Hydro
There are a growing number of ways to harvest energy from water, and even store it with the use of water.
Types of Hydro Energy Production
Dams
Dams are one of the oldest methods of harvesting water, but they disrupt eco-systems, and have taken the homes of many communities. A famous example was all the homes that were evacuated to build the 3 Gorges Dam in China, but during major droughts around the world temples, and even entire ghost villages occasionally show up. When dams are overwhelmed they can break and destroy homes too.
Dams have a negative effect on migratory fish like salmon and eels, but they can also produce greenhouse gasses.
Click the Dams button to learn more, including information about removing dams and making existing dams more wildlife-friendly.
Micro Turbines
Micro Turbines can sit under the surface in rivers without significant impact on wildlife.
Tidal Energy
Tidal energy is only appropriate in specific locations, but are generally much more consistent sources of energy than wave energy which fluctuates with weather.
Wave Energy
Wave energy can be harvested from a much wider range of locations including devices that float on the surface, fix to harbor walls, or are anchored to the seabed floor.
Wave energy is predicted to have the capacity to provide humanity with 10-20% of our global energy needs. This percent is much lower for land-bound locations, but much higher for those with coastlines. Current experiments and programs are focusing on bringing reliable wave energy to small island nations who have high energy costs due to importing fuels such as gas and petroleum.
Energy Storage
Pumped Hydro
Pumped hydro can use fresh or saline water. Successful and existing examples require topography with high altitudes. Experiments have been done to harness underground water reserves, but the highly corrosive saline water has proven problematic.
The two primary types of system at this point are closed-loop and open-loop.
Click the Pumped Hydro button to learn more about the impressive capacity of this technology.
Educational Resources
Marine Renewable Energy Educational Resources "Using clean, low-carbon energy sources is more important now than ever. As we combat climate change, marine renewable energy (MRE) has the potential to play an important role. However, we need to understand the impact tidal, wave, and ocean thermal energy devices may have on the environment in order to deploy MRE devices in a responsible manner.
OES-Environmental has compiled educational resources to increase awareness and understanding of MRE and associated environmental effects as well as support the future workforce.
The materials and resources on this page can be used by students of all ages and educational backgrounds. Educators, schools, aquariums and zoos, science camps, etc. may also want to use this page for fun, educational content or to develop a classroom curriculum on environmental effects of MRE."
Testing Sites
Asia
China
Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion (GIEC) "has been fully devoted to the R&D of new energy and renewable energy, such as biomass energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, ocean energy, natural gas hydrate and etc. Besides, energy conservation, environmental protection technologies, and energy strategy research are also paid great attention in recent years.
In response to the needs of national energy strategic development, the institute sets up two important breakthrough targets in the period of 2011 to 2015. They are large-scale & efficient biomass energy utilization and R&D of distributed renewable energy systems respectively. Moreover, natural gas hydrate exploitation and storage, large-scale power generation by using ocean and geothermal energy, solar functional materials, low-carbon development strategies, are also determined as the important incubation R&D areas."
Grants & Funding
North America
USA
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program "provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Authorized under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act, this two-phase program provides $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, and approximately $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants."
Self-Help Credit Union "Our mission is creating and protecting ownership and economic opportunity for all, especially people of color, women, rural residents and low-wealth families and communities.
Self-Help Credit Union has branches in NC, SC, FL and VA, and we offer remote services like online and mobile banking to make joining us easy no matter where you live." "We're poised to use a major funding award from the EPA to help create a clean energy future for all."