Human beings rely on energy for their day-to-day activities and this energy has been sourced from non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil and natural gas (fossil fuels). Fossil fuels are formed from pressure and heat of dead animals and plants taking millions of years. Unfortunately, these are not going to be around much longer and the need for green energy is of the utmost priority.
Talking about renewable sources, solar power and wind energy are the future and their popularity has been increasing day by day. These are extremely promising as they are a clean source of energy emitting zero emissions. They are inexhaustible. These sources offer a lot of growth in terms of employment and the cost of solar panels is decreasing.
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Let’s take a look in detail why countries need to focus on renewable energy faster than they think.
Health: The poor air quality has been a cause of concern for many years and as per WHO, around 7 million lose their lives due to respiratory diseases. It is directly proportional to the excessive amount of carbon dioxide present in the air.
Promotes Economic Growth: As mentioned above, local economies can take this as an advantage and boost rural areas. They wouldn’t have to migrate to cities for employment. Rural areas are the perfect destination for solar plants and the revenue could invest in the infrastructure facilities. Renewable energy management courses guide the way on how to build a sustainable future.
Floods, droughts and fires: Droughts and floods are more than a common occurrence in the last 2-3 years, causing endless casualties. The climate is changing and everyone can witness its repercussions. With renewable resources, CO2 emissions can be reduced. Bush fires created havoc in Australia last year. It burnt thousands of acres of land and killed a million animals. There was no mercy and there have been other cases in Amazon and California.
Drawbacks
The idea of renewable energy is at the forefront in the environmentalist’s minds yet some challenges are requiring an alternative. When it’s dark or cloudy, solar panels won’t be able to generate energy posing a problem for countries like Denmark or Finland where it’s dark and gloomy in winters. This is a fix for these countries whereas it’s a boon for countries like Saudi Arabia, India where sunshine is abundant.
What can we do?
Clean and renewable energy sources can benefit the local economies and can save losses incurred by companies due to fossil fuels. The electricity demand is increasing rapidly and it will continue to do so. Countries like India, China, the Middle East and Africa must invest fiercely in this sector to meet the power demand.
As per experts, more than 15% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to electricity and around 35% uses biomass for cooking and other functions. Not to forget the physical problems that come with biomass. To tackle this global challenge, The Paris Accord was signed in 2015 binding 200 countries to reduce emissions to maintain the planet’s average temperature at 1.5-degree celsius. It is set to employ more than 20 million people by the year 2030.
Have thought about how much electricity production causes air pollution? Today, electricity is one of the major causes for air pollution and harmful chemicals such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) pose adverse problems for not only humans but animals as well, causing a myriad of problems.
With every passing year, the installation of solar panels is increasing. In 2018, the UK witnessed a growth of 2% increase in the installation. Whereas the USA and Australia are doubling their number every year. Specifically looking at the facts, the wind energy production increased around 400% in the last 10 years in the states.
Energy Management
Every company and country needs an energy manager who can work efficiently and they understand its functionality. This could be an alternative career choice for students. There are energy management courses that can advance the journey towards a greener future. At an individual level, each person can take small steps to save electricity, water and can clean the surroundings. It’s not only about cleaning the house but also about the nearby environment.