Can you give an example of a renewable energy source?
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About this printable Can you give an example of a renewable energy source? science reading passage, NGSS-aligned (Grades 2-4)
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Example of a Renewable Energy Source

What Is Renewable Energy?
Some ways of making electricity use up resources that take millions of years to form, like coal and oil. These are called non-renewable energy sources. When we burn them, they are gone and cannot be replaced quickly.
Renewable energy is different. It comes from natural sources that never run out. Nature keeps making them, so we can use them again and again. Some examples are the sun, wind, water, and even heat from under the ground.
Solar Energy: Power from the Sun
The sun gives us solar energy. The sun will shine for billions more years, so we won’t run out of this power! Solar panels are special devices that capture sunlight and turn it into electricity. You might see solar panels on rooftops, calculators, or even satellites in space.
Solar panels work even on cloudy days, but they make more energy when the sun is bright. The best part is that solar power makes no pollution while it is being used. This helps keep our air cleaner and fights climate change.
Other Renewable Energy Sources
Wind energy uses turbines to capture power from moving air. Hydroelectric energy comes from flowing water, like rivers or dams, spinning big machines to make electricity. Geothermal energy uses heat from deep inside Earth. Biomass energy comes from plants and organic waste.
Why Use Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy is like a magic well that never runs dry—the sun keeps shining, the wind keeps blowing, and we can keep collecting power forever. These sources do not run out and create less or no pollution. They also help fight climate change and make new jobs for people. Many places now get much of their energy—sometimes up to half—from renewables!
But there are some challenges. The sun doesn’t shine at night, and the wind doesn’t always blow. We need batteries and other solutions to store energy for those times.
Interesting Fact:
Some schools and homes already use solar panels on their roofs to make their own electricity!
Comprehension quiz (8 questions)
1. Which energy never runs out?
2. What do solar panels do?
3. What is a challenge with solar energy?
4. Hydroelectric energy uses:
5. Why is renewable energy important?
6. What do wind turbines do?
7. Solar panels work best on cloudy days. True or false?
8. What does 'biomass' mean?
Common Core standards for Can you give an example of a renewable energy source?
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