Implementing renewable energy into your home has never been simpler! Switching to renewables will reduce both your electricity bill and carbon footprint, helping to save both money and reduce waste.
Renewable energy has emerged as an indispensable global policy and investment priority, and its advantages are widely recognized; by 2030 it could save the global economy an estimated $4 trillion each year!
Hydropower
Renewable energy is becoming a more popular source of power as our global shift away from fossil fuels continues. Solar and wind power are expected to double their capacity within five years and wind power could grow even faster – meaning more homes and businesses will be able to reduce energy bills and carbon footprints, benefitting both planet Earth and economy alike.
Renewable energy’s rapid rise can be attributed to innovation and economies of scale. Renewable technologies continue to become cost-competitive with fossil fuels as costs decline over time – particularly as fossil fuel production and transportation become less economic over time.
Hydropower is an efficient renewable energy solution as it doesn’t emit greenhouse gases or other pollution into the atmosphere, doesn’t consume land and can be utilized worldwide. Furthermore, hydropower serves as back-up power source for photovoltaic solar and wind sources to maintain reliable operation.
hydropower’s main advantage lies in its flexibility: reservoirs can store it to be used when peak demand arises – making it a flexible, reliable, and efficient energy source that’s easily integrated into the grid. Furthermore, it’s one of the few renewable energies capable of adapting to low rainfall or drought conditions.
However, hydropower presents several unique challenges to wildlife and the environment, particularly its effect on wildlife and the ecosystem. Damming rivers and ocean inlets can drastically change temperature, chemistry and levels of silt in water which threaten plants and animals that rely on it for survival. But there are ways hydropower can mitigate its negative impacts, including using fish-friendly turbines with “fish ladders” installed to help migrate upstream more quickly.
Even with its challenges, 100% renewable energy transition remains achievable. A collection of papers published in Science Advances demonstrate this fact. Countries all around the world can achieve this goal with appropriate investments and policies; oil-dependent nations such as Saudi Arabia can transition into renewables using smart investments and policies.
Wind power
Wind energy uses wind turbines to convert the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy, and store it for future use. Wind turbines may be found anywhere from hillsides or fields, to offshore locations in the ocean – it is one of the most sustainable energy sources available today!
Renewable energy has become more affordable over time, with some facilities now providing electricity at 2-6 cents per kilowatt-hour – substantially less than coal or natural gas prices. Furthermore, renewable facilities often generate significant tax revenue for their local communities.
Large corporations are increasingly making an effort to invest in renewable technologies, creating jobs while contributing to a healthier environment. Alphabet and Amazon, for instance, have both invested millions into solar and wind power for business reasons – it reinforces their brand while cutting carbon emissions significantly.
Biomass, or organic matter such as grass and wood, is another type of renewable energy source that has the potential to be converted into fuel like ethanol or biodiesel, which in turn can be used to produce electricity. As an alternative to fossil fuels and more cost-efficient than traditional methods for producing energy production methods such as nuclear or fossil, biomass presents itself as an appealing renewable option.
Renewable energy should be seen as an economical solution to energy needs for any community, not only helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also cutting energy bills and helping stabilize energy prices during times of crises.
As technology improves and costs decrease, it is inevitable that our global society will eventually move toward 100% renewable energy sources. Renewables have quickly become one of the fastest-growing energy sources worldwide and present one of the most economical future options to combat climate change, air pollution, and energy insecurity.
Solar power
Solar power is one of the fastest-growing and least damaging renewable energy sources available, providing less damage to wildlife around its sites than fossil fuels do. But not all forms of renewable energy are eco-friendly so it is wise to choose wisely.
Wind, solar and geothermal power are among the most promising renewable options, producing zero-emissions electricity that could provide much of our world energy supply in future. They also create jobs while supporting local economies.
Though still relatively costly, clean energy technologies are rapidly expanding their market presence and expected to overtake fossil fuels within years. Wind and solar technologies in particular have seen cost reduction thanks to early investments and steady enhancements by hundreds of researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs.
Renewables are the fastest-growing source of new electricity capacity, accounting for more than half of global growth from 2022-2027 and led by solar photovoltaics.
Solar power technology uses solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity that can power household appliances and light homes, as well as businesses who take advantage of incentives such as net metering to save money on their electric bills. Many people also turn to solar power to heat their home and reduce both heating costs and carbon emissions.
Photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) are two forms of solar energy, each providing different solutions to power needs. PV systems employ solar panels on rooftops or large-scale plants to directly convert sunlight to electric energy while CSP relies on mirrors and lenses to focus sunlight onto thermal systems which convert it to electricity via steam turbines. Both methods of generation provide renewable sources that can be stored for use at night or cloudy weather conditions.
Solar energy is an effective solution for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and increasing global energy security, according to recent studies. Solar could supply as much as 65 percent of world electricity needs by 2030 according to this same research, according to another recent report. Installation and maintenance costs remain prohibitively expensive for now – though as oil prices increase and climate crises worsen it’s becoming clear that renewable energies need investment more and more often.
Geothermal power
Renewable energy options like solar and wind may be well-known, yet one that often goes underappreciated is geothermal power. Geothermal is an efficient source of clean, carbon-free electricity which can be utilized 24/7; geothermal may well play an integral part in shaping our energy future.
Many are aware of geothermal energy from seeing Old Faithful release its plumes of water into the air or visiting natural hot springs, but few realize this form of renewable energy can also be harnessed to produce electricity and heat. One popular form of geothermal power plant uses underground heated water from wells drilled about one mile deep to gather this source. As this flows upward, turbines driven by turbines connected with generators generate electricity that is then condensed back into liquid form and recycled back into reservoir. Thus allowing this type of power plant to be considered sustainable.
Geothermal power plants come in three main varieties: dry steam, flash, and binary. The oldest design, dry steam, draws its power directly from a fracture in the ground to drive turbines while flash plants use high-pressure hot water to heat a low-boiling-point secondary fluid which then turns into steam driving the turbine and returning excess liquid back to a reservoir to ensure longevity of system. Binary power plants are considered more efficient; their numbers will probably make up most of geothermal capacity in future.
Geothermal sources currently provide less than half a percent of US energy needs; however, their potential remains immense. A 2019 report from the Department of Energy suggests that geothermal could provide five times more power than it does currently and provide essential direct heating energy as a bonus benefit.
Geothermal energy is a clean and reliable form of renewable energy that should play an essential role in any plan to transition towards 100% renewables economy. As countries strive towards setting ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, geothermal will need reliable baseload power sources like geothermal to offset wind and solar’s fluctuating outputs. With new technological advances taking shape around us, geothermal’s potential as an energy future star seems limitless.
