THE
EFFECT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY ON THE ENVIRONMENT
As
climate change and pollution of the environment become global concerns, reduced
use of energy from other sources leads to the most significant solution. The
clean products of natural resource energy production that are renewed over a
smaller timeframe mean renewable resources consist of solar, wind, hydro, geothermal,
and biomass. It is the global strategic direction shift from fossil fuels to
renewable sources of energy which is not an option but a direction towards
sustainable development. This article provides a black-and-white look at the
positive impacts of renewable energy and how it can be implemented and
installed to cover any possible problems.
Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The
production of renewable energy is known to have many advantages, with one
outstanding one being the environmental impact such as the emission of
greenhouse gases. The major sources of Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other GHGs
include fossil fuels, which are coal, oil, and natural gas which have the
heat-trapping capacity which leads to global warming and climate change. On the
other hand the sources of renewable energy are known to emit relatively low or
no GHS emissions during their operation.
Solar
and Wind Energy: Solar and wind technologies do not
involve for example burning of fossil fuels and therefore do not produce direct
CO2 emissions. IRENA has said excluding developed/underserved countries,
renewables could lower global CO2 emissions by as much as 70% by 2050.
Hydropower:
Although GHGs are emitted by reservoirs in hydropower plants, the amount is far
less compared with the emission from power plants based on fossil fuels.
Furthermore, hydroelectricity that hurts the environment has to be dealt with
because of technology advancement that has made it easier to do so
Air Quality Improvement
The
burning of fossil fuels leads to the emission of harmful substances, gases, and
particulate matter; sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and
particulate matter (PM) that have detrimental effects on human health causing
respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and premature death among
others. On the other hand, renewable energy sources do not emit such hazardous
pollutants to the atmospheric gaseous environment.
Solar
and Wind Power: Solar power and wind power are almost
carbon neutral because the operation of solar panels and wind turbines entails
very little emission. When converting cities with existing coal and natural gas
plants to solar and wind farms, we can make tremendous strides in quality of
life, and reduce the prevalence of sickness.
Biomass:
Biomass energy is a process of burning organic materials and even though modern
biomass systems release energy through the combustion of organic materials,
these methods of combustion are regulated to minimize the emissions that are
released into the atmosphere.
Conservation
of Water Resources
Coal
and nuclear plants, in particular, those that use fossil fuels such as coal,
oil, and uranium, demand significant amounts of water for cooling. As a result,
this much usage of water may lead to scarcity of water besides hurt the water
bodies. Below, alternatives of powering systems exhibit a considerably lower
water footprint than conventional power appliances.
Solar
PV and Wind Energy: These technologies require significantly less
water than that used in normal power generation plants and are therefore
appropriate for areas with water shortages.
Hydropower:
While the method harnesses a considerably large amount of water it is not
exactly ‘using’ water in the normal sense of the term because hydropower
typically utilizes the flow of water. However, a concern on the impact of any
environmental interaction on aquatic bodies should not be encouraged as it
poses negative impacts.
Land
Use and Ecosystem Impact
The
use of renewable energy systems can have both positive and negative impacts for
land use and ecosystems. However, like any other tool and strategy, it is
crucial to address and prevent possible negative consequences.
Solar
Farms: Utility scale solar power plants require large areas
of land and this causes habitat destruction if not controlled. But these
impacts can be minimized through using brownfields or incorporating solar
panels in buildings, which is rooftop solar.
Wind
Farms: Turbines have an effect on birds and bats, but new
technology makes turbines less dangerous to these animals. Moreover, wind farms
are relatively small in area in comparison with the area they cover, thus it is
possible to use lands with wind farms simultaneously for other purposes
(agriculture).
Hydropower:
Because of this, large dams have been known to have negative impacts on fish
stocks and those living nearby. Small scale hydropower and run-of-river systems
also provide clean energy solutions through reducing such effects.
Waste
Reduction and Resource Efficiency
Renewable
energy technologies play an essential role in waste minimization and efficient
use of resources for environmental management.
Solar
Panels and Wind Turbines: Of course, the production of solar
panels and wind turbines requires some resources and yields waste, however, the
service life of the product, which is 20-30 years, levels it out. In addition,
the recycling programs for the end-of-life components are also under process to
minimize waste.
Biomass
Energy: Biomass energy involves the use of agricultural and
forestry residues; therefore, there is no wastage of resources. When well
harnessed, biomass offers a constant energy source without depleting the
earth’s sources of power.
Mitigating
Climate Change
The
use of renewable energy is pivotal in combating climate change considering that
it helps to reduce the use of fossil fuel and hence less emission of GHG into
the atmosphere. The increased use of renewables must be achieved to meet global
climate goals, including the Paris Accord that seeks to limit global warming to
below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels.
Challenges
and Considerations
Below
are challenging factors associated with the use of renewable energy despite the
fact that it has several benefits: Environmental benefits. Solving these
problems is crucial when it comes to achieving the best extents of utilizing
renewable energy to influence the environment positively.
Intermittency
and Reliability: It could be noted that Solar and wind
energy sources are not constant since they rely on the weather circumstances
and part of the day. Policies regarding the utilization of energy storage and
smart grids which aim to mitigate misalignments that may lead to supply
disruption are crucial.
Initial
Environmental Impact: Renewable energy systems have some
impacts as well: the manufacturing, transportation and installation of
renewable energy systems affect the environment in terms of extraction of raw
materials and displacement or destruction of habitats. Therefore, it is quite
important to develop environmentally friendly strategies and advanced
technologies to reduce these impacts.
Economic
and Social Factors: That is why sustainable power, or the
shift to renewable power, that is, demands extensive capital and energetic
measures. However, it should be noted that the transition to GU expansion
should be fair for everyone, and the majority of citizens, regardless of race,
should benefit from it.
Conclusion
The
path to sustainable development includes the usage of renewable energy sources,
which possesses vast potential for introducing environmentally friendly
changes. It mitigates climate change and greenhouse emissions; enhances air
quality; saves water; and promotes resource efficiency, all of which can be
attributed to its positive impacts on the health of the planet. Although the
difficulties exist, much is still being achieved in implementing renewable
Technologies coupled with positive energy policies to cut short these barriers
towards a green future. The drive towards the use of renewable energy is not
only a noble lift towards saving environment globally, but also a way of
promoting sustainability and resiliency of the world’s economy.
