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Hydroeletric energy is generated by converting the energy of water into electrical energy. Hidroeletric plants work by storing water in a reservoir closed by a dam, which forms a deposit. This water is later released through the opening of dams. This flow causes the turbines to rotate and activate the generators that produce eletrical energy.

Obtaining hidroelectric energy has several advantages:

1. It is a renewable energy;

2. Its installations have a very long useful life;

3. It does not emit greenhouse gases;

4. It features low operating costs;

5. It contributes to the generation of local jobs.

The main disadvantage of obtaining hidroeletric energy is the construction of extensive water reservoirs, which have a big impact on the ecosystem and the local population.

In Portugal, around 30% of the eletricity consumed comes from hydroeletric energy. In Spain, 33,27 billion KWh of hydroeletric energy are produced, which is around 13%.

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Solar radiation is an essential source of energy for life, as photosynthesis would not occur without it. Solar radiation is also important for the operation of solar collectors, which convert it into heat for water heating.

Harnessing solar energy offers several advantages, such as sustainability, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, less air pollution, and low operational costs.

However, there are also some disadvantages, such as intermittency, high initial cost, energy storage, and environmental and visual impact.

Solar energy is growing in Portugal and Spain, but its usage still varies. Portugal has invested heavily in solar energy in recent years, while Spain is one of the leaders in Europe in installed solar energy capacity.

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Tidal/hydropower energy is associated with the difference between water level (high tide and low tide). As long as the difference is greater than 5 meters, it is now possible to use the energy generated to produce electricity in tidal power stations.

There are several advantages of using hydroelectric energy, some of them are:

It is clean and does not pollute the environment, as it does not emit polluting gases and it is renewable.

But there are also disadvantages:

Necessary equipment and technologies are still poorly developed, dependence on atmospheric conditions and the cost of equipment.

This energy use is still very low, but there has been a research facility on the island of Pico, Açores since 1999.

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Geothermal energy is used as a source of energy, occurring due to the heat coming from the interior of the Hearth, which allows obtainig high-temperature and high-pressure steam. It can be used for heating and the production of eletricity in geothermal power plants, as well as for cooking (S. Miguel island).

Advantages and disavantages:

Advantages:

1-Constant availability

2-It does not require large space

3-Silent energy

4-Record job creation

5-More energy with the same installed potential

Disadvantages:

1-High initial installation costs

2-Location restricted to geothermically active areas

3-Environmental impacts with realease of gases and toxic substances

4-Potential risks of seismic activity in certain regions

5-Noise pollution

In Portugal, geothermal energy is most in the Azores archipelago. The Azores are one of the few places in Europe where geothermal energy is an important source of electricity.

On the mainland, the use of geothermal energy is more limited and generally focused on space heating and domestic hot water.

Spain has considerable geothermal potential, although the development of this energy source is less advanced compared to Portugal. Areas with the highest geothermal potential include the Canary Islands an Andalusia.

Despite the potential, Spain has focused more on other forms of renewable energy, such as solar and wind.

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Wind energy has been used since ancient times, for example, in the movement of sails on windmills or sailing boats. Nowadays, it is widely used to produce electrical energy by wind turbines.

Some wind energy takeaways include:

1. Intermittency: Energy production depends on the availability and intensity of the wind, which can lead to variations in electricity generation.

2. Visual and noise impact: Wind turbines can be considered visually intrusive in certain landscapes and can generate noise during operation.

3. Impact on wildlife: The construction of wind farms can affect the habitats of migratory birds and bats, in addition to posing a risk of changes to these species.

4. Requires large space: Wind farms exclude large areas of land for installation, which can compete with other land uses such as agriculture or conservation.

5. Need for transmission infrastructure: Often, locations with the best wind potential are far from areas of electricity demand, requiring investment in transmission infrastructure.

6. Impact on the local community: The construction of wind farms can cause local controversy due to concerns about property values, noise and visual impacts.

However, they do not run out and are clean, that is, they are non-polluting.

Wind is the most successful renewable source at European level. In Portugal in 2016, 20% of electricity was produced from wind energy. The country with the largest global production is China.

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Biomass refers to organic matter, such as agricultural residues, wood, or food waste, that can be converted into energy. Biogas is a byproduct of the decomposition of organic matter, such as agricultural residues, manure, or organic waste, and can be used to produce electricity and heat. Both are forms of renewable energy that help reduce carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

Advantages:

1. Renewable: Biomass and biogas are renewable energy sources, as they come from organic matter that can be regenerated.

2. Waste reduction: Both sources can be produced from agricultural residues, wood, food, and other organic materials, helping to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills.

3. Reduction of carbon emissions: Burning biomass and biogas releases carbon dioxide (CO2), but the amount released is balanced by the CO2 that plants absorbed during growth.

Disadvantages:

1. Environmental impact of production: Intensive agriculture for biomass production can lead to deforestation and loss of natural habitats. Additionally, large-scale production may compete with food production.

2. Pollutant emissions: Burning biomass and biogas can produce greenhouse gas emissions, although in lesser quantities than fossil fuels. However, there are still emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants during the burning process.

Portugal and Spain use biomass and biogas for electricity and heat. Biomass comes from agricultural and forestry residues, while biogas is produced from organic waste. Both countries have power plants and are committed to expanding renewable energies to reduce carbon emissions.