Renewable definition, able to be renewed: a library book that is not renewable. Renewable energy, also called alternative energy, usable energy derived from replenishable sources such as the Sun (solar energy), wind (wind power), rivers (hydroelectric power), hot springs (geothermal energy), tides (tidal power), and biomass (biofuels). Renewable power has been more effective in creating jobs than coal or oil in the United States.  More than 80 countries around the world are using wind power on a commercial basis.. Renewable sources are often associated with green energy and clean energy, but there are some subtle differences between these three energy types. Renewable energy often provides energy in four important areas: electricity generation, air and water heating/cooling, transportation, and rural (off-grid) energy services. Renewable energy is power generated from sources that are adequately replenished. In the area of transportation, fossil fuels are even more entrenched and solutions harder to find. Electrical energy is stored during times when production (especially from intermittent sources such as wind power, tidal power, solar power) exceeds consumption, and returned to the grid when production falls below consumption. Electrically powered model aircraft have been flown since the 1970s, with one report in 1957. Renewable energy; Biofuel Biomass Geothermal Hydroelectricity Solar energy Tidal power Wave power Wind power. , Renewable energy devices depend on non-renewable resources such as mined metals and use vast amounts of land due to their small surface power density. , In 2011 Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, and Mark Delucchi published a study on 100% renewable global energy supply in the journal Energy Policy. Outside Europe, a diverse group of 20 or more other countries target renewable energy shares in the 2020–2030 time frame that range from 10% to 50%.  A 2018 analysis estimated required increases in stock of metals required by various sectors from 1000% (wind power) to 87'000% (personal vehicle batteries). This erroneous view has persisted for many years, however between 2016 and 2017, investments in renewable energy were higher in developing countries than in developed countries, with China leading global investment with a record 126.6 billion dollars. Additionally, power can be stored in hydrogen fuel cells. Jump to: navigation, search.  At the national level, at least 30 nations around the world already have renewable energy contributing more than 20% of energy supply. Technology advances are opening up a huge new market for solar power: the approximately 1.3 billion people around the world who don't have access to grid electricity. New projects take the form of run-of-the-river and small hydro, neither using large reservoirs. Other renewable resources include oxygen and solar energy. Renewable definition is - capable of being renewed. Climate change concerns and increasing in green jobs, coupled with high oil prices, peak oil, oil wars, oil spills, promotion of electric vehicles and renewable electricity, nuclear disasters and increasing government support, are driving increasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization. Wind turbines are increasing in power with some commercially deployed models generating over 8MW per turbine. CSP-Stirling has by far the highest efficiency among all solar energy technologies. Good locations are over deep granite covered by a thick (3–5 km) layer of insulating sediments which slow heat loss. Renewable energy, usable energy derived from replenishable sources such as the Sun (solar energy), wind (wind power), rivers (hydroelectric power), hot springs (geothermal energy), tides (tidal power), and biomass (biofuels). "Stimulus leaves NREL in cold".  Moving into the time of recorded history, the primary sources of traditional renewable energy were human labor, animal power, water power, wind, in grain crushing windmills, and firewood, a traditional biomass. National renewable energy markets are projected to continue to grow strongly in the coming decade and beyond, and some 120 countries have various policy targets for longer-term shares of renewable energy, including a 20% target of all electricity generated for the European Union by 2020. The biomass used for electricity generation varies by region. , The ability of biomass and biofuels to contribute to a reduction in CO2 emissions is limited because both biomass and biofuels emit large amounts of air pollution when burned and in some cases compete with food supply.