People have long burned fossil fuels, like coal and natural gas, to produce electricity. But fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources. They will be used up before they can be replaced.

That’s why today, scientists are finding ways to get energy from renewable resources, which will never run out. Most of these resources produce much less pollution than fossil fuels.

You may have heard of wind energy and solar energy (energy from the sun). But renewable energy can come from some more surprising sources, from plant scraps to poop!

People have long burned fossil fuels to make electricity. Coal and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels. They are nonrenewable resources. They will get used up before they can naturally be replaced.

That’s why scientists are looking for other ways to get energy. They’re focusing on renewable resources. They will never run out. And most make much less pollution than fossil fuels.

You may have heard of wind energy and solar energy (energy from the sun). But renewable energy can come from other places. These surprising sources include plant scraps and poop!

Farm animals poop A LOT. For example, cows can produce 65 pounds (29 kilograms) of poop a day! All that waste is precious, because poop contains a lot of energy. And it can be used in many ways. Poop can be dried and burned for electricity (see From Fuel to Electricity). It can also be broken down by tiny living things called bacteria. This creates methane, a gas that can fuel vehicles, homes, and more!

Farm animals poop A LOT. Take cows for example. They can make 65 pounds (29 kilograms) of poop a day! All that waste is useful. That’s because poop contains a lot of energy. And it can be used in many ways. Poop can be dried and burned for electricity (see From Fuel to Electricity). It can also be broken down by tiny living things. They’re called bacteria. This creates methane. It’s a gas that can fuel vehicles, homes, and more!

Devices called solar panels turn the sun’s energy into electricity. Now scientists are using plant-like organisms called algae (AL-jee) to do something similar. They are spreading the slimy stuff on a special type of solar panels and placing them in the sun. As the algae use the sun to make food, they release charged particles. These particles can then be pumped into metal wires to generate electricity!

Devices called solar panels turn the sun’s energy into electricity. Now scientists are using plant-like creatures called algae (AL-jee) to do something similar. They’re spreading the slimy stuff on special solar panels. They place them in the sun. The algae use the sun to make food. And they release charged particles. These particles can be pumped into metal wires. That creates electricity!

Most urinals have one job—to wash away pee. But researchers in the United Kingdom have designed urinals that can be used as a power source! Inside them are fuel cells, devices that turn chemicals into electricity. These fuel cells contain tiny living things called bacteria. The bacteria feed on the pee, and when they do, they release chemicals that the fuel cells change into electricity. The inventors are still testing these urinals. They hope the urinals will be used to provide electricity to people after a disaster.

Most urinals have one job. They wash away pee. But scientists in the United Kingdom have made urinals that do more. They can be used as a power source! Inside them are fuel cells. These devices turn chemicals into electricity. These fuel cells contain bacteria. They feed on the pee. Then they release chemicals. The fuel cells change the chemicals into electricity. The inventors are still testing these urinals. They could be used to provide electricity to people after a disaster.

Products like chocolate, coffee, cotton, and rubber are all made from plants. But not every part of the plant is needed. A lot of leaves, shells, and stems are thrown away. Scientists can turn this material—called biomass—into a liquid or gas fuel. That fuel can be burned for electricity. The process gives off some greenhouse gases, but it creates less pollution than burning fossil fuels. This method is used on a large scale in countries like Côte d’Ivoire (koht DEE-vwahr) in West Africa, where there are many cocoa and coffee farms.

Products like chocolate, coffee, cotton, and rubber all come from plants. But not every part of the plant is needed. A lot of leaves, shells, and stems are thrown away. This material is called biomass. Scientists can turn it into a liquid or gas fuel. That fuel can be burned for electricity. This creates less pollution than burning fossil fuels. This method is used on a large scale in countries like Côte d’Ivoire (koht DEE-vwahr). It’s in West Africa. There, they have many cocoa and coffee farms.

Walk, run, skip, or jump. No matter how you move on this special floor, you’re helping make electricity! The floor is made up of tiles designed by engineers in the United Kingdom. Below the tiles are copper coils and magnets. When these materials are repeatedly pressed together, they produce an electric current. The tiles have been placed in public spaces around the world. Tiles in one crosswalk in Washington, D.C., power lights at night!

Walk, run, skip, or jump. It doesn’t matter how you move on this special floor. You’re helping make electricity! The floor contains tiles. They were made by engineers in the United Kingdom. Under the tiles are copper coils and magnets. These materials get pressed together over and over. That creates an electric current. The tiles have been placed in public spaces around the world. Tiles in one crosswalk power lights at night in Washington, D.C.!