Global warming is among the biggest issues in today’s world. We face climate change every day. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other emissions related to human activities, such as the use of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial practices, lead to emissions in the atmosphere, resulting in global warming and changes in climate conditions. This is why it is now necessary to begin the process of conversion to renewable energy sources, which would help reduce the consequences of climate change. Renewable energy, energy from sources that are naturally replenished continuously, provides a viable means of cutting down the emission of carbon and promoting an environment that is safe for people and the earth. The following article examines how renewable power could be used to address the challenges of climate change.
1. Understanding Renewable Energy
Renewable sources are generated from sources that are naturally replenished, and some of them are solar energy, wind energy, Hydropower, geothermal, and biomass energy. Most hydrocarbons, such as coal, oil, and gas, are exhaustible and emit great amounts of CO2 when consumed, while renewable energy sources emit almost negligible GHGs. Such fundamental dissimilarities place renewable energy at the frontline in combating climate change. “The thought that goes into creating renewable sources of energy extends beyond the mere need to cut carbon emissions. Moreover, he added that energy improvement and resource diversification, limiting reliance on scarce or depletable resources, job creation, and economic growth through green employment are vital aspects. REs are both utility-scale or distributed according to the definitions of distributed generation, and this makes them flexible in terms of implementation in different geographical and socio-political environments,” says Lisa Ockinga, Chief Product Officer at Ling
2. Solar Energy: Harnessing the Power of the Sun
Solar energy is one type of renewable source of energy that is most widely available and easily utilizable. Thus, solar energy can reduce the usage of fossil fuels since photovoltaic (PV) panels or concentrating solar power (CSP) systems offer ways of directly converting sunlight into electricity. One of the reasons that making use of solar energy is possible is that the technology of developing solar energy was expensive but has improved significantly. SOLAR ENERGY, thus popular in its usage, can be installed both in homes, business premises, and industries, thus making it favorable at different levels. According to Paul Phelps, Managing Director at SOLENT POWER, “Photovoltaic (PV) panels, most familiar as rooftop ones, absorb the sunlight directly and generate electric current out of it. CSP systems, common in utility-scale solar farms, can use mirrors or lenses to focus the sunlight to a point to create heat that, in turn, turns a turbine to generate electricity. The minimum size of solar energy makes it convenient to power many devices and use them at much larger scales to power entire cities and greatly minimize carbon emissions.”
3. Wind Energy: Capturing Nature’s Breeze
“Wind energy is also another key part that must be incorporated into the renewable energy system. Wind turbines harness the energy from the wind by spinning disc-like blades to generate electricity without emitting any GHG emissions. Wind power stations, both on and off the shore, have been developed globally, providing a large capacity for renewable energy. Modern turbines are more efficient than older models of turbines. Wind energy is one of the cheapest sources of renewable energy available in the market today,” said Arman Minas, Director at Armstone. Wind turbines exist and can be erected in the Plains, regions with steep slopes, higher altitudes, and even offshore areas. Offshore wind power utilizes more reliable wind sources over Water and produces large sums of electricity. The development of wind energy plant structures has also given rise to employment opportunities in developing manufacturing, installation, and maintenance resources.
4. Hydropower: Utilizing Water’s Energy
Hydropower is commonly known as hydroelectric power, which involves producing electricity using the energy from falling Water. Wind energy is possibly one of the most established and frequently applied renewable sources of energy in the world today. The hydropower plants are categorized into big power stations and small stations like the run of river stations and other systems, which all play effectively in the generation of renewable energy. Hydropower is a renewable source of energy and hence is reliable and can be used to generate base load power; however, the impacts it has on the aquatic ecosystems, as well as the availability of Water, ought to be well managed.
Other forms of hydroelectric power generation have reservoirs where great quantities of water accumulate behind dams. Demands this Water releases spins turbines for generation of electricity/ Water stored here creates aeration to generate power/Water from these reservoirs spur turbines to produce electricity/ H2O let go from these reservoirs turn turbines for generation of electricity/ Water from these reservoirs is released to turn turbines that generate power. Our expert, Tim Parker, Director at Syntax Integration asserts, “Hydropower is another reliable and perpetual source of energy in comparison to others but has to be environmentally friendly to use and plan the energy without affecting the ecology and society life. There are other solutions, such as Small-scale hydropower plants and micro hydropower plants, which are eco-friendly compared to large-scale hydropower plants.”
5. Geothermal Energy: Tapping into Earth’s Heat
Geothermal energy makes use of heat beneath the surface of the earth to generate electricity and heat. This is an issue because, unlike solar energy, wind energy is steady and dependable, and its production is not affected by weather. Geothermal power plants have significantly smaller amounts of GHG emissions compared to plants that use non-renewable sources of energy, such as fossil fuels. This is major because countries that experience high levels of geothermal activity often embrace the use of geothermal energy sources, including Iceland and some parts of the United States of America. “The utility of geothermal energy spans a variety of technologies such as dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle power stations. Geothermal power plants harness heat from the Earth to create steam to rotate turbines and produce electricity. Geothermal energy is, however, largely used at about 75% for electricity generation and 25% for other uses like district heating, green housing, and industrial purposes,” shares Gerrid Smith, Chief Marketing Officer at Joy Organics
6. Biomass Energy: Converting Organic Material
Bioenergy is gained from biological material such as the remains of plants and animal residuals. Some of the conversions that can be done on biomass include combustion, anaerobic digester, and gasification, which are produced in the form of electricity, heat, and biofuels. However, biomass is renewable; hence, prudent practice should be taken to use it sustainably in a manner that doesn’t lead to adverse environmental consequences such as chopping down trees and killing wildlife. “Bioenergy can be generated from agricultural waste, timber product remainder, and specially cultivated plants for energy production. One example of such a process is anaerobic digestion, in which organic matter decays under non-oxygen conditions to form biogas that can be used for heating or power generation. Sustainable practices apply to biomass energy production to avoid the negative impacts of GHG emissions and degrade ecosystems as well as food availability,” adds Ben Flynn, Manager at Homefield IT
7. The Role of Energy Storage
Energy storage systems for renewable energy generation and supply, like batteries, are important for grid support. Solar and wind energy, for example, are forms of renewable energy, and this type of energy is not constant and can only generate power in some parts of the day or sometimes of the year. Energy storage also describes the situation whereby power that is in excess is stored and can be offered when production is low.
Battery energy storage has become more feasible with technologies such as lithium-ion batteries in account. “Energy storage solution is a generic term that encompasses battery storage systems, pumped hydro storage, the CAES (Compressed Air Energy Storage), and thermal energy storage. Both the above technologies contribute to managing supply and demand, leveling fluctuations of renewals, and maintaining grid stability. There is an increased need to store energy for better utilization of REs and to make a shift towards new energy systems,” says Adam Crossling, Marketing & New Business Director at zenzero
8. Policy and Global Cooperation
For renewable energy to experience a faster uptake, people must turn to the government for policies and international organizations to support the undertaking. Others include tax incentives, subsidies, and feed-in tariffs, which are useful in encouraging investors into renewable energy projects. International treaties, such as the Paris Accord, are the international cooperation that strives to make a universal commitment by setting specific emission reduction goals for GHPs and the utilization of renewable sources of energy. Thus, international cooperation, naked technology, and know-how transfer are preconditions for the effective transition to a sustainable power mix. “One can agree with the statement that national and regional policies can significantly contribute to the formation of conducive conditions for further development of renewable energy. Through extensive funding, science, and technological advancement in RE technologies, as well as effective dissemination, RE technologies may be both invented and deployed. Joining forces means that countries can exchange experiences from previous climate policies, address both technical and financial challenges, as well as realize deeply slashing emissions at the global level,” asserts, Timothy Allen, Director at Oberheiden P.C.
Conclusion
In the fight against climate change, renewable energy can be of great importance due to its role in offering optimum solutions for use instead of fossil fuels. Hawaii gets its electricity from solar power, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biofuels, which are an array of energy sources that are available to combat carbon emissions and global warming. However, this shift to renewable energy sources needs long-term commitments, capital, research, and changes in the policies. With the help of renewable energy and international cooperation, we are capable of harnessing a cleaner future for our world, not only for the present but also for future generations. This equates to a form of sustainability because it not only contributes to the decrease of emissions of greenhouse gases but also empowers nations to produce their energy independently of other nations. The government, businesses, and every citizen should embrace and finance renewable energy programs. In these scenarios, we would like to underline that it is possible to find effective solutions to the climatic crisis and, at the same time, guarantee energy growth and the development of people’s living standards all over the world.