Advantages of renewable energy
Some of the top benefits of going for “clean green energy”
- It won’t run out
- Maintenance requirements are lower
- It saves money
- Health and environmental benefits
1. It won’t run out
These energy sources include sunshine, wind, tides and biomass, to name some of the more popular options. Renewable energy technologies use resources straight from the environment to generate power. Renewable resources won’t run out which cannot be said for many types of fossil fuels, as we use fossil fuel resources, they will be increasingly difficult to obtain, likely driving up both the cost and environmental impact of extractions.
2. Maintenance requirements are lower
This is because generating technology like solar panels and wind turbines either have few or no moving parts and don’t rely on flammable, combustible fuel sources to operate. In most cases renewable energy technologies require less overall maintenance than generators that use traditional fuel sources.
Fewer maintenance requirements translate to more time and money saved.
3. It saves money
Not only sill you save on maintenance costs, but on operating costs as well. When you are using a technology that generates power from the sun, wind, steam or natural processes, you don’t have to pay to refuel. Using renewable energy can help you save money long term. The amount of money you will save using renewable energy can vary depending on a number of factors, including the technology itself. In most cases, transitioning to renewable energy means anywhere from hundreds to thousands of rupees in savings.
4. Health and environmental benefits
The use of fossil fuels not only emits greenhouse gases but other harmful pollutants as well that lead to respiratory and cardiac health issues. With renewable energy, we are helping decrease the prevalence of these pollutants and contributing to an overall healthier atmosphere. Renewable energy generation sources emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air. This means a smaller carbon footprint and an overall positive impact on the natural environment. During the combustion process, fossil fuels emit high amounts of greenhouse gases, which have been proven to exacerbate the rise of global temperatures and frequency of extreme weather events.
Disadvantages of renewable energy
It has many benefits, but it is not always sunny when it domes to renewable energy. Some of the disadvantages are:
- Higher upfront cost
- Intermittency
- Storage capabilities
- Geographical limitations
1. Higher upfront cost
While we can save money by using renewable energy, the technologies are typically more expensive upfront than traditional energy generators. To combat this, there are often financial support and incentives such as rebates, and Govt subsidiary available to help alleviate our initial costs of renewable technology.
2. Intermittency
There can be unpredictable weather events that disrupt these technologies. Though renewable energy resources are available around the world, many of these resources are not available 24/7 year-round. Some days may be windier than others, the sun does not shine at all, and droughts may occur for periods of time.
3. Storage capabilities
Because of the intermittency of some renewable energy sources, there is a high need for energy storage. While there are storage technologies available today, they can be expensive, especially for large-scale renewable energy plants. It is worth noting that energy storage capacity is growing as the technology progresses, and batteries are becoming more affordable as times goes on.
4. Geographic limitations
In the country like India we have a diverse geography with varying climates, topographies, vegetation and more. This creates a beautiful melting pot of landscapes but also means that there are some geographies that are more suitable for renewable technologies than others.
Overall view of advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy
- When it comes to renewable energy, the positives outweigh the negatives. Transitioning to renewables on a personal, corporate, state Govt or Central Govt level will not only help you save money but also promote a cleaner, healthier environment for the future.
- Installing solar panels is one of the easiest ways to go green.
