In the last few decades, humanity has mounted a seminal test: addressing the environmental crisis of excessive dependence on fossil fuels.
In the last few decades, humanity has mounted a seminal test: addressing the environmental crisis of excessive dependence on fossil fuels. Natural resources are dwindling, and climate change is becoming more intense, a global phenomenon requiring the world's embrace of a green power revolution through the use of renewable energy. The revolution is like a glass prism that inverts the sun's rays and thus paints a positive spectrum on the Earth's future, i.e. the revolution has economic benefits while concurrently mitigating environmental damages. The essay evaluates the spread of renewable energy, the main impacts of it on the environment, problems associated with its use, and the global policies leading the transition process.
Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass, have seen significant progress because of new technologies that make them both more efficient and economical. In the past ten years, the price of solar and wind energy has fallen considerably, making them as competitive as traditional fossil fuels (Gore, 2012). According to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewable energy had the largest market share in 2020 at nearly 29% of global electricity, it has broken growth of share from the previous 10% in the 2010s (IRENA, 2020). So, countries are now getting more and more proactive in their move to renewables, with long-term unimaginative blueprints for the year 2025 and beyond, mainly among them are the IRENA statement;
Solar energy, which is no longer considered an expensive niche technology, has replaced a change due to the aforementioned improvement of the photovoltaic system (NREL, 2012). The large solar power stations, which are now being constructed among others, in California's Mojave Desert and China's Tengger Desert, have the possibility to assure continuous supply of power to some millions of households (Jacobson et al., 2015). In addition to that, wind electricity is a great alternative, specially at the coast, where offshore wind farms exploit the regular strong winds. Europe, in particular, has developed offshore wind power capacity and now has a project, the North Sea Wind Power Hub, the object of which is to connect several countries to one grid (IRENA, 2019).
Renewable energy has the most important impact on reducing greenhouse gases, which cause global warming that is the main cause of climate change. By swapping coal, oil, and gas with sustainable energies, we can minimize the production of CO2 entering the atmosphere (IPCC, 2011). The decrease in air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are dangerous to human health and the environment, is a further cause to the benefits of renewables (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2021).
Renewable energy is also greener as it reduces the devastating destruction of nature. Coal mining, oil drilling, and the production of natural gas often cause deforestation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity (IRENA 2016). Contrary to that, renewable energy projects, if undertaken with appropriate management, have lower environmental impact. For instance, solar farms can be constructed on rooftops or in deserts, while wind turbines can be placed offshore or on farmland, thereby providing dual land use (Nature Energy, 2017).
Despite its promise, the transition to renewable energy sources is not without challenges. Among the most urgent problems is the intermittency of such products as solar and wind energy. Solar panels produce electricity only during the day, whereas wind turbines depend on wind patterns, which can be erratic. This last one becomes energy security challenges and needed battery innovations to solve problems with alternative energy sources Stanford University Stanford University, 2015. Battery storage technologies have come a long way in recent years, with lithium-ion batteries becoming more efficient and affordable. Nevertheless, large-scale storage continues to be expensive and constrained in capacity IRENA, 2020. Academics are examining other storage options, such as pumped hydro storage and hydrogen fuel cells that could lead to more sustainable solutions IRENA, 2016. Another promising way is the realization of smart grids which are capable of balancing supply and demand in regions more effectively by the use of efficient energy distribution NREL, 2012.
Besides, the shift to renewable energy necessitates the deployment of large-scale infrastructure. Most of the power grids were designed to suit the centralized usage of fossil fuel plants and are not fit for purpose for the distributed network of renewable energy sources. These grids must be upgraded to accommodate renewables and new transmission lines must be constructed which is vital but costly. The governments and private investors should team up in order to surmount such financial obstacles (Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, 2018).
The progress of the renewable energy revolution is highly dependent on solid government policies and international cooperation. Many countries have set targets to cut carbon emissions and increase the capacity of renewable energy, which is often linked to the international agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord (IRENA, 2020). These agreements establish global objectives for limiting temperature increase and provide a structure for countries to work together to tackle climate change (REN21, 2020).
The right policies such as carbon pricing, tax incentives for renewable energy investments, and regulations phasing out coal plants are the key factors in promoting the adoption of green technologies. For instance, Germany's Energiewende (energy transition) policy is striving to reduce the use of coal and nuclear energy and instead make the country more dependent on renewables (Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, 2018). In the same way, China, which is the world's largest carbon emitter, has set some ambitious targets for wind and solar power, and it is planning to be carbon-neutral by 2060 (IRENA, 2020).
International cooperation is also essential, particularly in technology and expertise sharing. Renewable energy in developing nations, which often lack access to energy, can promote both economic development and environment protection. Programs such as the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) are aimed at ensuring clean and modern energy access for all by 2030, with a special emphasis on renewable solutions (IRENA, 2020).
Countries like Denmark, Costa Rica, and Iceland are showing others how to accomplish greening goals. Geological features, such as the strong wind in Denmark that provides the country's around half of electricity, fully renewable methods in Costa Rica during periods that last for one to several months, and geothermal power plants and dams in Iceland that are still heating energy to people, are already state IRENA (2020) the essential sources for energy benefits.
The future holds a bright promise of renewables. Analysts predict that by 2050, renewables could provide over 80% of the world’s electricity despite the lack of initiative by a few technologies and policy support (IRENA, 2020). Smart grids enabled by artificial intelligence and big data will further facilitate the efficiency of the grid, making it more responsive to the changing dynamics of sources and demands in the ongoing energy transition (Nature Energy, 2017).
The advent of renewable energy is a necessity for the environment, an economic and technological opportunity. Through the financing of sustainable energy, we are capable of mitigating climate change, reducing air pollution, and saving natural environments from the devastation. Although there are difficulties, the inventions that already existed are proving the human brain is capable of doing things. At the global level, rising innovation and cooperation will make renewable energy indispensable in promoting a cleaner, more resilient future for generations (Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, 2018).
References
Global Commission on the Economy and Climate (2018). New Climate Economy Report .
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2021). Health and Renewable Energy Study .
IRENA (2016). Renewable Energy Benefits: Measuring the Economics .
IRENA (2019). Offshore Wind: A Global Opportunity .
IRENA (2020). Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review .
IPCC (2011). Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation .
Jacobson, M.Z. et al. (2015). 100% Clean and Renewable Energy Study , Stanford University.
NREL (2012). Renewable Electricity Futures Study .
Nature Energy (2017). Global Renewable Energy Potential .
REN21 (2020). Renewables 2020 Global Status Report .
