcelli, chief executive of Acwa Power, Sudair’s Saudi developer and a growing force in the international electricity and water industries.

The Saudis not only have the money to expand rapidly, but are free of the long permit processes that inhibit such projects in the West. “They have a lot of investment capital, and they can move quickly and pull the trigger on project development,” said Ben Cahill, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a research institution in Washington.

Even Saudi Aramco , the crown jewel of the Saudi economy and the producer of nearly all its oil, sees a shifting energy landscape.

To gain a foothold in solar, Aramco has taken a 30 percent stake in Sudair, which cost $920 million, the first step in a planned 40-gigawatt solar portfolio — more than Britain’s average power demand — intended to meet the bulk of the government’s ambitions for renewable energy.

The company plans to set up a large business of storing greenhouse gases underground. It is also funding efforts to make so-called e-fuels for automobiles from carbon dioxide and hydrogen, notably at a refinery in Bilbao, Spain, owned by Repsol, the Spanish energy company.

Aramco’s computer scientists are also training artificial intelligence models, using nearly 90 years of oil field data, to increase the efficiency of drilling and extraction, thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

“Environmental stewardship has always been part of our modus operandi,” said Ashraf Al Ghazzawi, Aramco’s executive vice president for strategy and corporate development.

Still, pressure to accelerate the energy transition may grow in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa, a region that has young, environmentally aware populations and that could be especially vulnerable to climate change.

“Countries from the MENA region, including Saudi Arabia, will face the impacts of climate change and extreme temperatures, water scarcity,” said Shady Khalil, lead campaigner for Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, an environmental group.

Although it insists that petroleum has a long future, Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, seems to also be trying to signal that it is not locked in a pollution-belching past but is more like a Silicon Valley company focused on innovation.

Recently, the company invited a group of journalists to a presentation during which young Saudis described green practices like using drones rather than lumbering fleets of trucks when prospecting for oil or restoring mangrove swamps along tropical coastlines to soak up carbon dioxide.

In the last two years, Saudi Arabia has instructed Aramco to sharply pare back oil production to nine million barrels a day, in line with agreements in the group known as OPEC Plus. In January, Aramco announced that the Saudi government had told it to halt an effort to boost the amount of oil it could produce.

In Aramco’s view, these decisions are not harbingers of declining fossil fuel consumption. Executives insist that the company will continue to invest in oil and, at the same time, sharply increase output of natural gas.

These fuels will continue to “play a very important role” up till 2050 and beyond, Mr. Al Ghazzawi said, arguing that both renewables and oil and gas would be needed to meet growing demand. “We’ve always felt there has to be a parallel and concurrent investment in new and conventional sources of energy,” he said.

The executives said Aramco was well positioned for the coming decades. The combination of some of the world’s largest fields and careful stewardship, they said, means it can produce oil at very low cost — $3.19 a barrel on average. The company is also betting that it can make its oil more attractive by chipping away at the emissions caused by producing it — an attribute that is not rewarded by markets now but could eventually command a premium.

“I think ultimately the market will value low-carbon products and the pricing will become even more profitable,” said Ahmed Al-Khowaiter, Aramco’s executive vice president for technology and innovation.

It is easy to see why Aramco and the Saudi government would be wary of damaging a business that dates to 1938 . Aramco continues to be one of the world’s most profitable companies: For the first quarter of this year, it earned $27.3 billion and said it would pay out $31.1 billion in dividends, mostly to its main owner, the Saudi government.

It follows, though, that if Aramco cuts back its investment in oil, it will be able to pay even higher dividends to the government that could be used in a wide range of efforts to diversify the economy.

Aramco says it will be putting around 10 percent of its investments into lower-carbon initiatives, but these moves have not shown up much in the financial results. “I just don’t think it moves the needle,” said Neil Beveridge, an analyst at the research firm Bernstein. “Oil production really accounts for the vast bulk of earnings.”

Some of Aramco’s initiatives are likely to take years to bear fruit, but conditions already look ripe for solar energy. Saudi Arabia has blazing sun and vast stretches of land that can be populated with solar panels. Add in a close relationship with China, which is supplying much of the renewable equipment including the panels at Sudair, and “they are building at a very low price,” said Nishant Kumar, a renewable and power analyst at Rystad Energy, a research firm.

Sudair, for instance, will sell its power at about 1.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, a near record low at the time it was agreed.

“They know very well that the economy can only be efficient if they can continue to take advantage of that ever-reducing solar energy cost,” said Paddy Padmanathan, a former chief executive of Acwa Power who is now a renewable entrepreneur.

The kingdom is betting that abundant, low-cost electric power could attract energy-intensive industries like steel. Acwa is helping to build what is likely to be the world’s largest plant for making green hydrogen, with an eye to exporting to Europe and other places with higher costs.

The only problem, analysts say, is Saudi Arabia is not moving as fast as it could be. Mr. Kumar figures that it may achieve only about half of the ambitious 2030 goal for solar installations. Wind is lagging even more. One reason: The government has not created the conditions that could bring in competing firms that might bolster output, analysts say.

Acwa, for instance, will be heavily relied upon for meeting the ambitious renewable targets. “We think it is difficult to ignore the operational — and financial risks,” analysts at Citigroup wrote recently. The company is listed on the stock exchange, but 44 percent is owned by the Public Investment Fund, the key financing vehicle for the initiatives of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Still, renewable energy is already creating jobs. Acwa, for instance, has 3,840 employees with about 1,900 in Saudi Arabia. The opportunity to work in cleaner energy businesses appeals to younger Saudis.

Acwa set an example by installing large arrays of solar panels at a plant it recently built on the Persian Gulf to convert seawater into drinking water. Desalination requires enormous amounts of electricity; the solar energy reduces the need to tap into the power grid and, consequently, cuts emissions.

The developers of two adjacent plants are following suit. “Using this technology is very important,” said Nawaf Al-Osimy, chief technical officer of the plant known as Jazlah. “The more you use, the more sustainable it is.”

Stanley Reed reports on energy, the environment and the Middle East from London. He has been a journalist for more than four decades. More about Stanley Reed

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Regional property owners joining transition to renewable energy with solar farm land leases

The renewable energy sector continues to grow across Australia, and regional land owners are becoming part of the long-term sustainable electricity production outlook.

In South Australia's Riverland region, Cathy Kruger has leased most of her 7-hectare property to host a solar farm for 40 years.

As the national issue of red wine oversupply continues and some grape growers remove vineyards to exit the industry , Ms Kruger encouraged other landowners to consider repurposing their properties for renewable energy projects.

"The block across the road from our block had grapevines, but … as long as probably the last 10 years the vines have all been dead there," she said.

"To make it a bit more viable … he has now signed up to be a part of the second phase of the project.

"So eventually our farm will spread over into his property as well."

In 2018, Ms Kruger was approached by South Australian company Green Gold Energy with an offer to lease her land for large-scale solar.

"The reason they selected our property was because it was close to a substation and it had the power lines and the capacity to hold that solar," she said.

"It isn't something that I believe can just be built anywhere. It has to be built in a region that has that infrastructure in place."

The solar panels and battery energy storage system were completed in 2022, and with a capacity of 2.2 megawatts (MW) it produces 5.5MWh (an MWh, or megawatt hour, equals 1,000 kilowatts of electricity generated per hour) for more than 500 households.

Unviable for crops, but growing energy

When Ms Kruger bought the Loveday property in the early 2000s, it was home to herself and her three young sons, and land for her horse to roam.

After selling the horse, Ms Kruger said she was left with "derelict land" where nothing would grow.

"The land is zoned as rural, so I couldn't subdivide it — I couldn't make any other income off it," she said.

"The possibility of actually producing anything was nearly non-existent, and certainly not worth what it would've cost to get water, and also set up the property for irrigation.

"I imagined trying to grow crops for arid regions, and we tried to put in some arid lucerne — it just wouldn't grow."

Renewable projects in demand

The amount of rooftop solar in Australia is predicted to  more than triple by 2054 , with the Grattan Institute's energy and climate change program director Tony Wood saying land-based solar projects are also on the rise.

"It is growing because there is huge demand for more renewable energy," he said.

"The role of solar becomes important, not just to replace fossil fuel-based electricity, but also to replace the fossil fuel called gas in our system as well.

"There's a huge potential here and that means lots of opportunities."

Mr Wood said regional land owners could play a part in Australia's ongoing transition to renewable energy in different ways.

"You might have someone [on] a vineyard who might want to have a small solar farm on their property to provide electricity on their farm," he said.

"A large dedicated solar farm is designed just to export electricity to the grid and may not provide any electricity to the owner of the solar farm on their own property."

Neighbourly support

A CSIRO poll of 6,700 people  last year found most Australians were willing to live near renewable energy developments, with support for solar farms the highest among respondents, at 88 per cent.

Ms Kruger said Green Gold Energy approached her surrounding neighbours and explained the project before it went ahead, with no complaints or pushback.

Multiple companies have offered to purchase the 40-year lease, however Ms Kruger said the passive income covered her mortgage repayments with a little extra left over.

Ms Kruger said the lease would outlive her, but she hoped it would continue to provide an income for her family.

"I like the idea of having this available to hand out to my children so that when I'm gone, that's something a little bit extra they'll get for a few years."

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Germany has too many solar panels, and it's pushed energy prices into negative territory

• Germany has installed more solar capacity than consumer demand requires, SEB Research found.
• During peak solar production hours, producers have taken a 87% price cut in the past 10 days.
• In fact, raw market energy prices fall into negative territory during these hours.

Sunny days in Germany mean gray clouds for solar profitability as the nation's dive into renewables has left it with too much energy.

According to a note from SEB Research , in the past 10 days, solar producers have had to take an 87% price cut during production hours. In fact, when production peaks, prices have slid well below zero.

On average, the price received was 9.1 euros per megawatt-hour, significantly under the 70.6 euros paid during non-solar-power hours.

"This is what happens to power prices when the volume of unregulated power becomes equally big or bigger than demand: Prices collapse when unregulated power produces the most," the Swedish bank wrote on Tuesday.

Last year's record wave of solar installations are what's driving Germany's price "destruction" as inventory outpaces consumption. While total solar capacity topped 81.7 gigawatts by 2023's end, demand load only reached 52.2 gigawatts, noted SEB chief commodities analyst Bjarne Schieldrop.

The difference between the two actually widens even more in the summer, a season of peak production and lower demand. 

This also means that consumers are not necessarily benefiting from the low prices, as they typically consume more energy in non-solar hours. 

Unless new installations are spurred on by subsidies or power purchase agreements, oppressed profitability could eventually halt Germany's solar expansion, Schieldrop said. 

Instead, focus is likely to move onto improvements that will make more use of the energy produced, such as investments in batteries and grid infrastructure.

"This will over time exhaust the availability of 'free power' and drive solar-hour-power-prices back up," Schieldrop wrote. "This again will then eventually open for renewed growth in solar power capacity growth."

The supply-demand imbalance is neither a new issue for Germany, nor is the country alone in experiencing it. The European market has raced to install solar capacity through last year, a move made urgent after Russia cut off its energy supplies to the continent.

A European green-energy-supply glut — further extended by wind turbine and nuclear expansions — has triggered previous instances of negative price dips .

In reality, this doesn't mean that consumers are reimbursed to use electricity, as they're not paying raw market price. Instead, rates are typically agreed on beforehand.

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Texas set to smash clean and dirty power output records in 2024

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Stocks, bonds slump over global rates angst.

Asian stocks were a sea of red on Thursday and bonds slid on bets global interest rates would stay higher for longer, as investors looked to key inflation readings at the end of the week for further clues on the future path of monetary policy.

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Rwe to build australia’s first eight-hour battery.

• Investment decision made for 50+ megawatt/400+ megawatt hour Limondale Battery Energy Storage System next to RWE’s Limondale Solar Farm
• Tesla will supply its Megapack batteries for the project with commissioning planned for late 2025
• RWE to grow its global battery storage portfolio to 6 gigawatts by 2030

Essen/Melbourne, 28 May 2024

Leading global renewables player RWE has today announced its investment decision to build Australia’s first eight-hour battery near Balranald, in New South Wales (NSW). RWE’s eight-hour lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was the only successful project in New South Wales’ first Long Duration Storage Long-Term Energy Service Agreements tender process, and was awarded  a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement.

With a planned capacity of 50+ megawatts (MW) and 400+ megawatt hours (MWh), the Limondale BESS will support the energy transition by storing excess renewable energy and feeding it into the NSW grid when it is needed most. The project will be located next to RWE’s 249 MWac Limondale Solar Farm – which is one of Australia’s largest. The BESS will connect to existing grid infrastructure.

Tesla has been selected as the BESS supplier, and Beon Energy Solutions as the delivery partner for the Balance of Plant, which includes the civil, structural, electrical and control works required to connect the Megapack to the existing 33kV substation. Construction is scheduled to start in the second half of this year, with commissioning planned for late 2025.

Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia: “RWE’s investment decision and signing of supplier contracts for the Limondale BESS project is an exciting step forward in our commitment to the Australian renewables sector and support of New South Wales’ renewable energy ambitions. As a battery storage pioneer, RWE develops, builds and operates innovative and competitive battery storage systems in Europe and the US, and soon here in Australia. We look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to help realise the country’s renewable energy goals.” 

RWE in Australia

Australia is one of RWE’s focus markets, where it has been present since 2013. In 2018, the company began construction of the Limondale solar farm in Balranald, New South Wales. With an installed capacity of 249 MWac the large-scale solar farm is made up of 872,000 panels and generates enough electricity to power about 105,000 homes per year.  Full commercial operation started in 2021. RWE’s Australian team of more than 70 is currently developing a portfolio of wind, solar, and battery storage projects across the country, supported by the global RWE team. RWE intends to develop up to 3 gigawatts of renewable energy projects in Australia by 2030.

RWE invests in battery storage worldwide

As a driver of the energy transition, RWE develops, builds and operates battery storage systems in Europe, the United States and Australia. Currently, the company operates battery storage systems with an overall capacity of more than 700 MW and 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage projects under construction worldwide. The company recently commissioned three U.S. battery storage projects totalling 190 MW. As an integral part of its Growing Green strategy, RWE plans to expand its battery storage capacity to 6 GW worldwide by 2030.

Pictures of the RWE Limondale Solar Farm for media use are available at RWE’s Media Centre . Credit: RWE.

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