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Sustainable energy, also called renewable energy, has been one of the ongoing concerns in the past several years.
Since the world's conventional energy sources of coal, oil, and natural gas aren't inexhaustible, they're bound to run out. Countries are now finding alternative sources, so they can be eco-friendly. From wind turbines to off grid solar panels, which countries are leading the pack?
1. Bio-energy. Also known as bio-fuel, this energy is derived from wood, bio-ethanol, and biogas. The USA is ahead of the group here, with equal to at least 25 million tons of oil produced. Other companies doing just as well here are Germany, Argentina, Brazil and France.
2. Geothermal energy. Heat generated beneath the Earth's crust is used to produce electricity, so it has a low amount of carbon emissions. Once again, the United States snags first place, with more than 3,000 mega-watts produced.
Development in other countries also in the running, such as the Philippines, Mexico, Indonesia, and Italy may make the US lose its place in the near future, though.
3. Hydroelectricity. The name is self-explanatory, as it's power taken from the movement of water, whether it's a moving body of water like the sea, or a reservoir, like a dam. China pulls ahead with more than 160 million tons of oil equivalent produced. Canada, America, Brazil, and Russia are right behind it.
4. Wind power. A resource that emits no greenhouse gasses at all, wind power can be used to generate just under half of a country's electricity needs, if it has enough wide-open space. According to the World Wind Energy Association, China has picked up its generation and use of wind power, with around 68 gigawatts' capacity.
5. Solar energy. In the first place, there'd be no wind, or bio-fuel, without the sun, since solar energy helps drive the winds and helps crops grow. But that's behind the point. When operating, photo-voltaic (PV) panels emit no greenhouse gases. The more efficient panels usually see more power generated.
Germany is in the lead, where solar power is concerned, with more than 32 mega-watts of installed PV panels. Solar power in Australia is also in the running, along with Japan, Italy, and the United States.
Since the world's conventional energy sources of coal, oil, and natural gas aren't inexhaustible, they're bound to run out. Countries are now finding alternative sources, so they can be eco-friendly. From wind turbines to off grid solar panels, which countries are leading the pack?
1. Bio-energy. Also known as bio-fuel, this energy is derived from wood, bio-ethanol, and biogas. The USA is ahead of the group here, with equal to at least 25 million tons of oil produced. Other companies doing just as well here are Germany, Argentina, Brazil and France.
2. Geothermal energy. Heat generated beneath the Earth's crust is used to produce electricity, so it has a low amount of carbon emissions. Once again, the United States snags first place, with more than 3,000 mega-watts produced.
Development in other countries also in the running, such as the Philippines, Mexico, Indonesia, and Italy may make the US lose its place in the near future, though.
3. Hydroelectricity. The name is self-explanatory, as it's power taken from the movement of water, whether it's a moving body of water like the sea, or a reservoir, like a dam. China pulls ahead with more than 160 million tons of oil equivalent produced. Canada, America, Brazil, and Russia are right behind it.
4. Wind power. A resource that emits no greenhouse gasses at all, wind power can be used to generate just under half of a country's electricity needs, if it has enough wide-open space. According to the World Wind Energy Association, China has picked up its generation and use of wind power, with around 68 gigawatts' capacity.
5. Solar energy. In the first place, there'd be no wind, or bio-fuel, without the sun, since solar energy helps drive the winds and helps crops grow. But that's behind the point. When operating, photo-voltaic (PV) panels emit no greenhouse gases. The more efficient panels usually see more power generated.
Germany is in the lead, where solar power is concerned, with more than 32 mega-watts of installed PV panels. Solar power in Australia is also in the running, along with Japan, Italy, and the United States.
