Lesson #3
Sustainable energy solutions
Let’s do a quick recap of what we learned in Lesson 2.
- We understood about renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.
Renewable energy sources are environment-friendly and sustainable energy solutions. They replenish themselves over time.
The various types of renewable energy are Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Hydropower, Biomass Energy, and Geothermal Energy.
Let us now look at the various benefits
It includes any energy source that will remain forever and that cannot be depleted. It meets our energy demands without the possibility of it ever running out. It is environment friendly and there is no energy cost except the cost associated with the initial setup.
Examples of sustainable energy sources include wind, solar, hydropower, and geothermal energy.
While sustainable and renewable energy terms are used interchangeably the difference between both is the possibility of replenishment. Sustainable energy sources like solar and wind will never be exhausted but renewable energy sources like bioenergy which uses agricultural byproducts can get exhausted.
Let us now look at what is sustainable energy and the various benefits of sustainable energy solutions.
1. Reduced Greenhouse Gases is one of the key benefits of using sustainable energy sources & the biggest contributor to combating climate change.
2. The reduction in greenhouse gases improves Air Quality significantly. Choosing renewable energy sources reduces smog and air pollution and results in better public health.
3. Renewable energy sources are more cost-effective than nonrenewable energy sources in the long term.
4. The diversification of the energy portfolio with sustainable energy sources increases energy reliability during unforeseen events. By definition, it is the most reliable form of energy which will never deplete.
5. Development of Rural Economies – quite a few renewable energy projects are located in rural areas and thus provide economic opportunities for the local communities.
6. Renewable energy technologies are not water intensive compared to fossil fuel power plants- thus this helps in conserving water resources.
Diversification of energy mix
The diversification of a country’s resources is called its energy mix.
Diversification protects a country against any energy shock. Crude oil, coal, natural gas are all commodities and are subject to market risks. The demand supply mismatches can result in
price shocks and there could be disruptions in supply. Any diversification helps to manage any shortfall in an energy source by increasing the use of an alternate source like solar
energy.
Thus diversification is important for energy security.
The exceptions to this are nations that supply themselves with all their consumption. A country that largely imports its energy requirements should take into all the factors that can disrupt the energy supply.
Diplomatic relations, conflicts and political situations are important factors for importing countries.
A lot of countries import oil from the Middle East and because of the overdependency, any political conflict in these regions could disrupt production for a long time and increase prices substantially.
Need to transition to sustainable energy solutions on global landscape
The climate change indicators of green house gas emissions, sea level rise, ocean heat and ocean acidification are setting new records every year.
It is imperative to tackle this crisis by reducing our reliance on energy generated from fossil fuels.
The transition requires collaboration by all international countries. The Paris Agreement shows the need to work together to reduce emissions and promote sustainable energy solutions on a global scale.
Suggested Activities
Research on the below-mentioned activities will give you a further understanding of the benefits and challenges of each source of sustainable energy.
- Write a discussion paper on solar energy and its limitations with respect to availability of sunlight and energy storage. Explore the environmental impact on reduction of carbon emissions and importance of following sustainability throughout the life cycle of solar electricity generation including disposal of solar panels.
- Think about the benefits and challenges of wind energy . Discuss the challenges with respect to the intermittency of wind and the impact on wildlife.
- Write a report on the potential of geothermal energy in various regions and the potential to
scale it and possibility to integrate it with various other renewable energy sources.
- Write a research paper on biomass energy and hydropower including its benefits, challenges
and potential for energy production.
Additional Learning Resources
- Geothermal energy (Britannica)
- Renewable Energy 101: How Does Biomass Energy Work?