You may think of the sun's radiation, wind's movement or water as renewable energy. These are all renewable energy sources, and most of them are sustainable. But what exactly is renewable energy? What's the environmental impact of renewable energy? To make it clearer, here's a quick definition.
Natural resources
Renewable energy is an alternative energy source that relies on natural processes such as the heat and motion of the earth, and the sun's radiation to create energy. In addition to solar and wind energy, renewable resources include hydroelectricity and geothermal energy. They are also considered a natural resource, and the laws governing their use treat them as such.
Biomass can also be used as a natural resource to generate renewable energy. Biomass, organic material created by plants and animals, is also known as biomass. Photosynthesis converts biomass resources into chemical fuel. Although biomass is costly, experts predict that it will decrease in value as fossil fuel prices rise.
Sources for renewable energy
Renewable energy can be made from many natural resources. Hydropower is the most popular source of electricity. It relies on stable rainfall patterns. This energy source can be affected if there are climate-induced droughts, changes in the ecosystems, or other factors. The infrastructure necessary to generate hydropower can also be harmful to ecosystems. To overcome these problems, scientists are developing other forms of renewable energy such as bioenergy or ocean energy. Biomass is made from various organic materials including wood, charcoals, manure, alga, and other agricultural residuals. Ocean energy can be a viable option as it makes use of the thermal and/orkinetic energy found in seawater to create electricity.
In many countries, renewable energy will become a major source and supplier of electricity over the coming decades. India is one example. It aims to have at least 40% renewable energy by 2030. This goal is a major step in the right direction.
The environmental impact of renewable energy
Both the environment as well as the economy can benefit from renewable energy projects. They are made from local materials and employ local labor. This creates jobs and generates revenue for local businesses. They reduce fuel consumption and improve quality of the community's life. Hydropower projects, for example, can create a trust fund that will invest the electricity sales revenue back into communities. This allows communities to invest in small businesses, and it improves the quality of life.
The environmental impacts of renewable energy are complex and vary depending on the source. The most polluting and environmentally damaging source of renewable power is biomass. This process creates a lot o air pollution. Air pollution is caused by solid waste from garbage-to-energy power stations. Wind and solar energy, however, cause minimal pollution. But the construction of solar and wind facilities can still impact the environment, as well as the disposal of retired equipment.
Costs of renewable energy
Large-scale solar projects are now more affordable than ever. Both onshore and offshore wind power projects have seen their costs fall. In Europe, the cost to install new solar and/or wind farms has fallen by 56%. New carbon prices have made renewable energy less expensive than fossil fuels. In fact, renewable energy will likely be cheaper than coal-fired power plants in 2020.
Solar energy is the most affordable of all renewable energy sources. Over a decade, the lowest-cost electricity generation has been achieved by solar projects. According to the International Energy Agency, 2021 report, solar PV and winds are the best options for generating electricity in most markets. This makes renewable energy a far more environmentally friendly way of generating electricity.