The Importance of Renewable Energy Sources in Tackling Climate Change

Renewable energy is defined as energy produced from natural a source that is replenished at a faster rate than it is consumed. Sunshine and wind are two examples of such continually replenishing sources. Renewable energy sources abound and are all around us.

Renewable energy produces much less emissions than burning fossil fuels. Transitioning away from fossil fuels, which now account for the majority of emissions, and towards renewable energy is critical for tackling the climate catastrophe.

Renewables are now less expensive in most nations and provide three times as many employments as fossil fuels.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is a renewable energy source that uses the Sun’s radiant light and heat to create electricity, solar thermal energy, and solar architecture. It is the most abundant energy resource and can be used in various applications.

The rate at which solar energy is intercepted by the Earth is approximately 10,000 times larger than the rate at which humanity uses energy. Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy using photovoltaic panels or mirrors that concentrate solar radiation.

The cost of producing solar panels has decreased significantly in the last decade, making solar power accessible and frequently the cheapest kind of power. Solar panels have a 30-year lifespan and come in a range of colors depending on the material used in their production.

Solar System

Advantage of solar energy

  1. Source of Renewable Energy

The most fundamental feature of solar panels is that solar energy is a genuinely renewable energy source. It is available every day and may be used in various parts of the world. Unlike certain other energy sources, solar energy cannot be depleted.

Solar energy will be available as long as we have the sun, therefore sunlight will be available to humanity for at least 5 billion years after the sun dies, according to experts.

  1. Saves money on electricity bills

Your energy expenses will be lower since your solar system will satisfy some of your energy demands. The amount you save on your bill will be determined on the size of your solar system as well as your power or heat usage.

  1. Various Uses

Solar energy has several applications. You may use photovoltaics to create power or heat (solar thermal). Solar energy may be utilised to generate electricity in regions where there is no connection to the power grid.

  1. Low Maintenance Cost

Solar energy systems are usually low-maintenance.

Disadvantages of solar energy

  1. Cost

A solar system has a rather high starting cost. This covers the purchase of solar panels, an inverter, batteries, wiring, and installation.

  1. Weather-Related

Even on overcast or rainy days, solar energy may still be gathered, but the effectiveness of the solar system decreases.

You should also keep in mind that solar energy cannot be gathered at night.

  1. The Cost of Solar Energy Storage

Solar energy must be used immediately or stored in big batteries. These batteries, which are utilised in off-grid solar systems, may be charged during the day and used at night.

  1. Takes up a lot of room

The more power you wish to generate, the more solar panels you’ll need to capture as much sunshine as possible. Solar PV panels take up a lot of space, and some roofs aren’t big enough to accommodate the quantity of solar panels you want.

  1. Concerned with Pollution

Although pollution from solar energy systems is far lower than pollution from other sources of electricity, solar energy can be connected with pollution. The transportation and installation of solar systems have been linked to greenhouse gas emissions.

Wind Energy

Wind Energy

Wind energy captures the kinetic energy of flowing air by employing enormous wind turbines placed on land (onshore) or in saltwater or freshwater (offshore). Wind energy has been utilized for millennia, but onshore and offshore wind energy technologies have improved in recent years to enhance power production – with higher turbines and greater rotor diameters.

Because average wind speeds vary greatly by location, the world’s technological potential for wind energy surpasses worldwide electricity output, and adequate potential exists in most parts of the world to permit considerable wind energy deployment.

Advantages of Wind Power

  1. Wind energy generates well-paying jobs

Almost 120,000 people are employed in the U.S. wind sector throughout all 50 states. The wind sector has the potential to sustain hundreds of thousands of employment by 2050, with job possibilities ranging from asset manager to blade manufacturer.

  1. A homegrown resource that supports American economic expansion is wind electricity

More over 9% of the net energy produced in the nation in 2021 came from wind turbines operating in all 50 states. $20 billion was contributed to the U.S. economy in the same year due to investments in new wind farms.

  1. A clean and renewable energy source is wind power

Wind turbines use the mechanical energy of the wind to turn a generator and produce electricity.

  1. Local communities gain from wind energy

Each year, land leasing payments and state and local tax payments from wind farms are anticipated to total $1.9 billion.

  1. Wind energy is economical

One of the most affordable energy sources currently accessible is generated by utility-scale, land-based wind turbines.

Disadvantages of wind energy

  1. Unpredictable

The inability to dependably create wind energy is arguably its largest disadvantage. The wind must be blowing in order to produce energy.
The wind speed affects how much energy is generated by turbines. As a result, wind energy is not a good base load energy source, also known as our major source of power generation.
However, it might be conceivable to rely more on wind power as energy storage technology continues to get more affordable. However, for the time being, wind turbines must be utilized in combination with other energy sources due to their unreliability in order to meet our electricity needs.

  1. Threat to wildlife

Although wind turbines do not emit greenhouse gases that harm the environment, they can have an influence on wildlife.

When directly struck by a revolving wind turbine blade, birds, bats, and other flying animals have a very tiny chance of surviving. In fact, research suggest that between 140,000 and 500,000 birds each year are killed by wind turbines. But despite the fact that building crashes kill between 365 and 988 million birds annually, we’re not stopping new construction.

  1. Noise

Some residents who live close to wind turbines complain about noise. The turbine’s generator emits a mechanical hum, and as the blades travel through the air, they produce a “whooshing” sound.

The good news is that modern wind turbines are significantly quieter than older ones, and this trend is likely to continue as technology improves.

  1. Location limitations

Wind turbines must be erected in an area where they will generate enough electricity to be economically viable. Wind farms are most suited for coastal areas, hilltops, and open planes – in short, everywhere there is strong, consistent wind.

The majority of these appropriate locations are located in remote areas far from cities and towns, in more rural areas, or offshore. Due to the distance, new infrastructure, such as power lines, must be constructed to connect a wind farm to the electricity grid.

This can be costly, and it may hurt the environment (for example, by chopping down trees to make place for electrical wires).

Hydropower Energy

Hydropower Energy

The greatest renewable energy source in the electrical sector at the moment is hydropower. It depends on relatively consistent rainfall patterns, which can be adversely affected by droughts brought on by climate change or by changes to ecosystems that affect rainfall patterns.

The energy of water flowing from higher elevations to lower elevations is captured by hydropower. It can be produced by rivers and reservoirs. Run-of-river hydropower facilities rely on the river’s available flow, whereas reservoir hydropower plants use water that has been stored in a reservoir.

In addition to supplying electricity, hydropower reservoirs frequently serve as sources of drinking water, irrigation water, flood and drought control, navigation services, and energy.

Advantages of Hydropower Energy

  1. It’s Good for the Environment

Despite significant drawbacks, hydroelectric energy is one of the most environmentally beneficial sources of energy production accessible today. It does not consume fossil fuels, emits no hazardous emissions, and delivers a consistent supply of clean energy. What’s not to like? While dams can have a significant environmental impact, the only pollution they cause is during construction. The actual creation of electricity emits no carbon dioxide.

  1. It’s a Renewable Resource

There are various advantages of using hydroelectric energy. Water is a nearly limitless resource that may be utilised to generate hydroelectric electricity, and it is a renewable resource that never runs out due to the water cycle.

This permits us to repurpose finite and non-renewable materials. Hydroelectric energy also increases a country’s energy independence by reducing the need for external fuel sources and providing clean, domestic power.

  1. It’s Reliable and Highly Efficient

One of the most significant advantages of hydroelectric energy is that it is one of the most efficient energy options on the planet. Consider that solar power has a maximum efficiency of 30-36%, wind power has a maximum efficiency of 25-45%, and coal power has a maximum efficiency of 33-40%. All of these processes pale in comparison to hydro energy, which converts water into power at up to 90% efficiency.

Because the flow of water is only interrupted for regular repairs, maintenance, and upgrades, hydroelectric energy has little to no downtime. Solar power, on the other hand, declines in output every night as the sun sets, while wind power is only useful when there is a continuous breeze

  1. It’s Flexible

Hydroelectric energy, unlike other kinds of energy such as solar, wind, or coal, is constant. The flow of water used to generate energy can be quickly changed to match supply demands. This implies that electricity can be made accessible just when it is required, reducing energy waste.

  1. It’s Safe

Dams that create hydro electricity have been relatively safe in comparison to many other forms of energy production over the years. The majority of concerns or problems have arisen as a result of poor construction and low safety requirements in older dams. Another advantage of hydroelectric energy in this situation is the absence of combustible fuel, which reduces the hazards associated with fossil fuels or nuclear energy.

  1. It’s Economical

Although the initial investment may be substantial, once a hydroelectric dam is operational, the cost of maintenance and employee compensation is comparatively cheap. Furthermore, the cost of water does not fluctuate in the same manner as traditional fossil fuels and imported fuels do. Hydroelectric power may save countries a lot of money, and certain countries, such as Paraguay, can acquire practically all of their energy from hydroelectric dams.

Disadvantages of Hydropower Energy

  1. It Has an Environmental Impact

Hydroelectric energy has a number of environmental drawbacks. Dams can harm the ecosystem both upstream and downstream, and the construction of new roads and electricity lines can cause havoc in the surrounding area. Dam-created reservoirs can flood enormous areas and displace natural habitats, killing flora and emitting greenhouse gases as it rots.

Dams can also have a significant impact on fish migration, changing river habitats. Hydroelectric facilities can increase carbon dioxide and methane emissions, which can affect aquatic plant life and cause plant life beneath the water to decompose, having a significant influence on the surrounding ecology.

  1. It Displaces People

Hydroelectric energy has both social and environmental drawbacks. Dam-created reservoirs displace people from their homes and towns, having a substantial influence on their lives and traditions.

Dam construction has caused unrest and displaced millions of people. Hydroelectric plant development also raises the risk of flooding in lower elevations if powerful water currents are released from the dam.

  1. It’s Expensive

Another downside of hydroelectric energy is the cost of constructing a dam in the first place. Although they are very inexpensive to run, the time it takes for a dam to pay for itself might vary greatly. Some dams take two to five years to build, but others, such as the Itaipu Dam in Brazil and Paraguay, might take much longer, resulting in higher expenses. The Itaipu Dam took 18 years and $18 billion to build in all.

Since the 1950s, an estimated $2,000 billion has been spent on dam construction worldwide, with average construction delays of 44% and cost overestimations of 96%. Overspending and delays make it more difficult to obtain a return on investment.

  1. There are Limited Reservoirs

Although water is an infinite resource, the circumstances required to construct a dam are limited. This is a disadvantage of hydroelectric energy since it means that dams cannot be built elsewhere. In fact, most ideal places for hydroelectric dam construction have already been utilised for this purpose. Another point to consider is that even if a location is suitable for a hydroelectric dam, the project may not generate enough profit to make it feasible.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Energy

 Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source derived from the Earth’s core. It is caused by heat created during the planet’s creation and radioactive decay of elements. This thermal energy is stored in the earth’s core in the form of rocks and fluids.

The temperature differential between the earth’s core and the surface promotes a continual transmission of thermal energy from the core to the planet’s surface.

High temperatures of more than 4000°C allow part of the rock in the Earth’s core to melt and produce hot molten rocks known as magma. Since the mantle is lighter than the underlying rock, these temperatures force it to act plastically and sections of it to convict upwards.

The Earth’s crust’s rock and water may reach temperatures of roughly 370°C.

Thermal energy may be found in rocks and fluids from modest depths too many miles below the Earth’s surface.

The word ‘geothermal’ has Greek roots with – Geo (earth) + thermal (heat).

Geothermal energy is produced by extracting steam and hot water from subterranean reservoirs located under the Earth’s surface. The United States is the largest producer of geothermal energy in the world, and geothermal power facilities are classified into three types: dry steam, flash, and binary. Iceland is a country that is ideally positioned to harness geothermal resources, with 25% of its electricity being provided by geothermal power facilities.

Advantage of Geothermal Energy

  1. The major advantages of geothermal energy as a renewable energy source are environmental. It emits just one-sixth of the CO2 released by a clean natural-gas power plant.
  2. Geothermal energy is also less expensive than conventional energy, with savings of up to 80% when compared to fossil fuels.
  3. It is always accessible, unlike other renewable energy sources such as sun and wind.

Disadvantage of Geothermal Energy

  1. Production is restricted to places adjacent to tectonic plate borders. Also, after decades of use, some areas may cool off.
  2. Although it is less expensive than fossil fuels once a plant is completed, drilling and prospecting of these areas is costly. This is due in part to the amount of wear drills and other instruments endure in such harsh conditions.
  3. Hydrogen sulphide, a gas that smells like rotten eggs, may be released by geothermal facilities.
  4. Certain geothermal fluids include trace amounts of harmful elements that must be disposed of.

Biomass Energy

Biomass Energy

Humans have utilized biomass energy (energy generated by living things) since the earliest “cave men” used wood fires for cooking and heating.

Biomass is organic, which means it is composed of material derived from living organisms such as plants and animals. Plants, wood, and waste are the most frequent biomass sources utilized for energy. They are referred to as biomass feedstock. Biomass energy may also be a nonrenewable source of energy.

Plants absorb the sun’s energy through photosynthesis and transform carbon dioxide and water into nutrients, resulting in biomass (carbohydrates).

Biomass energy can be created directly or indirectly. Direct methods include burning biomass for heat or electricity, while indirect methods involve processing biomass into biofuels.

There are three forms of biomass: biofuels, biopower, and bioproducts:

Biofuels are liquid fuels made from biomass for transportation purposes, while biopower creates heat and electricity through burning, bacterial decomposition, or conversion to gas/liquid fuel. Bioproducts involve converting biomass into chemicals for making plastics and other products that are typically made from petroleum.

Biomass can be converted into thermal energy through various methods, including thermal conversion, pyrolysis, gasification, and anaerobic decomposition.

Thermal conversion involves heating biomass feedstock to burn, dehydrate, or stabilize it.

Pyrolysis involves cooking biomass in the absence of oxygen to produce pyrolysis oil, syngas, and biochar.

Gasification heats biomass to over 700°C with a regulated quantity of oxygen to produce clean syngas that can be used to generate heat or power.

Anaerobic decomposition occurs in landfills and animal farms where biomass decays and creates methane that can be used as an energy source.

Advantage of Biomass Energy:

  1. As a renewable energy source, biomass is always and abundantly available

Because our civilization continually creates waste such as rubbish, wood, and manure, the organic elements required to produce biomass are unlimited.

  1. It is also carbon neutral

As a byproduct of photosynthesis, biomass fuels only emit the same amount of carbon into the atmosphere as plants absorb during their life cycle.

  1. It lessens our dependency on fossil fuels

Not only is there a finite supply of fossil fuels, but they also have environmental consequences, such as the emission of vast volumes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and the pollutants produced during extraction, transportation, and manufacture.

  1. Biomass is affordable than fossil fuels

Whereas fossil fuel extraction involves a significant investment in equipment such as oil drilling, gas pipelines, and fuel collection, biomass technology is far less expensive. Manufacturers and manufacturers can make more revenues with less output.

  1. Biomass generation provides a new cash stream for industries

Producers of trash can add value by diverting their junk to make a more profitable application in the form biomass energy.

  1. Reduced waste in landfill

The amount of rubbish thrown in landfills is decreased by 60 to 90 percent by burning solid waste, as is the cost of landfill disposal and the amount of land required for landfill.

Disadvantage of Biomass Energy

  1. Biomass energy is less efficient than fossil fuels.

Certain biofuels, such as ethanol, are inefficient when compared to gasoline. To boost its efficiency, it must be strengthened with fossil fuels.

  1. It is not completely clean.

While biomass is carbon neutral, the utilisation of animal and human waste increases methane emissions, which are equally harmful to the environment. However, the pollution caused from burning wood and other natural materials can be deemed just as severe as that coming from burning coal and other forms of energy resources.

  1. May result in deforestation.

Because wood is one of the most often utilized biomass energy sources, massive volumes of wood and other waste products must be burnt to provide the needed quantity of electricity. While there is now adequate wood waste, there is a risk of deforestation in the future.

  1. Biomass plants necessitate a lot of area.

While it might be difficult to locate a plant in a suitable location in an urban area, by leveraging onsite hardware such as the BioMax® technology, businesses can generate biomass energy in a fraction of the space of a huge facility.

While biomass energy has significant drawbacks, more study and innovation is being committed to the sector as a more broadly available, less expensive, and beneficial option for traditional electricity and other energy sources.

Conclusion

Renewable energy is inexhaustible energy. It has five main types: solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, Biomass.

In 2021, The consumption of renewable energy reached28.9 % of the total energy consumed, as wind and solar energy produced nearly 3,000 terawatt-hours, or the equivalent of 10.5% of the total global electricity generation, as the contribution of wind energy in the global electricity generation mix rose to 6.6%, while solar energy accounted for 3.7%, while biomass energy reached 2.3%, thermal energy contributed by the least 1%, while hydropower energy was the highest by 16%, and this is according to a report recently issued by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

The International Renewable Energy Agency believes that 90 percent of the world’s electricity can and should be generated from renewable energy by 2050.

Global electricity generation

References

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