Harvesting Renewable Energy
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. The planet is rapidly warming and, if the global community doesn’t face the facts and start taking tangible steps in the right direction, it’s going to have severe and irreversible consequences. Fortunately, modern society has plenty of tools available to limit and possibly reverse the effects of climate change; one of the most effective is harvesting renewable energy.
What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy is energy generated from natural sources that can be replenished over time. The growing prevalence of renewable energy technology is a direct result of the need for viable alternatives to non-renewable energy sources, such as coal and petroleum products, which are highly detrimental to our planet.
Common renewable sources of energy include solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal. They all have unique advantages and disadvantages, and their use varies across the world in accordance with local resources and market availability.
The Benefits of Renewable Energy
Harvesting renewable energy has numerous advantages over more traditional, non-renewable sources. First and foremost, renewable energy is much more environmentally-friendly than burning fossil fuels—it produces no greenhouse gases, Contributes significantly less pollution, and uses fewer natural resources. Both in terms of the atmosphere and the needs of growing populations, renewable energy is more beneficial and can help us cope with climate change in the long-term.
Another major benefit of renewable energy is that, in many cases, it’s cheaper to implement and maintain renewable energy solutions than non-renewable systems. Such solutions provide a greater degree of independence, as countries or regions need not rely on external sources for their energy. The alternative of increasing the amount of nuclear power plants is also out of the question due to the possible long-term environmental hazards.
Harnessing Renewable Energy for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
The increased emphasis on renewable energy has had a positive effect on the slow-moving effort to combat climate change and its many disruptive effects. Climate change is the result of global warming, and the global community needs to work together to reduce and eventually eliminate emissions that cause global warming. That’s where renewable energy comes in.
Renewable energy can help us shift away from fossil fuel consumption and reliance, and instead produce energy that is much cleaner and more resilient. By curbing consumption, we can reduce emissions and attempt to keep temperatures under control. Governments, organizations, and individuals can also use renewable energy to help adapt to the effects of climate change, such as more frequent natural disasters.
Renewable Energy Options
The world is full of renewable energy resources, some of which are now more common than ever, thanks to the adoption of expert green technology.
Solar energy is quite possibly the most prominent form of renewable energy. Solar panels collect and convert the sun’s rays into power for everything from offices to automobiles. Solar farms have been cropping up all over the world, including in Western Europe, China, and the United States, allowing municipalities to transition to greener grids.
Wind energy is another common form of renewable energy, and has been in practice since the middle of the 20th century. Generators capture the wind with turbines and convert it into energy. Countries such as Germany, the UK, and Denmark have invested heavily in generating power from wind turbines, and many companies are now producing household wind turbines for personal use.
Hydropower is a little less common due to its reliance on bodies of water, but is popular in certain parts of the United States and Europe. It’s being used to produce electricity in a variety of ways, from small rivers to vast dams and hydroelectric plants.
Geothermal energy is often thought to be the least accessible form of renewable energy, as it requires special conditions such as geothermal power plants and volcanic rock formations. It’s currently used to produce energy in countries like Iceland, the United States, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
Positioning Renewable Energy for a Brighter Future
Transitioning to renewable energy solutions is a necessity if we are to make any progress in reversing climate change. It’s an enormous undertaking and requires brave and decisive actions by government, businesses, and citizens alike. But it’s a project with tremendous potential and many rewards, both in terms of the immediate effects on our climate and in the long-term savings and opportunities it opens up.
It’s time for the global community to come together, face our fears, and make the move to a renewable, green future. Harnessing renewable energy is the first step in confronting climate change and inspiring real change for our planet.
