Title: Five Articles that Focus on the Use of Renewable Energy

Name: Carbonero, Angelic

Cabornay, Avegil
Section: BSGD 2A

Article 1
The sun, Earth's closest star, exerts gravitational pull and emits solar energy crucial for life.
Solar energy has been utilized for millennia, aiding agriculture, architecture, and innovations
like the greenhouse. Solar cookers and water heaters have practical applications worldwide,
and solar power, generated through technologies like solar cells and concentrating solar power,
is increasingly prevalent. While solar power faces challenges such as intermittency and space
requirements, its environmental benefits and ongoing technological advancements make it a
promising alternative to fossil fuels. The sun's abundant, clean energy holds immense potential,
and the challenge lies in maximizing its utilization (Dumke, 2023).

Article 2

Scientists and engineers harness the kinetic energy of the wind to generate electricity through
wind turbines. Wind energy, created by the movement of air, powers these turbines which
consist of blades attached to a rotor. As the wind spins the blades, the rotor turns a generator
to produce electricity. There are two main types of wind turbines: horizontal-axis wind turbines
(HAWTs) and vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs). HAWTs, with long, thin blades facing the
wind, are more common, while VAWTs have shorter, curved blades. Wind turbines vary in size,
from small ones producing 100 kilowatts for individual use to larger ones on tall towers
generating megawatts. The electricity generated can be used immediately, connected to the
grid, or stored for future use. The U.S. Department of Energy collaborates with National
Laboratories to enhance technologies like batteries for storing excess wind energy. Currently,
the U.S. has 57,000 wind turbines, both onshore and offshore, with wind farms contributing
significantly to electricity generation (National Geographic Society, 2023).
Article 3
Hydroelectric energy, also referred to as hydroelectric power or hydroelectricity, harnesses the
kinetic energy of flowing water, such as water cascading over a waterfall, to generate
electricity—a practice with a history spanning over 2,000 years, as demonstrated by the Greeks
utilizing water force for mills. This process entails capturing the potential energy of water at a
reservoir or dam, enabling it to flow downhill and convert into kinetic energy. Subsequently,
the moving water propels the blades of a turbine, facilitating the generation of electricity for
distribution. There exist three primary types of hydroelectric energy plants: impoundment
facilities, utilizing dams to control water flow in reservoirs; diversion facilities, directing river
water towards turbines without dams; and pumped-storage facilities, storing energy by
pumping water uphill to a higher reservoir for subsequent electricity generation during peak
demand. Globally, hydroelectric energy serves as the predominant renewable electricity source,
with China leading as the largest producer, followed by significant contributors such as the
United States, Brazil, Canada, India, and Russia. Hydropower constitutes approximately 71
percent of all renewable electricity generated worldwide (National Geographic Society, 2023).

CITATIONS

Dumke, K. (2023, October 19). The Power of the Sun. National Geographic Environment.
Retrieved from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/power-sun/

National Geographic Society. (2023, October 19). Wind Energy. National Geographic. Retrieved
from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wind-energy/

National Geographic Society. (2023, October 19). Hydroelectric Energy. National Geographic.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/hydroelectric-energy/