Renewable Energy Cheat Sheet
The core ideas of Renewable Energy distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.
Quick Reference
Solar Photovoltaics (PV)
Technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. When photons strike a PV cell, they knock electrons loose from atoms, generating a flow of electricity.
Wind Energy
The conversion of kinetic energy from wind into electrical power using wind turbines. Modern turbines use aerodynamic blades to spin a rotor connected to a generator, with power output proportional to the cube of wind speed.
Energy Storage
Technologies that capture energy produced at one time for use at a later time, essential for balancing the intermittent nature of solar and wind power. Major technologies include lithium-ion batteries, pumped hydro storage, and emerging solutions like compressed air and flow batteries.
Grid Parity
The point at which the cost of generating electricity from renewable sources equals or falls below the cost of purchasing power from the conventional electricity grid. Once grid parity is achieved, renewables become economically competitive without subsidies.
Intermittency
The variability in power output from renewable sources caused by natural fluctuations in weather conditions. Solar panels produce no power at night and reduced power on cloudy days, while wind turbines depend on variable wind speeds.
Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE)
A metric that calculates the average net present cost of electricity generation over the lifetime of a generating plant, including capital costs, fuel costs, operations, maintenance, and decommissioning, divided by total energy output.
Hydroelectric Power
Electricity generated by harnessing the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. Conventional hydropower uses dams to create reservoirs, while run-of-river systems divert a portion of a river's flow through turbines without large-scale impoundment.
Geothermal Energy
Energy extracted from heat stored beneath the Earth's surface. Geothermal power plants use steam or hot water from underground reservoirs to drive turbines, while geothermal heat pumps exploit shallow ground temperatures for building heating and cooling.
Green Hydrogen
Hydrogen produced through the electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable sources. It serves as a zero-emission fuel and energy carrier for sectors difficult to electrify directly, such as heavy industry, shipping, and aviation.
Net Metering
A billing arrangement that allows owners of distributed renewable energy systems to export surplus electricity to the grid and receive credits on their utility bills. This effectively allows the grid to serve as a virtual battery for small-scale producers.
Key Terms at a Glance
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