Example
Solar radiation, wind and flowing water can supply energy services.
The catch
Renewable origin does not mean zero life-cycle impacts.
Related terms
Electrification, Energy conservation, Energy efficiency, Energy storage, Fossil fuel, Heat pump
In more depth
Renewable energy, explained.
Renewable energy and low-carbon energy overlap without being the same thing. Nuclear power is low-carbon without being renewable, while bioenergy is renewable yet can carry high emissions when it drives land clearing. Another common slip mixes electricity with energy. Renewables supply a far larger share of electricity than of total energy, because heating, industry and transport still run largely on fuels, which is why electrification matters as much as building wind and solar.
Wind and solar output varies with the weather. Systems that rely on them need stronger grids, energy storage and demand that can shift towards windy or sunny hours. When a company says it runs on renewable electricity, check whether that means certificates or power from specific new plants. The answer changes what its Scope 2 emissions figure means.