As the world progresses, it is important to find more sustainable and environmentally friendly sources of energy. Renewable energy is one of the most promising options for achieving this goal. There are many benefits of renewable energy, including the fact that it is sustainable, cleaner and more efficient than traditional sources of energy. Additionally, renewable energy is a significant way of increasing job opportunities and stimulating economic growth. In order to fully realize the benefits of green energy, there is a dire need to make changes to the current infrastructure. This includes investing in renewable energy technologies and developing a more robust grid that can accommodate renewable energy sources. With the right policies in place, renewable energy can be a crucial tool in helping to achieve a more sustainable future.
Sustainability of Renewable Energy
Sustainability refers to the capability of an aspect to ensure effectiveness in meeting the current demands of society while still maintaining viability for the future society (Pezzey, 2017). In other words, it is about making sure that the current generations do not use up more resources than the planet can replace and that they do not damage the Environment so badly that it cannot support human life in the future. The challenge of sustainability has long been a concern of the renewable energy industry. As the population continues to grow and the demand for energy increases, the need for sustainable energy sources becomes more pressing. As such, the use of renewable energy is one way to address this challenge.
It is now widely recognized that renewable energy can make significant contributions to sustainable development. A number of studies have quantified the benefits of renewable energy. One study found that a global transition to renewable energy could save up to US$ 160 trillion in cumulative energy system costs between 2010 and 2050 (Gielen et al., 2019). Additionally, the study determined that renewable energy could make up almost 80% of the world’s energy mix by 2050 and would result in annual savings of US$ 1.4 trillion (Gielen et al., 2019). Achieving a high renewable energy share is feasible and would result in significant socio-economic benefits. A global transition to renewable energy is an essential element of sustainable development.
Several other studies resonate with the fact that renewable energy has many benefits, one of which is sustainability. When renewable energy is used, it lessens reliance on fossil fuels, which are a finite resource. According to Güney (2019), the main reason for promoting renewable energy utilization is due to its ability to replenish itself and its environmental benefits. These environmental benefits can be in the form of minimizing carbon emissions and environmental pollution and saving water.
Specifically, the utilization of various forms of renewable energy can help to save water. This idea is advanced by Jamil et al. (2016), which determined that utilizing various forms of renewable energy can help to improve the sustainability of water. According to the study, in America, the use of renewable energy can help to save approximately 21 billion gallons of water per year (Jamil et al., 2016). This is equivalent to the annual water use of approximately 200,000 households. The environmental benefits of renewable energy make it a sustainable energy source. Essentially, these environmental benefits make renewable energy a sustainable energy source.
Environmental friendliness of Renewable Energy
One of the primary benefits of renewable energy is that it is much more environmentally friendly than traditional power generation methods. Renewable energy is often thought of as clean energy because it does not produce pollution (Güney, 2019). The consistent use of traditional forms of energy is the biggest contributor to air pollution, which in turn, has devastating effects on plant and animal life. These pollutants are also a major contributor to climate change as it traps heat in the ozone and causes the Earth to warm (Abas et al., 2015). Renewable energy, on the other hand, does not release pollution into the air.
Barbosa et al. (2017) support the idea that the widespread adoption of renewable energy can help to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. The study found that, in the United States, renewable energy forms such as wind and solar PV accounted for 11% of the electricity generated in 2017 while avoiding the emissions of approximately 664 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (Barbosa et al., 2017). This is equivalent to the emissions from 144 million passenger vehicles. These figures indicate the immense potential of renewable energy in ensuring environmental preservation, which is a key aspect of sustainability.
Additionally, the adoption of renewable energy can be significant in minimizing carbon emissions significantly. This is evident from a study by the University of Cambridge, which analyzed the life cycle emissions of different energy sources, including both renewable and non-renewable options. According to the findings, renewable energy forms have a significantly lower carbon footprint than fossil fuels (Musa et al., 2018). For example, the carbon footprint of coal is more than 100 times greater than that of solar PV (Musa et al., 2018). Not only does renewable energy have a smaller carbon footprint than fossil fuels, but it also does not produce other harmful pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These astounding figures are a stark depiction of the immense benefits of renewable energy to the Environment, particularly in the campaign for sustainability.
Cleanliness and Efficiency of Renewable Energy
There is a growing body of literature that demonstrates the advantages of renewable forms of energy in terms of cleanliness and efficiency. For example, a recent study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that renewable energy could help the United States avoid up to 1,700 premature deaths each year and achieve $463 billion in health and climate benefits by 2050 (Shahsavari & Akbari, 2018). The study found that a shift to renewable energy would result in cleaner air and water and lead to fewer cases of respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and strokes (Shahsavari & Akbari, 2018). These optimistic figures are supported by several other studies, particularly by Gamarra et al. (2021). In their study, the researchers determined that a global shift to renewable energy could avoid up to 3.7 million premature deaths each year by 2030 (Gamarra et al., 2021). These studies provide stark evidence supporting the role of renewable energy in enhancing a clean and efficient environment. Accordingly, it establishes the critical role of renewable energy in promoting sustainability.
In addition to being cleaner, renewable energy is also more efficient than traditional forms of energy. Jacobson et al. (2015) posit that a shift to renewable energy would result in significant savings in energy costs. According to this study, the United States could save up to $473 billion in energy costs by 2050 (Jacobson et al.,2015). Essentially, this study asserts the significance of promoting the widespread adoption of renewable energy as a sustainable solution to efficiency in the energy sector. This is a clear indication that renewable energy is cleaner and more efficient than traditional forms of energy and can help to improve the health of people and the Environment.
Renewable Energy’s Potential to create jobs
There is a growing body of literature that posits that the renewable energy sector could create millions of jobs around the world if adopted on a large scale. Several researchers resonate with the idea that renewable energy is an essential step to increasing job opportunities globally. In order to depict this, Teske (2019) conducted a study to ascertain the potential of renewable energy in the job industry in America. The findings indicate that In the United States alone, the renewable energy sector employs over 700,000 people, and that number is expected to grow to over 3 million by 2030 (Teske et al., 2019). Several other researchers also support the move towards renewable energy in creating job opportunities.
For example, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) approximates that the worldwide adoption of renewable energy could create up to 42 million jobs by 2050 (Ram et al., 2022). This is because renewable energy technologies are still relatively new and require a lot of work to build and install. However, as the renewable energy sector grows and matures, more jobs will be created in operations and maintenance, as well as in manufacturing (Ram et al., 2022). Besides, a similar study by the World Bank indicates that renewable energy can help reduce poverty by providing energy access to those who are living in energy poverty. The study indicates that there are 1.1 billion people who do not have access to electricity and 2.7 billion individuals who lack proper access to efficient basic facilities. As such, renewable energy could go a long way in eradicating such deficiencies and provide more innovative ways for such individuals to have a source of income, further promoting the sustainability benefits of renewable energy.
Renewable Energy in Stimulating economic growth
The potential for renewable energy to stimulate economic growth has been widely discussed in the literature. There is evidence that renewable energy can be an important driver of economic growth. A number of studies have found that renewable energy can be essential in enhancing economic growth through a variety of mechanisms. Renewable energy is a rapidly growing industry, with the number of jobs in the solar industry increasing significantly. According to Layke & Hutchinson (2020), this growth is expected to continue, with solar energy alone projected to create nearly half a million jobs by 2050. This is in tandem with a study by the Environmental Defense Fund, which found that doubling the amount of renewable energy in the United States would result in the creation of 1.2 million jobs (Pociovălișteanu et al., 2015). Since jobs are an important indicator of economic growth, these figures depict the significant role of renewable energy in ensuring a sustainable economy.
Essentially, as renewable energy becomes more widespread, these cost savings are expected to increase, making renewable energy an important tool for reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth. Consequently, this can also help to attract investment and spur economic growth. For example, China has invested billions of dollars in renewable energy, and this investment has helped to make China the global leader in manufacturing solar panels (Sahu, 2015). Sahu (2015) advances that this investment has also helped to create jobs and spur economic growth in other countries that supply components for China’s solar industry. In general, renewable energy has the potential to facilitate economic growth by creating jobs, reducing energy costs, and increasing investment, which makes up the fundamental tenets of sustainability.
Current infrastructure
The need for a change in infrastructure to accommodate renewable energy is evident. The world is moving towards renewable energy, whether it be through solar, wind, or hydropower. Many countries have pledged to move away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy in order to combat climate change (Sen & Ganguly, 2017). This shift will require a change in infrastructure, as the current infrastructure is not designed to accommodate renewable energy.
Kroposki et al. (2017) provide essential information regarding the need for a change in infrastructure to accommodate renewable energy adoption. According to the study, the current electric grid is not designed to accommodate large amounts of renewable energy (Kroposki et al., 2017). The study asserts that the grid is not able to handle the variability of renewable energy, which can lead to blackouts. The study also found that the current grid does not have the capacity to store renewable energy, which is necessary for unsuitable weather conditions (Kroposki et al., 2017). This is a clear indication that the current infrastructure is not designed to accommodate renewable energy. Accordingly, a change in infrastructure is necessary in order to accommodate the world’s move towards renewable energy.
One pragmatic approach is to develop strategic policies to help change the infrastructure to accommodate the expansion and global adoption of green energy. It is important to note that much of the growth in the renewable energy sector has been driven by policy. In the United States, for example, Bushnell & Novan (2018) posit that federal and state policies have been instrumental in the expansion of renewable energy in the United States. The significance of policies in supporting the change of infrastructure for accommodating renewable energy is undeniable. This is supported by several researchers, indicating the great potential of policies to support this transition.
A number of studies have examined the impact of policies on the expansion of renewable energy. For example, Jang (2021) asserts that, in the United States, state-level renewable portfolio standards (RPS) policies have been the most important policy drivers of renewable energy expansion. According to this study, from 2001 to 2016, these policies resulted in the addition of nearly 158 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity, or about 60% of all renewable energy capacity added in the United States during that time period (Jang, 2021). Overall, the studies show that policies are needed to enable a rapid transition to renewable energy. RPS policies have been shown to be the most effective policy drivers of renewable energy expansion. A mix of policies is needed to achieve a deep and rapid transition to renewable energy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the benefits of renewable energy are clear. It is a sustainable, environmentally friendly and efficient source of energy. Additionally, green energy adoption could create jobs and stimulate economic growth. However, in order to fully realize its benefits, it is imperative to make changes to the current infrastructure. This includes investing in renewable energy technologies and developing a more robust grid that can accommodate renewable energy sources. With the right policies in place, renewable energy can be a key factor in helping to achieve a more sustainable future.
References
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