Reasons why we don't use renewable energy all the time:
As we know that The burning of fossil fuels is dangerous and much of the world's energy relay on fossil fuels. Coal and natural gas are the most used power sources. In 1882 the first coal plant was introduced in US and since 1961 it’s the main source of energy. According to the Washington Post, there are about 1721 solar power plants in U.S that produce about 1 percent of total electric needs whereas 1793 natural gas power plants generating about 34 percent of total U.S energy needs.
Domestic use of renewable energy: Solar power adapters are successfully powering their entire homes and even vehicles with solar energy. In the American Southwest homeowners with solar panels on their roofs have the potential to make money by adding to the power grid. Why can’t we do this at scale? Why don’t we use renewable energy all the time?
Here are some of the reasons:
1) Competition to become NO.1 :
We are
currently in a global race
to figure out how we can power society without burning fossil fuels. The
further we continue down this path, the more irreparable damage is caused.
Resulting in more lives lost in natural disasters and less time on the planet
for future generations.
The
importance of adopting a sustainable energy source is crucial to the future of
the human race. We have two options if we want our species to continue our
existence: stop destroying Earth or find an alternative place to live.
2) Its too late:
Some
voices in the climate change community believe it is too late. We have passed
the point of no return. We will at least have to adapt to the major changes in
climate, making some regions uninhabitable.
NASA
believes there is still hope, and steps forward like mitigating our consumption
of energy and adapting to the changes in the climate can still save the planet,
or perhaps they just don’t want to be left with figuring out how to become
interplanetary.
3) Changes at a global level is difficult:
Getting
an entire planet to change how they live is a difficult task. The Swedes can
meet their goal of going of eliminating fossil fuels from electricity
generation by 2040 but can only lead by example. If the US, China, Russia, and
India still decide to keep burning fossil fuels or add to their consumption the
Polar ice caps don’t stand a chance.
4) Technology Barriers:
Technology
is also a concern. According to Axion Power, the Earth would need a solar farm the size of New
Mexico to supply its electricity needs. This isn’t taking in to count the area
for storage and transporting the energy around the world. But this analogy does
bring hope. It is possible to power the planet with solar power, but more
obstacles stand in the way.
Barriers for UK to go 100 percent green energy:
5) Massive Industries already in business:
The oil
and gas industry is massive. According to IBISWorld, the global market is
predicted to generate 3.3 trillion dollars, employ 4 million people, and
consists of 350,000 businesses. 3.3 T comes with political influence. Not to
mention hundreds of thousands of companies that need to increase profits the
following quarter.
The US
government gives away an estimated 20 billion dollars to its oil and gas
industry. The EU is estimated to hand out 55 billion.
6) Expensive energy:
Governments
play a major role in helping the energy sector become affordable to its
citizens. However, there still needs to be massive adoption on a personal
level. Renewables have to make sense for an average family economically.
Offering huge tax breaks is one way to get people to use renewables. Creating a
desirable, futuristic, and economically viable product is another way to get
people excited about alternative sources of energy.
Lately
in the US, we’ve watched federal government subsidies go away while companies
like Tesla and Audi develop products that people would want with or without
help from the government.
7) Hard to catch up with increasing demands:
Also, Fossil fuel energy can ramp up the upcoming demand for Power. Solar energy and other green sources of energy cannot do that. We need large capacitors and batteries to store these types of energy.
Renewable Energy is Inevitable:
Countries already using green energy:
Many
countries are already getting over 80% of their electricity from renewable
energy. Costa Rica is generating 95% of its electricity from hydro, geothermal,
and solar power. Scotland is using wind for 98% of its electrical power.
It is
possible to convert the world to renewable energy. Many smaller countries with
stable governments and efficient economies will be carbon neutral in the next
20 years. The world superpowers are going to have to cut back on the energy
they consume to avoid more severe global consequences.
The US
accounts for about 4% of the world population but almost 20% of the electricity
consumption.
When will the entire world switch to renewables?
Much of the responsibility
lies with the USA. Becoming free from fossil fuels is going to be a challenge
for the US, the Americans are currently going in the wrong direction.
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Consequences of Continuing to Burn Fossil Fuels:
While
the United States doesn’t have a federal plan to lower consumption or
greenhouse gasses, Colorado is experiencing record highs for January. Much of
the Western states saw unprecedented levels of destruction due to wildfires
just a few months ago. During hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center
ran out of letters in the alphabet to name tropical storms. This has only
happened twice in history.
More destruction and death are yet to come from climate change even if we were to become carbon neutral tomorrow. As citizens of Earth, we have an obligation to future generations. The only option is to start using renewable energy.
