The Current Energy Landscape in Hong Kong

As of today, Hong Kong relies heavily on non-renewable sources like coal and natural gas for its energy, historically powering the city’s needs but causing environmental issues. Currently, less than 2% of its energy is from renewables, emphasising the urgent shift towards cleaner energy to combat pollution and emissions.

As Hong Kong grows, addressing these environmental concerns alongside energy demands is a complex challenge. It necessitates strategic investment in renewable energy infrastructure and technologies, marking a vital step towards a greener and more sustainable energy landscape.

Progress Towards Renewable Energy

The good news is that Hong Kong has been making notable strides in transitioning to renewable energy sources. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in solar power installations across the city. Rooftop solar panels, solar farms, and innovative projects have contributed to this upward trend.

Solar Power in the Concrete Jungle

Despite its dense urban environment and the popularity of Hong Kong betting sites, Hong Kong effectively harnesses solar power through installations on skyscrapers and open spaces. These projects demonstrate renewable energy’s viability in urban areas, reducing the city’s carbon footprint and inspiring others. Hong Kong’s commitment to sustainability and innovation shines through these solar initiatives, showcasing that even amid towering buildings, clean energy can seamlessly integrate. This not only promotes a greener future for the city but also inspires global urban centers to pursue similar renewable energy solutions, collectively combating climate change and reducing fossil fuel dependence.

Wind Energy Potential in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s coastal location and favorable winds make it ideal for wind energy. Multiple projects, focused on harnessing the South China Sea breeze, are in planning and development. This aligns with China’s growing offshore wind power trend, leveraging abundant coastal wind resources. Policies and strategies promote effective renewable energy utilization.

These projects promote cleaner energy and support global climate efforts by reducing fossil fuel dependence. They also highlight Hong Kong’s dedication to renewable energy and its potential as a sustainable urban development leader.

Challenges in Scaling Renewable Energy

While progress is evident, scaling up renewable energy in Hong Kong is not without its challenges. Financial barriers, technical limitations, and regulatory complexities often slow down the transition.

Energy Efficiency Measures

To boost renewable energy adoption, there’s a growing focus on improving energy efficiency. Innovative technologies and conservation efforts are actively reducing energy use, notably in buildings and industries. Research highlights the role of technology ownership in adopting these measures, especially in residential areas. 

The Role of Public Awareness

Public support and awareness are pivotal in Hong Kong’s renewable energy journey. Educational campaigns and initiatives, such as waste reduction and improved information systems, drive sustainable practices. Entities like HK Electric actively engage the community in building a greener and more sustainable Hong Kong. These efforts emphasise the role of education and public engagement in the quest for renewable energy.

International Cooperation

Hong Kong collaborates with neighbouring regions in its renewable energy efforts, promoting knowledge exchange and shared solutions. This aligns with global calls for international cooperation to address climate change and promote alternative energy sources. Such collaborations help advance renewable energy’s role in sustainable development, particularly among energy providers. These global partnerships emphasise the importance of collective efforts in achieving sustainable energy goals.

Policy Recommendations

To expedite the transition to renewable energy, policymakers can employ various strategies. These include implementing incentives, streamlining regulations, and increasing funding for renewable sources like hydropower, wind, solar, and geothermal energy. Sustainable energy policies, emphasising incentives, streamlined regulations, and funding, play a pivotal role in this transition. Policymakers must also acknowledge that this transition necessitates ambitious policy support and investments to create jobs in the renewable energy sector.

The Economic Aspect

Apart from environmental benefits, renewable energy also holds economic promise for Hong Kong. By investing in renewable technologies, the city can create jobs, reduce energy costs, and bolster its position as a sustainable business hub.

Case Studies

Numerous Hong Kong businesses have adopted renewable energy solutions, as evident from various case studies offering insights into their economic viability and positive impacts. These studies, despite the challenges posed by Hong Kong’s urban environment, highlight the potential of solar, wind, and waste-to-energy solutions. Research extends beyond Hong Kong, examining solar integration in European cities and the willingness to adopt renewables in Western China. Together, these case studies emphasise the importance of renewable energy adoption, informing policies, and promoting sustainability locally and globally.

The Way Forward

Hong Kong’s renewable energy journey is a mix of progress and challenges. The city has shown remarkable determination in transitioning towards cleaner energy sources, but there is still much work to be done. With the right policies, public support, and international collaborations, Hong Kong can continue on its path towards a greener and more sustainable future.

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We put this guide together with Kara Johnson CEO of PaydayBears, a leading provider of cash advance online loans to customers. He guaranteed us that borrowing loans is easy with the company, as clients don’t have to worry about poor credit or bad credit scores.

So, if you need financial aid to help plan home renewable energy systems, you might as well get to it with this assurance. Let’s talk about how to plan on a friendly budget here.

Below are some expert tips to keep in mind while planning for home renewable energy systems.

Discover Electricity Needs

Getting a home renewable energy system means discovering your electricity needs. You need to calculate this factor to get the most appropriate home technology effectively. In fact, it will help in determining the device’s size and energy usage.

A proper way to discover electricity needs is to perform a load analysis using the Watt-recording method. It involves measuring how much power is consumed when all devices (or electrical appliances) are connected to your home’s central power source. Find out those that remain connected for longer and those that are only plugged in short-term. The former is a non-selectable load, while the latter is a selectable load.

If you’ve recorded these parameters (wattage), you can discover how much electricity is consumed per the hours used daily. Whatever data you get, you can buy an energy system that meets electricity needs equivalent (or less) to selectable loads. 

Understand Local Community Requirements and Codes

After you understand how much electricity you will need to power the renewable energy system, you should also find out your local community’s requirements and codes. Every county or state has a list of conditions that must be met to use a home energy system. These conditions or requirements include a specific energy limit and the installation procedure. There are also some building codes to follow – you can always check with a building office to know these requirements.

And to ensure that people comply with these standards, local counties have electrical inspectors to verify building safety. They inspect buildings occasionally. A good renewable device for homes will always meet the National Electrical Code (NEC) systems’ technical standards. 

Choose a Good Renewable Energy Technology

Another factor to consider is the specific renewable energy technology. This criterion comes after discovering your building’s system requirements and electricity needs. Renewable energy systems could be solar, wind, hydropower, or hybrids. Depending on your needs, you should select a good option, especially after understanding how it works and the maintenance cost.

Since you are on a budget, you should only choose affordable but effective options online. You could even choose from brands that provide additional services, such as installation and maintenance, to save costs. Check out online reviews about home renewable energy technology brands and affirm they are perfect. 

The System’s Connection

The system’s connection is also important when choosing renewable energy technology. It simply involves how you choose to connect the device for use.

For instance, there are two main types – a stand-alone (or off-grid) and a grid connection system. The former connects the renewable device to an alternative electricity source, while the latter connects to a power grid.

Most people opt-in for grid connection because it allows them to sell additional power to their electricity provider. The only con is that electricity transmission often requires a balance-of-system component (such as a controller or a battery). 

As long as you remember these tips, you shouldn’t have a problem planning for a budget-friendly home renewable energy system.

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Energy consumption has rapidly increased since the 1950s, notably due to economic development, advancement of technology, and an increase in population.

The world’s population is estimated at 8 billion compared to 2.5 billion people in 1950.

Global energy consumption in 2021 was about 176,431 terawatt-hours compared to the 28,564 terawatt-hours consumed in 1950. A report by Economic Intelligence (EIU) predicted it to grow further by 1.3% in 2023.

The increase in energy consumption and the resulting climate risk have raised concerns across nations. Renewable power, a low-carbon source, has been discovered to be a better source of power generation as it is environmentally friendly.

What Is Renewable Energy?

Renewal energy is derived from replenishable natural sources. The rate at which the energy is consumed is usually lower than the rate it is replenished hence causing no harm to nature.

Sources of renewable energy;

• Solar energy (the most abundant)
• Wind energy
• Ocean energy
• Bioenergy
• Geothermal energy
• Hydropower

What Other Power Generation Alternatives Are Available?

Generally, energy sources are divided into three: fossil fuels, natural gas, and renewable energy.

As of 2020, only 12% of the global energy is from renewable energy. Nuclear energy, another low-carbon source, accounts for only 4%, while fossil fuels account for the remaining 84%.

Fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are hydrocarbon-containing materials formed from the remains of ancient organisms. They generate the most energy consumed globally. Also, based on availability, their power generation percentage varies from country to country.

The most common fossil fuels include;

Coal

It is one of the most used energy sources globally and the second-largest energy source for U.S. electricity generation in 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (IEA). Power generated from coal in the U.S. was about 22%.

Natural gas

Natural gas accounts for about 30% of the energy used in the U.S., with 40% used in electric power production and the remaining split between residential and commercial uses like cooking and heating.

Oil

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), oil is the most used energy source in the world as of 2019. It accounts for about 40.4% of total final consumption by source.

Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy, also called atomic energy, is released from the nucleus, the core of atoms. The nucleus comprises protons and neutrons.

The energy is produced either by fission or fusion. Fission is when the nuclei of atoms split into several parts, while fusion is when they fuse.

Nuclear energy, like renewable energy sources, is a low-carbon source.

Cost of Renewable Power Generation in 2023

At the time of invention, renewable power generation was considered expensive and not cost-effective compared to other power generation sources despite its numerous benefits.

Factors that contributed to the high cost at the time were;

• Merchant monopoly: Only a few companies worldwide are invested in renewable energy production compared to alternative energy sources. The few companies can change prices at will since there was little to no competition.
• Installation: Compared to alternatives, efficiently installing renewable energy in an urban area is tougher. Unlike giant wind turbines and hydropower dams, factories using fossil fuels can be easily cited close to a bustling metropolis.
• Cost of operation: With the energy-generating plants cited far away from residential areas, it would cost a lot to run wires to distribute the energy generated from these renewable energy sources.

However, this has changed, notably due to the increased use of solar power generation, which is easier to install and distribute.

Likewise, solar photovoltaic (solar PV) module prices recorded a 90% reduction since 2009, while wind turbine prices have fallen by 49-78% since 2010. 

There is also increased investment in renewable energy as more governmental policies are implemented yearly to tackle climate challenges.

A 2022 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency Renewable (IREA) revealed that renewable energy is the world’s cheapest energy source.

In 2010, electricity generated from solar PV cost an average of $378. This significantly reduced to just $68 in 2019. Similarly, onshore wind costs about $86 in 2010 and tumbled to $53 in 2019.

This trend will continue in 2023 as more industries embrace renewable power generation against non-renewables. Governmental policies will also promote its adoption.

Conclusion

The cost of capital (CoC) for renewable power generation is a key determinant of consumer cost. More research and innovations will undoubtedly reduce the cost of renewable power generation and its usage. 

With an increase in the number of industry players, more competition will invariably reduce the cost charged to consumers.

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If renewable energy technologies are to become a global public good, that is, accessible to all, not just the wealthy, barriers to knowledge sharing and technology transfer, including intellectual property rights barriers, must be removed.

Critical technologies, such as battery systems, allow energy to be stored from renewable sources, such as the sun and wind, and released when people, communities and businesses need power. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, they help increase the flexibility of the energy system because of their unique ability to quickly absorb, retain and release power again.

In addition, when combined with renewable energy sources, battery technologies can provide a reliable supply of cheaper electricity in isolated grids and in communities from remote areas not connected to the general power grid.

Improved global access to components and raw materials

Reliable supplies of components and raw materials for renewable energy are critical. Greater access to all major components and raw materials, from the minerals needed to build wind turbines and power grids to electric vehicles, will be key.

A significant international coordination effort will be required to expand and diversify production capacity worldwide. In addition, more investment is needed to ensure a just transition, including in human skills training, research and innovation, and incentives to create supply chains based on sustainable practices that protect ecosystems and cultures.

Level the playing field for renewable energy technologies

Global cooperation and coordination are critical, but domestic policy mechanisms need to be reformed as soon as possible to streamline and accelerate renewable energy projects and encourage private sector investment.

The technology, capacity and means to transition to renewable energy exist, but policies and procedures need to be developed to reduce market risk and create conditions and incentives for investment, including by streamlining planning, permitting and regulatory processes, as well as by taking steps to avoid bottlenecks and bureaucratic problems. This could include the allocation of sites for large-scale construction in special renewable energy zones.

Nationally determined contributions – individual country climate action plans focused on reducing emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change – should set renewable energy targets in line with the idea of a 1.5 C warming limit, and the share of renewable energy in global electricity production should increase from the current 29 percent to 60 percent by 2030.

Clear and reliable strategies, transparent processes, public support, and the availability of modern energy transmission systems are key to the early adoption of wind and solar energy technologies.

Shifting energy subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables

Fossil fuel subsidies are one of the biggest financial barriers to switching to renewable energy worldwide. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) claims that about $5.9 trillion was spent on fossil fuel industry subsidies in 2020 alone. This includes direct subsidies and tax credits, and in the form of public health and environmental damage that has not been factored into the cost of fossil fuels. This is roughly equivalent to $11 billion. This equates to about $11 billion per day.

The provision of fossil fuel subsidies is both inefficient and unfair. According to the IMF, in developing countries, about half of the public resources spent to support fossil fuel consumption benefit the top 20 percent of the population.

Shifting subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy not only reduces emissions, but also promotes sustainable economic growth, job creation, improved health, and greater equity, especially for the poor and most vulnerable around the world.

Triple investment in renewable energy

By 2030, at least $4 trillion must be invested in renewable energy, including technology and infrastructure. This investment is much smaller than the annual subsidies for fossil fuels.

This investment is far less than the annual subsidies for fossil fuels, but it will pay off. Reducing pollution and climate impacts alone could save the world up to $4.2 trillion per year by 2030. It could save the world up to $4.2 trillion a year by 2030.

The funding is there – commitment and accountability are needed, especially from the global financial systems, including multilateral development banks and other public and private financial institutions, which must align their loan portfolios with the idea of an early transition to renewable energy.

Renewable energy is the only way to real energy security, stable energy prices, and sustainable employment opportunities.

The post Five Ways to Accelerate the Transition to Renewable Energy at This Stage appeared first on Aswarm.

Much of the greenhouse gases that cover the earth and trap solar heat are generated in energy production, where fossil fuels are burned to produce electricity and heat.

Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas are by far the largest contributors to global climate change, accounting for more than 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions.

The science is clear that to avoid the worst effects of climate change, we need to cut emissions by nearly half by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

To achieve this goal, we need to end our dependence on fossil fuels and invest in alternative energy sources that are clean, affordable, accessible, sustainable and reliable.

Renewable energy sources, which are abundant around us from the sun, wind, water, waste, and heat of the earth, replenish themselves naturally and emit virtually no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the atmosphere.

Fossil fuels still account for more than 80 percent of the world’s energy production, but cleaner energy sources are gradually gaining ground. About 29 percent of electricity now comes from renewable sources.

Here are five reasons why accelerating the transition to clean energy is the way to a healthy and livable planet for those living today and for future generations.

Renewable energy is all around us

About 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries that are net importers of fossil fuels – about 6 billion people who depend on fossil fuels from other countries and are therefore vulnerable to geopolitical shocks and crises.

Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are available in all countries, and their full potential has yet to be tapped. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that by 2050, 90 percent of the world’s electricity can and must come from renewable sources.

Renewable energy breaks away from import dependency by enabling countries to diversify their economies and protect them from unpredictable fluctuations in fossil fuel prices, while stimulating inclusive economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation activities.

Renewable energy is cheaper

Today, the use of renewable energy is actually the cheapest energy option in most regions of the world. Prices for renewable energy technologies are falling rapidly. Between 2010 and 2020, the cost of electricity from solar panels dropped by 85 percent. The cost of onshore and offshore wind power fell by 56 percent and 48 percent, respectively.

Falling prices make renewables more attractive to everyone, including low- and middle-income countries, which will account for most of the additional demand for new electricity. With lower costs, it is likely that low-carbon sources will account for a significant portion of new electricity supply in the coming years.

By 2030, cheap electricity from renewable sources could provide 65 percent of the world’s electricity supply. This would decarbonize the energy sector by 90 percent by 2050, significantly reducing carbon emissions and helping to mitigate climate change.

The cost of solar and wind power is expected to continue to exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and 2023 due to general increases in commodity and transportation prices, but the International Energy Agency (IEA) argues that their actual competitiveness is improving due to much faster increases in gas and coal prices.

Renewable energy is a healthier alternative

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 99 percent of the world’s population breathes air with quality parameters that exceed permissible limits and threaten human health, and more than 13 million annual deaths worldwide are attributable to preventable environmental causes, including air pollution.

Harmful levels of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide are primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels. In 2018, air pollution from fossil fuels resulted in health and economic costs of $2.9 trillion. This corresponded to an estimated $8 billion in health and economic costs. That’s about $8 billion per day.

Thus, switching to clean energy sources, such as wind and solar, helps address not only climate change, but also air pollution and declining public health.

Renewable energy creates jobs

Every dollar invested in renewable energy creates three times as many jobs as investments in the fossil fuel industry. The IEA estimates that a transition to net zero emissions would result in an overall increase in energy sector jobs: by 2030, about 5 million jobs could be lost in the fossil fuel industry, while about 14 million jobs would increase in the clean energy industry, resulting in a net gain of 9 million jobs.

In addition, energy-related industries will require an additional 16 million workers, such as new roles in electric vehicles and super-efficient appliances or innovative technologies such as hydrogen technology. This means that by 2030, a total of more than 30 million jobs could be created in the areas of clean energy and high-efficiency, low-emission technologies.

Organizing a just energy transition that puts people’s needs and rights first will be paramount to ensure that no one is left behind.

Using renewable energy is economically feasible

In 2020, about $5.9 trillion was spent to subsidize the fossil fuel industry. This includes direct subsidies and tax credits and the damage to public health and the environment that has not been factored into the cost of fossil fuels.

By comparison, about $4 trillion needs to be invested in renewable energy, including technology and infrastructure, by 2030. The cost would be about $4 trillion per year to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The initial costs may seem prohibitive for many resource-limited countries, and a significant number of them will need financial and technical support to make the transition. But investing in renewable energy will pay off. Reducing pollution and climate impacts alone could save the world up to $4.2 trillion per year by 2030. It could save the world up to $4.2 trillion per year by 2030.

In addition, efficient and reliable renewable energy technologies can create a system less susceptible to market shocks and increase resilience and energy security by diversifying energy supplies.

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Just one year ago, wind power exceeded 369,553 gigawatts and total energy production is growing rapidly and accounts for 4 percent of the total electricity used on the planet. And while the 17 GW installed in 2014 was already a big achievement, it reached 21.7 GW in the first half of 2015, giving us a global capacity of 392 GW, and about 428 GW by the end of this year.

Global capacity grew in the first months of 2015. by 5.8 percent after reaching 5.3 percent in 2015 and 4.9 percent in 2013 over the same period. When you consider that in 2014 the annual growth rate was 16.5 percent, so by mid-2015 it will reach 16.8 percent, we can know about the excellent year we are sticking to in 2015.

This increase in wind energy is due mainly to the economic benefits From this source – increased competitiveness, uncertainty in global oil and gas supplies and the need to transition to clean and sustainable technologies over time.

The wind industry is now driven by a large number of industries large capacity, energy cooperatives for environmental groups. It is known that even more diversity will be needed to make this type of power source more successful.

As of the end of June 2015, the largest installed wind power capacity is China in first place, followed by the United States in second and Germany in third.

China has 124 GW this year, and has grown by 10 GW since 2014 and 44 GW since 2013. Continuous growth that partly helps solve pollution problems, although more money will need to be invested in this type of source to be able to actually reduce them.

The United States is next with an installed capacity of 67 GW A since 2013, in just two years, its capacity has increased by 8 GW with real stagnation, which of course can be seen in Germany, India and Spain, compared to the tremendous growth in China.

In addition to the major forces in wind power, one must cite Brazil, which showed the highest growth rate of all markets with 14% -growth in 2015.

As a negative, we find several European markets. that have been paralyzed, what will happen to Germany when certain rule changes come into effect in the next two years, which will reduce its wind power capacity.

China is expected to have 2025 GW by 347.2 with annual installations reaching 56.8 GW. Something very important about what this type of energy will mean for this country.

And although China is now at the peak of this type of energy, it is really in a period of stagnation. The numbers are available By 2025, the world will exceed 962.6 GW and that means that China, even with this setback, will be one of the major players on the planet in this type of energy.

It was predicted this year that China will not only be ranked as the largest installer of wind energy by 2015, but will also continue to lead the sector in 2016.

Other countries that will be vital

India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and Taiwan. will increase their capacity from 148.2 GW in 2014 to 437.8 GW with a global share of 45.5%.

Other major countries For wind power success Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico will add 45.6 GW. We have already talked about Uruguay and Costa Rica as two of the greatest examples of policies that allow this type of clean energy to develop, which is vital for our future.

Key wind energy for the energy of the future

This type of energy has become extremely cost-effective. In regions where energy consumption is growing, new sources must be created, and this is where wind energy has a very important role to play.

In mature markets, where the infrastructure for coal, nuclear or gas generation already exists, there are even more challenges ahead because of the big changes that have to take place. This is where wind power has to compete with maintenance costs from existing energy sources. Nevertheless, a wind power source is a very attractive option, in addition to providing energy without greenhouse gas emissions.

Installing a wind turbine

There’s something useful about it, too, and they cut costs. There are three main reasons. First, wind turbines they are aging, with taller towers and lighter construction. Second, supply chain efficiency has improved, and manufacturing systems are cutting costs. Third, and last, is that as wind turbines grow, costs are reduced by producing on a larger scale than they used to be.

Another of his main reasons is the fight against climate change and the impact of clean and cheap energy, which will be sustainable over time. Providing the necessary energy so that the world we live in functions and at the same time does not lead to CO2 emissions into the atmosphere is the goal of major companies like Vestas.

These are very important investments in new technologies so that the energy efficiency of these turbines and various innovations lead to other avenues where they can take a higher percentage of global wind energy consumption.

We’ve seen celebrities at the level of Bill Gates they are investing large sums of money in new energy technologies such as the $2.000 billion spent.

This is from technology giants who intuitively know that we have to change the way we see the energy panorama we are in. If we commented Gates, another great like Mark Zuckerberg, is also contributing sand to encourage more and more private corporations to seek a cleaner future for all and a sustainable planet.

We also have new technologies such as turbines without blades created from Vortex, a Spanish company that is now strongly credited with introducing some wind turbines, which are unlikely to have an impact on the environment because, besides eliminating noise more traditional, they do not change the environment as they do.

This Vortex technology works in such a way that it uses the deformation produced by the vibration caused by the wind as it enters resonance in a semi-rigid vertical cylinder anchored in the ground. It is this deformation that is responsible for generating electricity.

The post The Countries that Currently Produce the Most Wind Energy appeared first on Aswarm.

In contrast, fossil fuels-coal, oil, and gas-are non-renewable resources that take hundreds of millions of years to form. Burning fossil fuels to produce energy releases harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

Generating energy from renewable sources has far fewer emissions than burning fossil fuels. Shifting from fossil fuels, which currently account for the lion’s share of emissions, to renewable energy sources is key to overcoming the climate crisis.

Today, renewable energy is a cheaper alternative in most countries and creates three times as many jobs as fossil fuels.
Below are a few common renewable energy sources:

SOLAR ENERGY

Solar energy is the richest of all energy resources and can be used even in cloudy weather. The rate at which solar energy is captured by the earth is about 10,000 times the rate at which humanity consumes energy.

Solar technologies can provide heat, cooling, natural light, electricity, and fuel for a multitude of applications. These technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy using photovoltaic panels or mirrors that concentrate the sun’s radiation.

Although not all countries are equally endowed with solar energy, each can make a significant contribution to the energy balance from the sun’s energy per se.

In the last decade, the cost of manufacturing solar panels has dropped dramatically, making them not only affordable, but often the cheapest way to generate electricity. Solar panels have a lifespan of about 30 years and come in a variety of shades depending on the type of material used in their production.

WIND ENERGY

Wind power harnesses the kinetic energy of moving air using large wind turbines located on land (onshore wind farms) or in sea or fresh water (offshore/coastal wind farms). Wind energy has been used for thousands of years, but onshore and offshore wind energy technologies have evolved over the past few years to maximize the amount of electricity produced by taller turbines and larger diameter rotating parts.

Although average wind speeds vary greatly from location to location, the global technical potential for wind power is greater than the world’s electricity production, and most regions of the world have enough capacity to build a significant number of wind farms.

Strong winds occur in many regions of the world, but sometimes remote areas are most suitable for wind power generation. Offshore wind energy has enormous potential.

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Geothermal energy harnesses the available thermal energy of the Earth’s interior. Heat is obtained from geothermal reservoirs by drilling wells or other means.

Reservoirs that are inherently hot and permeable are called hydrothermal reservoirs, and reservoirs that are hot enough to be enhanced by hydraulic stimulation are called enhanced geothermal systems.

Fluids of different temperatures on the surface can be used to generate electricity. The technology for generating electricity from hydrothermal reservoirs is proven and reliable and has been used for over 100 years.

HYDROENERGY

Hydropower uses the energy of water moving from a higher elevation to a lower elevation. Such energy can be generated by reservoirs and rivers. Hydropower plants in reservoirs use the water they hold, while in-stream hydropower plants use the energy of available river runoff.

Hydropower reservoirs often serve several purposes, providing drinking and irrigation water, the ability to deal with floods and droughts, navigation services, and energy supplies.

Hydropower is currently the largest source of renewable energy in the electric power sector. It depends on generally stable rainfall distribution regimes and can be adversely affected by climate-induced droughts or changes in ecosystems that affect such regimes.

The infrastructure required to generate hydropower can also have adverse impacts on ecosystems. For this reason, many consider small hydropower plants to be a greener option, especially suitable for populations in remote areas.

OCEAN ENERGY

Technologies based on using the kinetic and thermal energy of seawater – such as waves or currents – to generate electricity or heat are used to generate ocean energy.

Ocean energy systems are still in the early stages of development; a number of prototype devices using waves and tidal currents are currently being tested. Theoretically, ocean energy could easily exceed current human energy needs.

BIOENERGY

Bioenergy comes from a variety of organic materials called biomass, such as wood, charcoal, manure, and other organic fertilizers used to produce heat and electricity, and crops used to produce liquid biofuels. Most biomass is used in rural areas for cooking, lighting, and space heating, and its main consumers tend to be poorer people in developing countries.

Modern biomass systems include special crops or trees, residues from agriculture and forestry, and various organic waste streams.

Energy produced by burning biomass produces greenhouse gas emissions, but at a lower rate than fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or gas. However, bioenergy should be used only for limited purposes, given the potential negative environmental impacts associated with the large-scale increase in forest and bioenergy plantations and the resulting deforestation and land-use changes.

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