Renewable Energy and its Importance Explained

Currently, we're in the middle of one of the biggest calls for switching to renewables since the 1970s energy crisis. But what is renewable energy and how can we expand the way it helps us?

While solar and wind are the most well-known renewable energy sources, there are actually five major renewable energies. Biomass, hydropower, and geothermal energy are also important sources.

Until the mid-1800s, wood - a biomass energy source - was the main source of nearly all the nation's energy needs for cooking, heating, and lighting.

But from the late-1800s until today, fossil fuels have replaced wood as the primary source of the nation's energy. Still, hydropower and wood were the most commonly used renewable sources of energy until the 1990s.

Since then, the amount of solar, wind, and geothermal energy generated has increased, reaching record highs in 2020. Renewable energy plays an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to help heal our planet. Plus, the less we rely on fossil fuels, the more energy independent we become.

Yet, in 2020, only about 20% of electricity generated in the U.S. was from renewable energy resources.

Among those pushing for more renewable sources to be utilized, scientists are studying different ways to get more out of sources such as geothermal energy. Unlike solar and wind, geothermal energy is always on, which is why scientists are experimenting with a potential breakthrough in geothermal energy that would likely help us replace fossil fuels completely.

Whether it's enhanced geothermal energy or floating solar panels, the future landscape of renewable energies looks a lot different. This makes what we're doing at WattBuy even more exciting!

If you want to upgrade your electricity plan to a more sustainable option, head over to WattBuy's energy marketplace to shop for personalized renewable energy plans in your area.