Available in Most Countries Worldwide
Renewable energy encompasses several types categorized by their sources, with a distinctive feature being its global availability in varying degrees. This energy originates from natural resources that can regenerate within a human lifespan, all while avoiding depletion of the planet’s resources.
Despite its advantages, renewable energy does have some associated drawbacks. The primary sources of renewable energy include sunlight, wind, rain, tidal movements, waves, biomass, and geothermal energy from the Earth’s crust. This makes it an inexhaustible source of power with minimal climate or environmental impacts.
Constantly Renewed
Renewable energy is derived from natural sources or processes that can renew themselves, and its availability may vary with time or climate conditions. While it is often viewed as a modern technological innovation, humans have long relied on natural sources for heating, transportation, and lighting. Wind has historically served as an energy source for ships and mills, while sunlight has provided warmth during the day and has been instrumental in fire-making that lasts into the evening. Solar energy is particularly significant among the various forms of renewable energy.
Environmentally Friendly
Every source of energy consumption has adverse effects on the environment, and renewable energy is no exception; each source carries its pros and cons. However, the negative impacts of renewable energy sources pale in comparison to the devastating effects of fossil fuels. Renewable energy contributes to reduced water and land consumption, while also minimizing harm to wildlife and natural ecosystems. One of its most notable environmental benefits is that it does not cause air or water pollution and significantly curtails thermal emissions.
No Environmental Pollution
Renewable energy does not contribute to air or water pollution, making its environmental impact on the climate virtually negligible. Unlike fossil fuels, which deplete our limited resources and harm our environment and health, renewable energy plays a crucial role in environmental preservation.
Reduction of Thermal Emissions
Utilizing renewable energy does not generate significant greenhouse gas emissions like fossil fuels do. It either emits minimal gases or is completely carbon-neutral, helping to mitigate global warming.
Boosting Economic Growth
By 2030, it is estimated that doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy sector will increase the worldwide GDP by 1.1%, equivalent to approximately $1.3 trillion. This change is expected to enhance economic growth on a global scale. Internationally, amplifying the adoption of renewable energy sources will create new employment opportunities and shield national economies from external influences, as elaborated below:
Creation of New Job Opportunities
The renewable energy sector is labor-intensive, which means it can generate thousands of jobs that support local communities. The sector has seen a substantial increase in job creation globally, employing around 10.3 million individuals in 2017 alone. This surge is attributed to considerable investments, decreasing costs of renewable energy, technological advancements, and supportive government policies.
Economic Resilience to External Shocks
Renewable energy presents a strong model of adaptability; energy systems with a high proportion of renewable sources can better withstand external shocks compared to fossil fuel-based systems. This resilience is largely due to the local control these renewable systems possess, making them less vulnerable to adverse effects from global crises.
In contrast, most fossil fuel-based systems lack the independence necessary for energy production and distribution, resulting in complications during crises. Renewable energy systems, however, are generated, managed, and maintained locally, thereby reducing dependence on external energy sources.
Cost Savings
Many countries are currently benefiting from lower electricity prices, thanks to renewable energy, which is expected to stabilize energy costs in the future. Although renewable energy facilities require initial investment for construction, their operational costs are typically low since the fuel for most renewable sources is cost-free, leading to more stable prices over time.
Increased use of renewable sources also lowers the demand and price for natural gas and coal, as competition rises between these sectors and diverse energy acquisition methods emerge. Additionally, the growing adoption of renewable energy can protect consumers against sudden spikes in fossil fuel prices.
Affordability of Fuel and Energy
In recent times, the costs of renewable energy have consistently declined, with further reductions anticipated. For instance, the installation cost of solar panels decreased by over 70% between 2012 and 2017, while the cost of electricity from wind energy dropped by 66% from 2009 to 2016. This trend is expected to continue as the renewable energy market matures, benefiting companies on a broad scale.
Notably, the current prices of renewable energy are significantly lower than those from coal and gas, and are more than 50% cheaper compared to nuclear energy. Recent estimates also indicate that building renewable energy facilities is less expensive than operating existing coal plants.
Lower Maintenance Costs
Renewable energy technologies generally require less maintenance than traditional fossil fuel sources, as solar installations and wind turbines possess few to no moving parts. Additionally, they do not rely on combustible fuels for operation, resulting in lower operational costs.
Once the infrastructure for renewable energy generation is in place, the need for maintenance diminishes considerably, allowing owners of these facilities to enjoy significant benefits while providing free electricity to communities.
Conclusion
In recent decades, more innovative and cost-effective methods have been developed to harness wind and solar energy, making renewable energy, or alternative energy, an increasingly vital source of power. Currently, we are witnessing a widespread adoption of various forms of renewable energy, from residential solar panels to large solar farms along coastlines. Some rural communities have even come to depend entirely on these sources for heating and lighting, as they are more economical and environmentally friendly while being widely available across the globe.