Energy Sources

Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. Sources include the Sun, wind, the oceans, biomass, water flowing downhill, and heat from inside the Earth.

Scientists and engineers all over the world — including here in Massachusetts — are developing new technologies to generate, harvest, store, transport, and use energy more efficiently.

A Sampling of Renewable Energy

Each source of energy has its benefits and challenges, but at its core, each technology enables renewable energy to be converted, or transformed, into electrical energy. Here, you can learn more about some of the more promising renewable energy types. To gain a hands-on sense of how they generate power, visit the Energized! exhibit at the Museum of Science, Boston.

• Photovoltaics Also called solar panels, these arrays transform sunlight into electricity.
• Concentrated Solar Sunlight is focused onto a small area and uses the resulting heat to make electricity.
• Wind Power Spinning turbines convert the energy of moving air into electricity.
• Geothermal Energy Heat from within the Earth generates power.
• Hydroelectric Power Moving water spins a turbine to generate electricity.

In the Exhibit

Energy comes from...cows? Visit the Energized! exhibit to learn how bovine biomass is making a difference.

Take a look at where renewable energy installations have been built across Massachusetts. View Online Map