For today’s Green Tips Advent Calendar we open a window on renewable power. We’re now facing unprecedented heatwaves, polluted air, and unbelievable health issues caused by fossil fuels. In Addition to this issue, fossil fuels are about to run out if we continue to burn them uncontrollably.
Renewable energy sources are our best chance to stop the current trend and make the world a better place to live. Therefore, governments are considering using renewable energy sources to generate electric power.
The good news is that the world has already reached a tipping point in price and performance for wind and solar power. In many places wind and solar are cheaper than the fossil fuel alternatives. There are many reasons to choose renewable energy, including:
- Environmental benefits
Renewable energy is a clean source of energy that produces fewer greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. It can help reduce global warming and improve public health by reducing air and soil pollution.
- Economic benefits
Renewable energy can create jobs and boost the economy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that the transition to net-zero emissions could create 9 million new jobs in clean energy by 2030.
- Sustainable
Renewable energy sources are sustainable because they either replenish faster than they are consumed or are limitless in supply.
- Reliable
Renewable energy sources are not subject to the same disputes and wars that fossil fuels are.
- Affordable
Renewable energy can be cheaper than fossil fuels. For example, solar panels can save homeowners up to 70% on their electricity bill.
- Stable prices
Renewable energy prices are more stable than fossil fuel prices.
- Low maintenance
Renewable energy technologies require less maintenance than fossil fuel power stations.
Change to Renewables
If the growth of wind, solar and energy storage continues at the best of the rates seen early on, the world’s energy emissions are on track to halve by 2030. To ensure this happens, we as ‘energy consumers’ can play an important part by using our purchasing power for good. The most significant action we can take is to start producing our own clean electricity, e.g. by adding solar panels onto the roofs of our houses.
However, if your housing situation doesn’t allow for that, the second-best solution is to compare the options from different utility providers in your community and select an electricity contract with 100% renewable energy certificates (RECs). This ensures that the electricity you use is powered by renewables and that it financially supports the shift away from power generation using fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas.
Here are 7 types of alternative energy sources available out there:
Solar Energy
Solar energy is the only type of renewable energy you can easily harness at home. You need to buy either solar water heaters or solar panels to use solar energy and reduce your energy bills. There are different types of PV panels and you can choose the best one for your home according to the price, efficiency, and other criteria.
Wind Energy
To utilise wind, we need to build large turbines. Wind farms can help rural and remote areas to have green electricity. For example, offshore and onshore wind in the UK is generating around 30% of the UK’s electricity.
Hydroelectric
Hydroelectric power is similar to wind energy technology except for the working liquid, water instead of air. Building large dams and using turbines might be expensive, but it will produce a great amount of electricity.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is another clean and renewable energy that can be regarded as a sustainable power source. It is the heat within the planet Earth that can be harnessed in some areas.
Biomass
Biomass energy is the heat we can derive from organic waste by burning it. It’s regarded as a renewable energy source because we always regenerate organic materials, mostly plants.
Tidal Energy
Tidal or ocean energy is the hydropower energy we can get from tides. This energy is sometimes sorted under the category of hydropower, not in a separate one.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the most abundant element available on our planet, two-thirds of which is water. This element can be used as a zero-carbon fuel if we separate it.
In 2023, individual renewables contributed the following1:
- Wind power contributed 29.4% of the UK’s total electricity generation.
- Biomass energy, the burning of renewable organic materials, contributed 5% to the renewable mix.
- Solar power contributed 4.9% to the renewable mix
- Hydropower, including tidal, contributed 1.8% to the renewable mix
The UK has some of the best renewable energy sources in the world. Our islands, battered by wind and waves, are perfect for tapping into these power sources. Even solar energy has a role to play; solar panels are more efficient in direct sunlight but can generate power even on a cloudy day.
In 2023, wind turbines in the United Kingdom generated 82.3 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity and heat. This was enough to power over 20 million homes. Here are some other details about wind power in the UK:
- Wind capacity: The UK’s total installed wind capacity is around 30 gigawatts (GW), with about 15 GW each from onshore and offshore generation.
- Renewable energy: In the first quarter of 2023, 42% of the UK’s electricity came from renewable energy.
- Growth: Wind energy generation has grown substantially since 2009.
- Government targets: The UK is aiming to reach a 50 GW wind capacity target by 2030.
- Grid connection delays: Some new solar and wind sites are waiting up to 10 to 15 years to be connected to the grid.
Not only are fossil fuels and global warming damaging our wildlife and environment, they are also having a seriously detrimental effect on our health. Renewable energy sources such as wind power, solar panels and hydroelectric energy, on the other hand, are much more natural, and therefore ensure cleaner air. Choose a cleaner, greener and more sustainable energy source; have a great Christmas everyone!