Renewable energy sources are important because they help turn natural processes into usable energy without wasting anything. Here are some key types of renewable energy:

1. Solar Energy:

   • This uses sunlight to create electricity.
   • Special devices called photovoltaic cells do this, and they work about 15% to 22% of the time.
   • In 2021, solar energy made up around 3.5% of all the electricity in the United States.

2. Wind Energy:

   • Wind turbines catch the wind and change its movement into electricity.
   • They can produce about 42% of the energy they are built to create.
   • In 2020, wind power made up 8.4% of the total electricity in the U.S.

3. Hydropower:

   • This type of energy comes from flowing water.
   • It uses turbines to turn the water's energy into electricity.
   • Hydropower accounts for about 31% of all the electricity generated in the United States.

4. Biomass:

   • Biomass energy is created by burning organic materials, like plants and waste, to release energy.
   • This contributed about 1.4% of the U.S. electricity.

In summary, renewable energy sources are helpful because they efficiently change natural energy into forms we can use. They support sustainability and help lower harmful greenhouse gases. By 2022, it was predicted that renewable energy would provide 50% of the world's energy by 2030, showing how important they are for our energy future.