For the final day of my 30 Days Wild challenge I wanted to write about renewable energy. We still rely heavily on fossil fuels that draw on finite resources that are becoming too expensive or too environmentally damaging to retrieve. Renewable energy, however, is constantly replenished and does not require much effort or invasiveness to harness, and there is much that we can do to both support and benefit from it.
The sun is responsible for most of our renewable energy. Sunlight is a very common way of generating electricity, often being used for heating and lighting our homes. The sun also governs wind, which can be captured with wind turbines. Hydroelectric power is derived from the flow of rivers and streams, which again occurs thanks to the power of the sun and the water cycle. The sun also causes plants to grow, and the organic matter from plants (biomass) can be used to produce electricity, fuel or chemicals.
Not all renewable energy resources come from the sun. Geothermal energy, for example, makes use of our planet’s internal heat. Tidal and wave energy is another example; coming predominately from the gravitational pull of the moon upon the Earth, this power can be converted into electricity.
Why is renewable energy important?
Environmentally friendly – Renewable energy is clean and has a much lower environmental impact than fossil fuels. It plays a critical role in reducing global carbon emissions.
Long-term certainty – Renewable energy will not run out. Facilities and operations do of course have limited lifespans, but the average wind or solar farm will have up to 30 years of operation, and even longer for hydro power plants. Equipment is frequently refurbished and upgraded to be more efficient and lower in cost, which means that renewable energy can generate electricity for a very long time whilst its efficiency continues to increase.
Job/economic security – The prices of fossil fuels fluctuate across regions, whereas renewable energy prices have been steadily decreasing. Investment has increased as the cost of technology falls and efficiency rises. Most renewable energy investments are spent on materials and manpower to build and maintain the facilities, rather than on expensive imports (as is the case with fossil fuels). This means that money from renewable energy can create jobs and fuel local economies, rather than going abroad. As the market matures – with experts and skilled workers occurring more locally, and policy-making becoming more streamlined – the price of renewable energy will continue to fall.
Energy Security – Fossil fuel supply is often disrupted for many reasons (usually political, and sometimes due to geographical challenges and difficulties in reaching the sources), and our dependence on fossil fuels impacts on our energy prices. Having our own renewable energy and security of supply means that we do not need to depend on foreign imports.
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