Energy consumption is an important condition for the existence of the society. Different energy resources are necessary for the fulfillment of human needs and escalating life standards. The demand for energy will only grow in the future. Thus, countries may face an energy crisis because the amounts of widely used non-renewable natural resources such as coal, oil, and gas are running out. Based on this, the global community needs to utilize non-conventional, sustainable energy resources as they can reduce the risks of the energy crisis.
The major advantage of renewable sources of energy is that they are infinite. Wind, solar, tidal, etc. energy sources are always available and can be used for an unlimited time. Conversely, non-renewable sources of energy, i.e., fossil or nuclear fuels, are accumulated in the Earth’s interior for a significant period. It means that depletable energy sources can run out someday. At the same time, renewable energy sources also play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (“Renewable Energy Explained”). When the rate of renewable energy use increases, the demand for the non-renewable ones decreases proportionally. The problem is that this category of energy is more expensive than fossil fuel energy. Moreover, resources may not always be available. For instance, clouds may hinder the production of electricity from solar panels, etc. New solutions are required to address these drawbacks.
To increase the availability of non-fossil energy, different types of existing sources must be explored. The primary sources of renewable energy include biomass (wood and waste), kinetic energy (wind and waves), and heat (sun and geothermal reservoirs). The sun and the wind are by far the most familiar sources of non-exhaustible energy nowadays. “Wind energy is harnessed into kinetic energy by turning panels that are designed and angled to catch as much wind as possible” (McGuffin). At the same time, the solar power is produced when photovoltaic panels convert the sun’s rays into electricity “by exciting electrons in silicon cells using the photons of light from the sun” (“How Do Solar Systems Produce Energy?”). These two types of sustainable power are associated with greater ecological advantages. Compared to biomass, they do not emit greenhouse gases directly. Still, biomass, e.g., wood and grass, may be much cheaper. Nevertheless, when the mode of production is appropriately selected for every area based on topographical characteristics, solar and wind energy systems can be cost-competitive. Moreover, decentralized, household-size technologies can result in more sustainable energy consumption.
Mudziwepasi and Scott state that localized renewable energy production technologies help reduce transmission cost and capacity loss. As a result, greater energy efficiency can be achieved. Along with the increased implementation of sustainable energy sources, energy efficiency is one of the primary solutions to the energy crisis. The energy crisis raises the issues of political, economic, and ecological security. Thus, nations should seek greater independence of fossils. The development of a conscious attitude towards energy consumption and nature as a whole can be of tremendous help in this. Through the collective efforts, green technologies and sustainable sources of energy must be promoted. For example, the widespread use of the solar/wind energy by local organizations can help to reduce the induced financial costs. In this way, renewable energy will become more affordable for home runners. As a result, it will be possible to attain environmental and energetic sustainability at both national and global levels.
Contemporary developmental tendencies are likely to increase the rate of power consumption in the future. Thus, the shift towards renewable energy sources can help avoid an inevitable energy crisis. Renewable energy sources are associated with multiple advantages. They cannot be exhausted and can increase ecological sustainability. However, compared to fossils and renewable biomass, wind and solar power systems are currently less affordable. The farther exploration of green energy production technologies and infrastructures will allow minimizing costs and increase energy consumption efficiency.
Works Cited
“How Do Solar Systems Produce Energy?” NW Wind & Solar, Web.
McGuffin, David. “Sources of Kinetic Energy.” Sciencing. 2017, Web.
Mudziwepasi, Shadreck, and M. S. Scott. “Towards the Exploration of Renewable Energy Technologies as an Alternative to Grid Extension for Rural Electrification in South Africa.” IEEE Xplore. 2014, Web.
“Renewable Energy Explained.” Energy Information Administration, Web.