In the 21st century, we have already moved beyond the industrial revolution. In today’s world, energy has become an essential need for all of us. We consume energy everywhere: at home, in the office, in industries, in transportation, or in agriculture. We cannot imagine our daily lives without it. However, most of our current energy supply comes from fossil fuels. Still, 84% of the energy we consume worldwide is supplied by fossil fuels. We all know there is a limited amount of fossil fuels on this Earth, which might last only for certain years. So, we have to switch over to renewable energy.
This blog covers an introduction to renewable energy, its advantages and disadvantages, and the global trends towards renewable energy.
Introduction To Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is any form of energy available in the natural environment and can be replenished repeatedly. In simple words, it is derived from continuously refilled sources. For example, solar energy, wind energy, and tidal energy are naturally available, and we cannot run out of them by consuming them.
Renewable energy is derived from resources that can restore themselves easily. These resources are unlimited in nature and do not produce greenhouse gases. This makes renewable energy a self-sufficient energy system and more environmentally friendly.
Types of Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy is available in various forms in nature. The availability of renewable energy depends on geographic location and weather (seasons). In different parts of the world, several countries are rich in various types of renewable energy sources. For example, countries like Brazil, Canada, Russia, Nepal, etc, are rich in water resources. China, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, etc, are rich in wind energy. Here are the types of renewable energy:
Solar Energy
Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources. This can even be harnessed in cloudy weather. This type of energy can be obtained from solar radiation or sunlight. There are two types of solar energy:
- Photovoltaic Solar Energy: Solar panels absorb sunlight and transform it into electricity.
- Solar Thermal Energy: This technology is harnessed to generate thermal or electrical energy.
Wind Energy
Wind energy can be obtained from the movement of powerful winds. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of moving air into electricity. There are two mechanisms to produce electricity from moving air:
- Onshore: Electricity is generated by wind turbines located on land, driven by the natural movement of the air.
- Offshore: Electricity is generated from wind blowing across the sea.
Hydro Power
Hydropower can be obtained from fast-moving water flowing from higher to lower elevations. In hydropower plants, turbines convert the kinetic energy of fast-moving water into electricity. The generated hydroelectricity is then supplied to the general public through transmission systems.
Biomass
Biomass is the material derived from plants and animals. These materials can be burned directly to produce heat. They can also be converted into liquid and gaseous fuels through various processes.
Tidal Energy
Tidal energy, or ocean energy, is obtained from the surge of ocean waters during the rise and fall of tides. The kinetic energy of tidal movement is captured and converted into electricity. Sometimes, hydroelectricity and tidal energy are categorized together.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy harnesses heat from the Earth’s interior through wells or other methods. Deep wells are drilled to access underground hot water, known as hydrothermal resources. This hot water is brought to the Earth’s surface and then pumped through a turbine to generate electricity.
Characteristics of Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy plays a key role in solving problems such as energy crises and environmental issues. These are the main characteristics of renewable energy.
| Characteristics of Renewable Energy Sources |
| 1. Environment Friendly |
| 2. Indigenous |
| 3. Inexhaustible Supply |
Environment Friendly
There are no greenhouse gas or other harmful gas emissions during the process. This helps to reduce pollution in the environment.
Indigenous
Renewable energies can be generated from natural resources such as the sun, water, air, ocean, etc. Countries can reduce their foreign energy dependence on fossil fuels and achieve self-sufficiency. This can help boost the economic development of these countries.
Inexhaustible Supply
Renewable energy is obtained from continuously replenished sources and never runs out. This helps us transition to sustainable energy solutions.
Advantages of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy has various advantages over fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources. Some of these advantages include:
Zero Carbon Emissions
Renewable energy generation emits little to no carbon emissions. The use of renewable energy produces no greenhouse gases (GHGs) and releases no harmful gases into the environment.
Inexhaustible supply
One of the main benefits of renewable energy is its inexhaustible supply. Renewable energy is derived from natural sources like the sun, water, and air, which never run out. Therefore, we can continuously generate renewable energy.
Affordable Energy
Renewable energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. The reasons behind this include low operational costs, government incentives, competition, technological advancements, etc.
Job Creation
The growth in renewable energy is creating a lot of new job opportunities in various countries. Developing more renewable projects can create job opportunities for people and benefit the economy.
Eco-Friendly Energy
Using renewable energy does not produce harmful gases and pollutants that degrade the environment. Therefore, energy generation and usage will have no negative impact on water, soil, and air. This makes it an eco-friendly energy source.
Energy Independence
The generation and usage of renewable energy in home countries reduces reliance on foreign-sourced energy. Countries with no fossil fuels do not have to depend on other countries for fuel. They can reduce oil imports and mitigate the risk of an energy crisis.
Less Maintenance Cost
Renewable energy sources like hydroelectricity, solar energy, and wind energy require less operating costs. Since there are fewer moving parts in the power plants, they require little maintenance as well. This reduces the maintenance cost, making renewable energy more cost-effective.
Disadvantages of Renewable Energy
On the other hand, when it comes to generation and usage, renewable energy has some disadvantages. Some of these include:
High Initial Cost
The initial cost of generating energy from renewable sources is very high. Developing renewable energy projects requires huge investment. The manufacturing and installation costs of renewable energy devices are also expensive. For example, devices like heat pumps and photovoltaic panels are costly.
Energy Production Can Be Unreliable
Renewable energy generation depends on weather conditions. For example, wind energy is susceptible to calm days, hydropower to droughts, and solar power to cloudy days. Whenever there is bad weather conditions, the production of renewable energy decreases.
Challenges In Storage
Due to the intermittent nature of renewable power, energy storage devices such as batteries are required to store generated energy. These devices help supply the generated energy in a consistent and controlled manner. However, current energy storage systems still need to be advanced enough to efficiently manage large amounts of energy.
Space Requirement
Establishing renewable energy farms or power plants requires a lot of space. Sometimes, the natural habitats of wildlife and aquatic organisms have to be compromised to construct power plants. Birds and bats are affected if wind farms or turbines are built in their path. Developing projects on federal or state lands can be challenging. The leasing process can be cumbersome, especially when a project might conflict with other land uses.
Carbon Footprint
Renewable energy sources like solar energy and wind energy do not emit harmful gases during power generation. However, the manufacturing, installation, and transportation of renewable energy equipment do produce greenhouse gas emissions. Also, biomass is not 100% carbon neutral as it emits carbon when burned.
Global Trend Toward Renewable Energy
The entire world is transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The global capacity for renewable energy generation is expanding day by day. There is significant growth in the integration of sustainable energy in various industries. Supportive economic policies are being implemented to encourage the global adoption and utilization of renewable energy. One of them is that tax rates have decreased for electric vehicles. This encourages people to increase their renewable energy consumption. Countries are becoming less dependent on other countries for fossil fuels. Also, innovation and advancements in renewable energy are being pursued to mitigate the effects of climate change and global warming. This will transform the world towards sustainable energy solutions.
Conclusion
In this technological era, renewable energy plays a vital role in transforming the concept of energy generation and consumption. Renewable energy has the capability to supply all of our homes, businesses, and vehicles with emission-free energy. By transitioning towards renewable energy, we can expect a cleaner world.
To stay informed about the latest technological trends and deepen your understanding of technology, visit some of our other blogs at TopInfosMania.
FAQs On The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Renewable Energy
What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy is any form of energy available in the natural environment that is replenished repeatedly at a higher rate than it is consumed. For example, solar energy, wind energy, and tidal energy are naturally available, and we cannot run out of them by consuming them.
What are the five main types of renewable energy?
Renewable energy is available in various forms in nature. Here are the types of renewable energy:
- Solar Energy
- Wind Energy
- Hydro Power
- Biomass Energy
- Tidal Energy
- Geothermal Energy
- Hydrogen Energy
What are the problems faced by renewable energy?
The major challenges faced by renewable energy are as follows.
- High Initial Cost
- Production Volatility
- Challenges In Storage
- Space Requirement
- Carbon Footprint
What are the potential benefits of using renewable energy sources?
Renewable energy has various advantages over fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources. Some of these advantages include:
- Zero Carbon Emissions
- Inexhaustible supply
- Affordable Energy
- Job Creation
- Eco-Friendly Energy
- Energy Independence
- Less Maintenance Cost
What are the benefits of renewable energy in Nepal?
Nepal is one of the richest countries in terms of water resources. Nepal can produce 83,000 MW of hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity is the best type of renewable energy for Nepal. Nepal can sell the generated electricity to other countries by producing hydroelectricity at full capacity.