Renewable energy is defined as energy derived from natural resources that are replenishable, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, biomass and geothermal heat. It thus fundamentally differs from fossil fuel-based energy or nuclear energy. The Industrial Revolution was fueled by excessive mining and burning of fossil fuels, causing an undesirably sharp rise in the concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere, which in turn has caused global warming and climate change. The second half of the 20th century saw considerable, incremental efforts toward conservation, the use of clean technology and renewable energy, and environmental protection. Now, renewable energy sources and their attendant technologies hit the headlines on a daily basis as more secure solutions for providing renewable energy are found.
