Ashmini Kalika Karunarathne
If you have been following the stories and updates about this year’s world environment day, one term may have caught your attention-‘Clean Renewable energy.’ Numerous parties highlighted the timely importance of embracing clean energy while bidding goodbye to dirty sources. Descending to the community level, from the point of lighting up houses, propelling cars, and powering businesses we have been engaged in dirty deals with harmful energy resources.
All the astounding figures which depict the pollution caused by fossil fuels had caused to ignite a huge urge among the populace to move to a cleaner and greener option. This article will throw some light on the concept of clean and renewable energy, its importance, it is limitations, and ways to consume cleaner energy at the domestic level.
New to the green and renewable concept?
Initially, it’s good to start by introducing the primary terms. On the surface, although the terms green energy, clean energy, and renewable energy carry the same connotation, there lies a subtle difference between them. Clean energy refers to the energy resources that do not emit pollutants into the air. On the same note, green energy is energy generated from natural resources.
Speaking on a slightly different note, renewable energy is defined as energy produced from energy sources that are constantly being reproduced. Fossil fuels and gas stand on the flip side. They will run out someday due to constant usage. All green energy resources are renewable, but all renewable energy will turn up to be green energy.
Keeping by that argument, some can emphasize that, hydropower is a renewable energy source, but it’s not green because environmental destruction occurs when building hydropower dams. Therefore, the most feasible combination happens when renewable energy is mixed up with clean energy. Examples include solar energy and wind energy.
Clean energy works without releasing pollutants to the environment such as harmful greenhouse gases. Most clean energy resources are renewable which include solar-generated energy, wind power, and certain hydropower resources in the list of elements.
Why embrace a clean energy future?
The brighter side is that clean and renewable energy offers a plethora of perks to the whole earth and its residents. Renewable and clean energy emits zero greenhouse gases, which is conducive to the climate. In contrast, the combustion of fossil fuels to cater to the daily energy needs emits a huge amount of greenhouse gases. As the name implies, clean energy does not pollute the air around us. The burning of fossil fuels for transport, industries, and power generation contributes to the rising levels of air pollution. This condition is threatening our health. Another amazing reward of renewable energy is that it comes at affordable prices.
Limited access to non-renewable energy resources makes it difficult to access them during geopolitical strife and price hikes. Since renewable and clean energy is produced locally, they do not get affected by such hardening situations.
Clean and renewable energy is a job creator in the local community. Investing in renewable energy simply means investing in employees to build and maintain energy production facilities. Furthermore, these investments are made in the locality, rather than paying bills for energy imports from foreign territories. Most importantly, these types of energy are accessible by all parties. When focusing especially on developing nations, renewable energy is the only way to expand energy access to all its dwellers.
Aware of the challenges?
There is every chance that each concept has its two sides, one brighter and the other darker. There are some challenges renewable and clean energy sources encounter. One of the biggest concerns is that renewable energy is generated by natural sources and humans do not own the levers to control them. Then the issue of constant availability of power comes on to the stage. For example, solar energy is generated only when sunshine is available and wind energy is produced only when there is sufficient wind speed to turn the turbines. Consistent high-power quality is needed to ensure stability and high efficiency of the power network.
The resource location also puts forward some limitations to clean and green energy production. Most energy plants require large spaces to accommodate their machinery. Most of the time, all renewable energy resources are not found in every region. Also, the distance between the energy plant and the grid plays a key role in calculating the final cost and total efficiency. Furthermore, there is a lack of awareness about the benefits of renewable and clean energy among the population. Switching to clean and renewable energy will appear to be intrusive, but when one analysis deeply it is the most feasible option.
Ready to power your house with clean energy?
Massive industries, governments, and thriving businesses have transformed into green energy sources. So, clean, and renewable energy is not limited to large-scale projects. There is a multitude of ways in which you can power up your house with clean and renewable energy. You can install solar photovoltaic panels on your roof and generate electricity through sunlight. It does not necessarily be sunny to produce electricity through these panels. It can store the power generated during the day in batteries and you can use them at night.
Out of the total power generated, you can sell the excess amount to the national electricity grid of your country. Air source heat pumps are a sustainable heating option to be used at your house. These pumps extract energy from the air and utilize it to heat your house. Heat air pumps smoothly work in any temperature, even in extremely low temperatures, and warm your house. In addition, people should note that wind energy is not restricted to large wind farms. There are miniature wind turbines which you can fix in your house. In the same vein, biomass heating systems can be installed in houses. They burn the organic waste of the house and provide heating and hot water as the output.
On a final note, according to United Nations, “Currently, around 80% of global energy and 66% of electrical generation are supplied from fossil fuels. And the energy supply sector (electricity, heat, and other energy) is the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions.” The environmental pollution done by fossil fuels impacts the health of the planet and all its inhabitants.
This threat can be neutralized by the transition to clean and renewable energy sources. Investing in clean energy technologies is a timely need at this phase when the planet is saddled with an environmental pollution crisis. It is much harder to summon the commitment to move to clean and renewable energy, as we all are very much used to fossil fuel and natural gas. Whereas it is indeed possible as the saying by Robert Adams goes, “Our universe is a sea of energy – free, clean energy. It is all out there waiting for us to set sail upon it.
Author is a student at University of Colombo,
Sri Lanka
Email: ashminikarunarathne5@gmail.com
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