Solar, wind, and other renewable power.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
How does run-of-river hydropower usually manage water compared with a reservoir plant?
Run-of-river output follows natural river flow more closely because the plant has limited storage.
Geothermal energy ultimately draws on what natural source?
Much of Earth's geothermal heat comes from radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium in rocks.
Long-distance transmission balances variable wind and solar mainly by:
A calm or cloudy region can import electricity from an area where renewable output is stronger.
What does pumped-storage hydropower do when electricity demand is low?
When demand rises, stored water flows downhill through turbines, letting the system work like a giant battery.
In a flow battery, which feature mainly sets how much energy the system can store?
Larger tanks hold more electrolyte, while the cell stack mainly sets the battery's power output.
Which grid strategy rewards customers for shifting electricity use away from busy hours?
Demand response can move flexible tasks, such as charging or cooling, away from times when the grid feels the most strain.
What device can harvest both tidal streams and ocean currents?
Submerged turbines work like underwater wind turbines, but builders must resist saltwater corrosion and high pressure.
What does a renewable generator's nameplate capacity describe?
Two projects can share nameplate capacity yet produce different yearly energy because wind and sunlight vary by site.
What directly spins a turbine in many geothermal power plants?
Wells bring hot water or steam up from underground; the vapor turns a turbine linked to a generator.
Which aerodynamic force mainly turns the rotor of a modern three-blade wind turbine?
A pressure difference across each airfoil creates lift, which pulls the blades around the hub.