The greatest advantages of using renewable energy sources
Written by
- Redaction Team
- Business Technology, Entrepreneurship
Renewable energy and sustainability are becoming more pressing and relevant for people from all over the world as global warming and climate change wreak havoc on temperatures, crops, water availability, and people’s ability to provide for themselves and their families. In order to mitigate the human contribution to this phenomenon, several measures must be implemented, with the goal of ameliorating the effects of pollution and overconsumption of resources. Forests need time to regenerate, water and air must become free of harmful chemicals and plastics, and waste must be reduced in order to see actual results. The ways in which society operates and the energy it uses to power all of its processes, from business procedures to delivering warm water to citizens’ households, are some of the fundamental parts that must be changed.
Extracting and burning fossil fuels depletes the planet of its resources and releases massive quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to the worsening of climate change. The best and surest way to combat this is to make the switch to green, renewable energy sources that won’t have such a detrimental effect on the world.
Solar energy
Solar power is arguably the most easily recognizable form of renewable energy. It derives from the son, uses photovoltaic and thermosolar technologies, and can be used to provide electricity, heating and cooling. It’s not just individual households but also businesses and institutions that are beginning to adopt and implement the infrastructure necessary to make the switch to clean energy as part of reducing their carbon dioxide footprint and remaining compliant with sustainability standards like ISO 50001. However, remember that energy management is pretty complex, and so you would greatly benefit from the aid of a specific training program that explains the ISO 5001 meaning as well as requirements and practical steps to set up a solid ISO 50001 energy management system.
The ways in which it operates and the particulars that must be taken into account to guarantee the procedures remain as efficient as possible and that the structure operates at the highest possible level are included in the training as well so that the entire process becomes easier to understand and set in motion. The Earth receives somewhere around 174 petawatts of solar radiation in the upper atmosphere, of which approximately 30% reflects back to space.
That leaves 122 PW to be absorbed into the land masses, oceans and clouds. According to recent estimates, this is more energy in 90 minutes than the planet currently uses for a year. Naturally, variations such as cloud cover, time zones, and land availability must be taken into account, and there’s no denying the potential of this resource. Researchers have recently discovered that if they had the ability to access solar energy at a high enough orbit, continuous power could reach stations all over the globe. By the mid-2030s, analysts predict that solar energy will become the most significant source of electrical power on Earth, and by the 2040s, it is set to become the largest source of all energy.
It is completely clean and safe, comes with lower power bills, operates independently from other power sources on Earth and can be used to its maximum potential, so there’s no need to worry about waste.
Hydroelectric energy
Also referred to as hydroelectricity or hydroelectric power, this system harnesses the power of water in motion in order to generate electricity. The upfront capital costs are lower than in the case of solar energy, but the creation of the entire infrastructure will naturally be somewhat pricier. Solar power also requires high initial investments, but the panels need minimal maintenance in the aftermath while handling a hydro turbine is far more complicated and requires a lot more expertise. Yet, all of these costs are relatively small and insignificant when put in perspective, as saving the planet and ensuring a future for the human race clearly takes moral and logical priority over the issue of costs.
Geographical location and specifics will also inform the decision of whether to opt for hydro or solar electricity. Using water to create power is a concept that has been popular since ancient times, when it was used as part of water wheels, sawmills and watermills, and later ushered in the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Warwick Castle, a medieval stronghold initially built by William the Conqueror, used a water-powered generator house that provided it with electricity from 1894 to 1940. Hydropower is entirely renewable and domestically available. The public can also take advantage of the recreational opportunities that appear as a result of the infrastructure, such as swimming and boating.
The creation and use of renewable energy systems create jobs as well, boosting the local workforce as someone needs to oversee and maintain the systems.
Wind energy
As of 2020, the Netherlands boasted some 2,606 wind turbines, of which roughly 2,144 were based on land and 462 at sea. In 2022, the statistics showed that almost 20% of the country’s yearly electricity demand comes from this renewable source. Windmills are recognized as an emblematic symbol of Dutch culture, and around 1,200 historic ones survive to this day. The country used them as an alternative to the standard watermills, and most of those visitors can see today are polder or gristmills. Wind power is also a clean energy source that is relatively straightforward to maintain. The upfront costs are more elevated, and a single wind turbine can be anywhere between $2.5 to $4 million.
Their noise is a disadvantage for some, but it can be easily solved with the use of upwind rotors. In fact, most turbines produced nowadays are designed this way in order to minimize auditory discomfort. The UK currently obtains roughly 24% of its total electricity from wind power, most of which arrives from offshore wind farms. The nation is home to the largest wind farms in the world, the Hornsea One, situated approximately 120 km off the English east coast.
Although green, sustainable energy is still in its early days, there’s no denying the fact that it will become more critical in the future. As people become increasingly aware of its necessity and benefits, the switch to clear power sources will become a common, widespread thing rather than a novelty.
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