Renewable energy definitions
[Wikipedia]
Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat—which are renewable (naturally replenished). In 2006, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, such as wood-burning. Hydroelectricity was the next largest renewable source, providing 3% of global energy consumption and 15% of global electricity generation.
[Hutchinson encyclopedia]
Power from any source that can be replenished. Most renewable systems rely on solar energy directly or through the weather cycle as wave power, hydroelectric power, wind power via wind turbines, or solar energy collected by plants (alcohol fuels, for example). In addition, the gravitational force of the Moon can be harnessed through tidal power stations, and the heat trapped in the centre of the Earth is used via geothermal energy systems. Other examples are energy from biofuel and fuel cells. Renewable energy resources have the advantage of being non-polluting. However, some (such as wind energy) can be unreliable and therefore lose their effectiveness in providing a constant supply of energy.
Despite inherent problems with the technology behind renewable energy sources, increasing environmental pressure is forcing development at an increasing pace. By the end of 2002, worldwide wind-power generation had exceeded 30 megawatts and had reached an annual growth rate of 25%.
[Encyclopædia Britannica]
Usable energy derived from replenishable sources such as the Sun (solar energy), wind (wind power), rivers (hydroelectric power), hot springs (geothermal energy), tides (tidal power), and biomass (biofuels).
Other sources
Renewable energy in simple words: Energy Kid’s page
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