Why Renewable Energy Matters
Renewable energy is the energy that comes from natural sources that are constantly replenished, such as wind, solar, water, biomass, and geothermal. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources do not emit greenhouse gases or pollutants that contribute to global warming and harm our health and environment. Renewable energy is also cheaper, more reliable, and more accessible than ever before. In this article, I will explain why renewable energy matters and why we should support its development and use.
Renewable energy helps to fight climate change
Climate change is the biggest challenge of our time. It is caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mainly from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation. These gases trap heat and cause the Earth’s temperature to rise, leading to more extreme weather events, sea level rise, melting ice caps, biodiversity loss, and human suffering.
Renewable energy can help us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and slow down global warming. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, renewable energy sources produce little to no global warming emissions on a life-cycle basis, compared to fossil fuels that emit between 0.6 and 3.6 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour 1. A study by the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that generating 80 percent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2050 would reduce power plant carbon dioxide emissions by 81 percent 2. This would have significant benefits for our climate and our health.
Renewable energy improves public health
The air and water pollution emitted by coal and natural gas plants is linked with breathing problems, neurological damage, heart attacks, cancer, premature death, and other serious health issues. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes about 7 million premature deaths every year 3. Fossil fuel combustion also releases mercury, a potent neurotoxin that can damage the brain and nervous system of unborn babies and young children.
Renewable energy can help us to improve public health by reducing air and water pollution. Wind, solar, and hydroelectric systems generate electricity with no associated air pollution emissions. Geothermal and biomass systems emit lower levels of air pollutants than coal and natural gas plants. By replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources, we can prevent thousands of deaths and illnesses each year and save billions of dollars in health care costs.
Renewable energy is inexhaustible
Fossil fuels are finite resources that will eventually run out or become too expensive or environmentally damaging to extract. According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2020 4, the world has enough oil reserves to last for about 50 years at current production rates, enough natural gas reserves for about 49 years, and enough coal reserves for about 132 years. However, these estimates do not account for the environmental and social impacts of extracting and burning these fuels.
Renewable energy sources are abundant and available in all countries.
The sun provides more energy in one hour than the world uses in one year. The wind could supply more than 40 times the world’s current electricity demand . The water cycle provides a constant source of power for hydroelectric plants. Biomass can be derived from various organic materials such as crops, wood waste, animal manure, and landfill gas. Geothermal energy can be harnessed from the heat stored in the Earth’s crust.
By using renewable energy sources, we can ensure a secure and sustainable supply of energy for the present and future generations.
Renewable energy is cost-effective
Renewable energy technologies are becoming cheaper and more efficient as innovation and competition drive down costs. The cost of electricity from solar power fell by 85 percent between 2010 and 2020 . Costs of onshore and offshore wind energy fell by 56 percent and 48 percent respectively . These trends are expected to continue as renewable energy scales up and benefits from economies of scale and learning effects.
Renewable energy sources also have lower operating and maintenance costs than fossil fuel plants, as they do not require fuel or have fewer moving parts. Moreover, renewable energy sources can reduce the costs of transmission and distribution by generating electricity closer to where it is used, thus avoiding losses and congestion in the grid.
Renewable energy can also create economic benefits by creating jobs, stimulating investment, enhancing trade, and reducing dependence on imported fuels. According to IRENA , accelerating the deployment of renewable energy could create up to 42 million jobs globally by 2050, increase global GDP by up to 2.4 percent, and save up to $160 trillion in health and environmental costs.
Conclusion
Renewable energy is the key to a safer, healthier, and more prosperous future for all. It can help us to combat climate change, improve public health, ensure energy security, and boost economic growth. Renewable energy is not only a necessity, but also an opportunity. We should support the development and use of renewable energy sources and make them the dominant form of energy in the world.
References
1: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/benefits-renewable-energy-use 2: https://www.nrel.gov/analysis/re-futures.html 3: https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1 4: https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy.html : https://www.iea.org/reports/wind-power : https://www.irena.org/publications/2020/Jun/Renewable-Power-Costs-in-2019 : https://www.irena.org/publications/2019/Apr/Global-energy-transformation-A-roadmap-to-2050-2019Edition
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