When it comes to renewable energy, there are two key benefits: environmental and economic.
environmental:
The most obvious benefit of renewable energy is that it is much cleaner than traditional fossil fuels. Burning coal, oil and natural gas releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO2) – the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.
Renewable energy sources, on the other hand, have a much lower environmental impact. Solar, wind and hydro power generate electricity with no emissions, while bioenergy – which can be used to generate heat, power and transport fuels – has a relatively low carbon footprint.
In fact, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the global renewable energy sector avoided the release of 2.0 gigatonnes (Gt) of CO2 in 2015 – the equivalent of taking almost 1 billion cars off the road.
That’s a significant amount, but it’s still only a small fraction of the total emissions reductions needed to meet global climate goals. The Paris Agreement, for example, calls for greenhouse gas emissions to be cut in half by 2050.
Fortunately, the world is making progress on this front. According to IRENA, the share of renewable energy in the global power mix is expected to increase from 24% in 2019 to 30% by 2030, as the cost of renewable technologies continues to fall.
economic:
In addition to being cleaner, renewable energy is also becoming increasingly cheaper. The cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, for example, has fallen by more than 90% since 2010, while the cost of wind turbines has dropped by 50% over the same period.
As a result, renewable energy is becoming increasingly competitive with traditional fossil fuels. In some cases, it’s even cheaper.
This is good news for both consumers and businesses. For consumers, it means lower electricity bills. For businesses, it means lower production costs. And for the economy as a whole, it means more jobs and economic growth.
According to IRENA, the global renewable energy sector employed 11 million people in 2019, and this is expected to increase to 30 million by 2030.
So, there are a lot of good reasons to switch to renewable energy. It’s cleaner, it’s cheaper and it’s good for the economy.
Other related questions:
Q: How much does renewable energy reduce CO2?
A: There is no simple answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including the type of renewable energy source, the efficiency of the technology, and the carbon intensity of the grid it is connected to. In general, however, renewable energy sources tend to emit far less carbon dioxide than traditional fossil fuel-based power generation technologies.
Q: How does renewable energy help reduce carbon emissions?
A: Renewable energy helps reduce carbon emissions by providing a cleaner and more sustainable source of energy. Solar, wind, and hydro power are all renewable sources of energy that produce little to no carbon emissions, making them a great option for reducing your carbon footprint.
Q: How much does renewable energy reduce pollution?
A: There is no one answer to this question as the amount of pollution reduction that can be achieved through the use of renewable energy depends on a number of factors, including the specific renewable energy technology being used, the efficiency of that technology, and the mix of other energy sources in the overall energy system. However, in general, renewable energy sources produce far less pollution than traditional fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.
Q: How much CO2 does solar energy reduce?
A: There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including the specific type of solar energy system being used, its location, and the amount of sunlight it receives. However, it is generally agreed that solar energy can significantly reduce CO2 emissions, especially when compared to traditional energy sources such as coal and natural gas.