When you think of renewable energy, you probably think about the sun's rays, the wind's movement, or the movement of water. These are all renewable energy sources, and most of them are sustainable. But what exactly is renewable energy? What are the effects of renewable energy on the environment? To make it clearer, here's a quick definition.
Natural resources
Renewable energy is an alternative form of energy. It uses natural processes, such as heat and movement on the earth, and sun radiation to produce energy. In addition to solar and wind energy, renewable resources include hydroelectricity and geothermal energy. They are also considered to be a natural resource and the laws governing them treat them that way.
Biomass can also be used as a natural resource to generate renewable energy. Biomass is organic material made from plants and animals. Photosynthesis is the process that converts biomass into chemical energy. Even though biomass is very expensive, experts believe its cost will drop as more fossil fuels become available.
Renewable energy sources
Renewable energy can come out of a wide range of natural resources. The most common source in the electricity sector is hydropower, which relies on relatively stable rainfall patterns. This energy source is susceptible to climate-induced droughts and changes within ecosystems. In addition to this, infrastructure that is required for hydropower could cause ecosystem damage. Scientists are working to find other sources of renewable energy. These include bioenergy and ocean power. Biomass is made up of various organic materials, including wood, charcoal, manure, algae, and other agricultural residues. Ocean energy can also prove to be viable as it uses the thermal kinetic energy of ocean water to generate electricity.
In many countries, renewable energy will become a major source and supplier of electricity over the coming decades. India for example is planning to generate at minimum 40% of its energy using renewable sources by 2030. This is a huge step in the right directions.
Renewable energy's impact on the environment
Both the environment, and the economy benefit from renewable energy initiatives. They are made from local materials and employ local labor. This creates jobs and generates revenue for local businesses. They can also save fuel and improve the quality of lives. A trust fund can be created to invest in electricity sales revenue and help communities, such as hydropower projects. This helps communities invest in small businesses and improves health and life standards.
Renewable energy has many environmental impacts. They vary depending upon the source. The most polluting renewable energy source is biomass, and its processes create a lot of air pollution. The main contributor to pollution is solid waste generated by garbage-to energy power plants. The pollution produced by solar and wind energy is minimal, however. However, construction of solar and wind energy facilities can still negatively impact the environment.
Costs for renewable energy
In the last 10 years, the cost of large-scale photovoltaic projects has fallen by 85%. Offshore wind and onshore wind power projects have also seen their costs drop. The cost of installing new wind farms and solar panels in Europe has fallen by 56% during the same time period. Renewable energy is also more affordable than fossil fuels due to new carbon prices. By 2020, renewable energy will be less expensive than coal-fired power stations.
Solar energy is the most affordable of all renewable energy sources. For more than a decade, solar energy has been the best-known source of electricity generation. According to the International Energy Agency’s 2021 report, both solar PV (or wind) are the most economical forms of electricity generation in most countries. Renewable energy is therefore more eco-friendly than other methods of producing electricity.