Alternative Energy SourcesSolar EnergyWind EnergyHydro Energy

Tidal EnergyGeothermal Energy

Nuclear EnergyBiomass

Solar energy• Solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight (insolation) into

electricity.

Solar energyElectric Power Capacity (MW)

United States 970,000

Renewable 97,000

Solar 400

Wind energyWind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines.

Wind energyElectric Power Capacity (MW)

US 970,000

Renewable 97,000(10%)

Wind 6,000

Nuclear energyNuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called fission. At the power plant, the fission process is used to generate heat for producing steam, which is used by a turbine to generate electricity.

Nuclear energy Electric Power Capacity (MW)

US 970,000

Nuclear 203,700(21%)

Geothermal energy

Geothermal energy is heat from within the earth.

Tidal energy• Tidal energy is created by the relative motion of the Earth, Moon, Sun, and the

gravitational interactions between them.

Link

• http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.energy.energysource/

• http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/energy/index.html