Source of hope.

Renewable energies are said to be “inexhaustible”, at least on the scale of human time.

They exploit the elements of nature such as water, wind, sun, earth but also agricultural or livestock waste.

Currently in the world, 23% of energy comes from renewable sources.

However, they would be the future of the production of electricity, heat or even fuel.

But how exactly do hydraulics, wind, solar, geothermal or biomass work?

Harness the forces of nature

Whether we are talking about wind turbines, tidal turbines or geothermal energy, the principle is the same.

Wind or water – on the ground or even underground in so-called “aquifers” – are recovered and then transformed into energy, thanks to the kinetic energy – linked to movement – ​​produced by turbines.

And as with wind, water pressure is essential in the process of generating energy.

The greater the strength of the element, the faster and more productive the movement will be.

As far as solar energy is concerned, there are two types of panels that transform the sun into energy: photovoltaic and thermal.

The first transform solar energy directly into electricity sent back to the network.

As for the second, they are heated to then supply the water heaters and heaters of individuals in particular.

Finally, biomass or energy derived from plant, animal, bacterial or fungal (mushroom) matter is the most misunderstood of renewable energies.

However, it is present in our daily lives.

This energy can be obtained by combustion or fermentation and produces bioenergy, biogas or biofuel.

In fact, biofuels in particular, “are consumed practically without anyone knowing it, because it is a proportion of our gasoline, of our diesel.

», Explains Jean-Louis Bal, president of the Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables.

What future for renewable energies?

2050 objective: carbon neutrality.

For Jean-Louis Bal, renewable energies have “largely the potential to replace fossil fuels.

But it's not something that happens overnight.

For the moment, they are mainly used to reduce our environmental impact since in France in particular, around 60% of the energy used is of fossil origin according to the latest report from the Electricity Transport Network of February 16, 2020. It These are mainly petroleum products (40%), natural gas (20%) and coal (less than 1%).

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