Power stations generate electricity using generators connected to electrical grids. First commercial-scale generator invented by Belgian inventor Zénobe Gramme in 1871. World's first public coal-fired power station built in London in 1882. Westinghouse developed alternating current system in 1886
Renewable energy comes from natural resources replenished on human timescale. Solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy, and geothermal are main types. Global renewable energy grew from 20% to 28% of electricity supply from 2011 to 2021. Renewables now account for 30% of global electricity generation
Wind power supplied 2,304 TWh of electricity in 2022, 7.8% of global total. Global installed wind capacity exceeded 800 GW in 2021. Wind generation nearly tripled since 2015. 32 countries generated over 10% of electricity from wind in 2023
Renewable energy is replenished faster than it is consumed. Fossil fuels take millions of years to form and produce harmful emissions. Renewables generate three times more jobs than fossil fuels
Requires 4+ hours of sunlight daily for optimal performance. Three types: monocrystalline (20% efficiency), polycrystalline (16%), thin film (7-13%). Installation costs around $20,000 upfront. Can be installed by homeowners or professional contractors
Renewable resources can be replenished naturally over time. Examples include sun, wind, water, geothermal, and biomass. Renewable resources offer cleaner energy solutions than fossil fuels. Demand for renewable resources increases with growing population