Lecture

Renewable Energies: Understanding for Choice

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Description

This lecture covers the concepts of renewable and non-renewable energies, focusing on solar, hydropower, wind, biomass, and geothermal energy. It explains the difference between renewable and non-renewable energies based on generation and consumption times. The primary source of energy, the Sun, is discussed in detail, along with its various applications such as solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies. The lecture also explores the energy potential in Switzerland for solar and wind power, as well as the utilization of biomass and geothermal energy. Concluding remarks emphasize the importance of renewable energies in the Swiss energy transition, highlighting the need for sustainable resource management.

In MOOC

SES Swiss-Energyscope

Switzerland, like many other countries, is revising its energy strategy with a view to a transition towards a more rational use of energy, a more dynamic development of renewable energies and a progressive exit from nuclear energy. In a participatory democracy, such a process can only be based on a good understanding of the basic concepts and the issues related to technological and political choices. This course, which is open to everyone, is aimed at all citizens who wish to gain a better understanding in

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Renewable energy

Renewable energy is energy from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. Renewable resources include sunlight, wind, the movement of water, and geothermal heat. Although most renewable energy sources are sustainable, some are not. For example, some biomass sources are considered unsustainable at current rates of exploitation. Renewable energy is often used for electricity generation, heating and cooling.

Wind power

Wind power is the use of wind energy to generate useful work. Historically, wind power was used by sails, windmills and windpumps, but today it is mostly used to generate electricity. This article deals only with wind power for electricity generation. Today, wind power is generated almost completely with wind turbines, generally grouped into wind farms and connected to the electrical grid. In 2022, wind supplied over 2000 TWh of electricity, which was over 7% of world electricity and about 2% of world energy.

Energy transition

An energy transition (or energy system transformation) is a significant structural change in an energy system regarding supply and consumption. Currently, a transition to sustainable energy (mostly renewable energy) is underway to limit climate change. It is also called renewable energy transition. The current transition is driven by a recognition that global greenhouse-gas emissions must be drastically reduced. This process involves phasing-down fossil fuels and re-developing whole systems to operate on low carbon electricity.

Renewable energy commercialization

Renewable energy commercialization involves the deployment of three generations of renewable energy technologies dating back more than 100 years. First-generation technologies, which are already mature and economically competitive, include biomass, hydroelectricity, geothermal power and heat. Second-generation technologies are market-ready and are being deployed at the present time; they include solar heating, photovoltaics, wind power, solar thermal power stations, and modern forms of bioenergy.

Hydropower

Hydropower (from Ancient Greek ὑδρο-, "water"), also known as water power, is the use of falling or fast-running water to produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by converting the gravitational potential or kinetic energy of a water source to produce power. Hydropower is a method of sustainable energy production. Hydropower is now used principally for hydroelectric power generation, and is also applied as one half of an energy storage system known as pumped-storage hydroelectricity.

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