Renewable Energy Debate, Research Paper Example

Abstract

Sources of renewable energy or green energy such as solar panels, biomass, geothermal, and wind turbines provide almost 20 percent of power in the United States. Many experts have predicted that by 2050, the U.S. could be generating all its electric power from renewable energy sources as a way of moving away from fossil fuels that pollute our environment. There are specific states like California and Hawaii, which intend to entirely get rid of fossil fuels as sources of electricity by the year 2045. However, there has been a heated debate regarding the adoption of renewable energy not only in the United States but also across the globe. The proponents of green energy have argued that broad adoption of this form of energy-not just in America but globally is crucial in staving off the detrimental effects of global warming and general climatic changes. Meanwhile, the opponents of the adoption of renewable energy have cited various demerits ranging from inefficiency to consuming a lot of space-just to mention some but a few. This essay intends to argue for the adoption of this form of energy by focusing on its positives and negatives such as reducing greenhouse gas emission, creating jobs, improving public health, incurring a low cost, being inefficient, and taking huge space.

Introduction

Considering the rate at which the global population is increasing, it is quite apparent that the demand for energy has also been rising significantly. Non-renewable sources of electricity such as fossil fuels are quite limited, detrimental to the environment, and a decrease or increase in their production could bear direct and substantial impacts on inflation rates. On the hand, renewable sources of energy are sustainable, environment-friendly, abundant, and above all renewable. Unlike fossil fuels, these sources are never going to run out anytime soon for they are consistently replenished. Even though the world is not currently in a position to entirely switch over to green energy, generating a substantial percentage of our day-to-day power consumption from these sources could have positive impacts on the environment and the world economy. Nevertheless, there are some shortcoming associated with renewable sources of energy and their adoption such as their dependence on weather patterns, ineffectiveness, and taking ample space among others. Cohen (693) cites several significant hurdles in the U.S. which are linked to the transformation shift toward these sources of energy production. For instance, in the United States, technological advances are essential for the handling of the unsteady power flow from sunlight and wind by the electrical grid. Moreover, the United States of America still does not have any national policy about the adoption of renewables[1]. As a result, the debate over renewable energy continues to get more heated as people keep on bringing up their pros and cons as we are going to discuss below.

Advantages of Renewable Energy

According to Flavin (3), the adoption of renewable energy will lead to a clean environment for there will be reduced greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Global warming and climate change have become major concerns of various organizations, scientists, and members of the public. The course of the difference in the climate of our planet has mainly come from human activities like industrialization air pollution, and deforestation-just to mention but a few. However, the major contributing factor to air pollution is the release of high amounts of gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases all of which come from burning fossil fuels. At the moment we almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels to power our automobiles, produce electricity for our homes and industries and generate power for other uses. The fossil fuels that are burned to create this power include oil, coal, and natural gas. There are also other nations that depend on nuclear power as the source of power generation, the United States added. All these sources have negative impacts on the environment like adverse climatic change. Nevertheless, renewable sources of energy such as wind, geothermal, solar, and biomass do not have any adverse effects on the environment[2]. In other words, they are referred to as environmental friendly sources of energy. Consequently, embracing them as significant sources of energy production would reduce the degradation of our environment by substantial margins.

Additionally, studies have shown that temperatures in our planet have risen in the last three 30 years to the highest levels since records began. Scientists have attributed increased carbon dioxide, which is the primary contributor to global warming to the temperature changes. According to their predictions, the average temperature across the globe would rise by 1ºC-4º C by the year 2100 if we continue using fossil fuels and pumping carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. According to Pyke (01), even if we shifted to renewable energy today and reduced our over-dependence on fossil fuels, there still would be an increase in temperature by 1 to 2.5°C by the dawn of the next century[3]. This is because of the large number of greenhouse gases that are still in the atmosphere. The world witnessed its highest growth of population in the 20^th century, and this huge population has led to the increased demand for energy. It is this high energy demand that has brought about the high consumption of fossil fuels and thus polluting our environment more than it has ever been polluted before. Nevertheless, the production of energy from renewable sources does not release greenhouse gases, and hence there would be no air pollution and subsequent global warming.

Lehr, Lutz, and Edler (359) have elaborated how renewable energy has created green jobs in Europe, particularly Germany[4]. Compared to fossils fuels whose operations are mostly mechanized, the renewable sources of energy are often labor-intensive. This translates that, for every unit of electricity produced more jobs are created than from fossil fuel. The shifting to renewable sources of energy has been embraced in various parts of Europe, some of the countries include Germany, Denmark, and Spain.  From the creation, installation, operations, and maintenance of solar panels, windmills and biomass power plants, the gross employment in Germany has risen in recent years. The various forms of renewable energy have successfully created new jobs as compared to non-renewable energy sources. To harness wind power the following are required: specialists in manufacturing, project development, installation, maintenance of turbines and the windmills, transportation, and logistics. All these are equivalent to forms of employment which will be executed by human labor. Solar panels need technicians for installation and maintenance. By utilizing moving water to create energy which can be converted to hydropower, the skill of electricity production is a source of employment. Technicians and experts are needed to harness this power. The building of dams, installation, and maintenance of turbines and the relay of electricity from the source to the consumers provides jobs at all these levels of production. The magnitude of employment that the hydropower offers is larger than the fossil fuel industry.

The effect of the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun along with the rotation of the earth produces ocean tides. The differences in water movements can be harnessed to produce tidal energy which is harnessed to produce electricity. The construction of tidal barrages at ocean inlets provides tidal basins that aid in harnessing tidal power. The creation of these dam-like structures is a source of employment. At a more comprehensive perspective, the project provides jobs at the various stages of electricity production. The Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station in South Korea has the most significant electricity production of 254MegaWatts[5]. Biomass is the organic material from both plants and animals and is a renewable source of energy. Biogas can be produced by fermenting animal wastes in unique structures called digesters. The construction of these vessels has effectively provided jobs especially in a farm where livestock are kept. The gas from these digesters which is mainly methane can be conveyed through piping for domestic use. Corn is propagated and later fermented to produce fuel ethanol which is used to power vehicles. The corn fields are also sources of employment.  Woodchips and forest residue have been effectively used to produce biogas in European countries like Germany and Sweden. Geothermal power is another source of renewable energy. It requires hot water or steam that comes from the earth’s inner core. This form of energy is harnessed from the earth’s inner core which almost as hot as the surface of the sun. Geothermal power plants are built where the reservoirs are located. This creates job opportunities. Geothermal energy has various uses, and the most common one is the dehydration of fruits and foods. The companies which undertake such activities are job creators. The United States is the largest producer of geothermal energy.

Renewable energy is also crucial in improving our health. As a result of using fossil fuels, emissions such as carbon dioxide and other forms of CFCs have led to global warming. The effects of global warming on human health cannot be ignored. The increased heat has led to a rise in temperature related to death in the US especially during the summer months. Fossil-based plants have polluted the air and water and in turn, posed a great health risk to the public. From cancer to premature death and other neurological diseases, the chances of these emissions cannot be ignored. Wind, solar and hydroelectricity power plants do not produce air pollutants but geothermal, and biomass plants release specific quantities into the air but are much lower compared to the emissions from coal and the other fossil fuel plants. Thermal power plants whether powered by oil, gas or coal require water for cooling and can pollute these water resources. Solar and wind energy plants do not use water in the production of energy and therefore pose no risk to human health by contaminating the water sources. The pollutant from the combustion of fossil fuels pollutes the air and can lead to respiratory infections, by use of renewable sources like wind and water we ensure a healthier atmosphere that is free from pollutants. The switch from fossil fuels to green energy is of great benefit to public health. The installation of wind and solar as the new energy options would save the US government at least $5.7 million per year in health-related costs[6]. Fossils fuels such as coal release sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere and pose health risks to the public. Some of the diseases affect the lungs and the heart, but with the installation of wind and solar power plants, there are no significant health risks to public health. In Cincinnati, a solar plant was put up, and it significantly displaced coal which releases sulfur dioxide a lethal gas into the atmosphere. The public much accepts the exploitation of renewable energy resources because it is eco-friendly and safe to human life.

Renewable source of energy provides affordable energy, and this is vital in stabilizing energy prices. After the intensive investment in the building the power plants, they run at a low cost since the fuel is free. Practically you do not make a purchase of wind or heat from the sun. These sources are also inexhaustible, and there is no fear of depletion. This is the case of wind and solar energy. As a result, the cost of electricity from these plants can stabilize over a long period. The maintenance of this power plant is low as compared to fossil fuel plants; there are few or no moving parts which require fuel; hence the maintenance cost is low. This translates to saving more time and money. The cost of installation of solar panels has declined significantly between 2010 and 2017 by seventy percent[7]. As companies take advantage of economies of scale, the cost is anticipated to drop further, and this makes renewable energy the ultimate choice for most consumers. Fossil fuels mostly suffer fluctuation in prices. In 2008, the coal prices in the US increased due to the increased world demand but subsequently dropped after 2008 after the market declined. This makes fossils fuel to be inconvenient. Due to this price swings. Using renewable energy more will protect the consumer from the financial pain of the hiked prices of fossil fuels[8].

Disadvantages of Renewable Energy

In as much as renewable energy sources have numerous advantages over non-renewables like fossil fuels and uranium, they also have several problems. Foremost, a lot of space is required to generate renewable energy. Different types of fuels require varying amounts of space, and the production of renewable energy requires more space compared to nuclear energy and fossil fuels. Paul Behrens, an environmental scientist, and his student John van Zalk employed the concept of power density to examine the amount of space needed for renewable and non-renewable energy. This particular concept compares the average power generated for every square meter of the infrastructure. In this study, they established that power density could differ by even 1000 times, with natural gas at 1000 W/m² (the highest) and biomass at 0.8 W/m² (the lowest). Wind and solar power require almost 50 times more area compared to coal, and 90 times compared to gas[9]. Additionally, Behrens’ research also established that the densities of solar power are continually growing over time, and tipped the new three-dimensional design could hit five times the current figure.

Another disadvantage of renewable energy is that it is less efficient compared to non-renewables like uranium (nuclear) and fossil fuels. Efficiency proves to be a significant factor for the non-renewable sources of energy because it means they must incur the cost for the fuel. Efficiency refers to the measure of the amount of particular resource’s potential to produce a certain amount of electric power. The capabilities of solar panels, coal plants, and gas plants are 20%, 33%, and 54% respectively. The amount of electricity generated from the renewable sources would not sustain our planet for as long the fossil fuels have done unless there are new technological advancements that would increase the energy output. Additionally, some renewable sources of energy are somewhat unreliable. For instance, solar and wind energies depend on weather patterns implying that when the weather conditions are unsuitable, the amount of power these sources could yield will decrease significantly. This is a clear proof of the inefficiency of renewable sources of energy. Mackin (4) states that it would require the combination of many solar panels and wind turbines to produce higher amounts of the electricity-another evident factor of their inefficiency[10].

Conclusion

Renewable energy is obtained from natural resources like solar, wind, geothermal, oceans, and biomass. As a result, it is cheaper compared to non-renewable since the raw material is neither limited nor costly. Many scientists concerned with the issue of global warming and general climate change have advocated for the adoption of this green energy as one of the stern measures against global warming. It does not involve any emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and neither is it harmful to human beings and animals. In the European Union, several nations like Germany and Denmark have adopted this form of energy and ripped numerous benefits like the creation of jobs, improvement of health due to reduced pollution, and clean environment among others. In the United States, there have been some challenged especially from the political front which has prevented a quick shift into renewable energy, but there are some states like California that have started embracing them. Nevertheless, there are some challenges associated with renewables like inefficiency, consumption of vast space, and unreliability. With the advancement of technology, people would be able to tackle these few challenges of renewable energy sources, and this leaves us no option but two switches to them and enjoy the immense benefits. I, therefore, support the adoption of renewable energy for the sake of health, sustainability, and a clean environment.

Bibliographies

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Evans, Annette, Vladimir Strezov, and Tim J. Evans. “Assessment of sustainability indicators for renewable energy technologies.” Renewable and sustainable energy reviews 13, no. 5 (2009): 1082-1088.

Flavin, Chris.2007. “Renewables: What We Meant to Say.” Renewable energy sources 20, no.1:2-4. SocINDEX with Full Text, EBSCOhost accessed April 30, 2019

Lehr, Ulrike, Christian Lutz, and Dietmar Edler. “Green jobs? Economic impacts of renewable energy in Germany.” Energy Policy 47 (2012): 358-364.

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Nogee, Alan, Steven Clemmer, Deborah Donovan, and Jeff Deyette. “Clean energy blueprint: Increasing energy security, saving money, and protecting the environment with energy efficiency and renewable energy.” Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society 22, no. 2 (2002): 100-109.

Pyke, Tony. “The Energy Debate: Renewable Energy Cannot Replace Fossil Fuels – DevelopmentEducation.ie.” DevelopmentEducation.ie. Last modified April 12, 2017. https://developmenteducation.ie/feature/the-energy-debate-renewable-energy-cannot-replace-fossil-fuels/.

University, Leiden. “Renewable Energy Sources Can Take Up to 1000 Times More Space Than Fossil Fuels.” Phys.org – News and Articles on Science and Technology. Last modified August 28, 2018. https://phys.org/news/2018-08-renewable-energy-sources-space-fossil.html.

[1] Cohen, Steven. “What is Stopping the Renewable Energy Transformation and what can the US Government do?.” Social Research: An International Quarterly 82, no. 3 (2015): 689-710.

[2] Flavin, Chris.2007. “Renewables: What We Meant to Say.” Renewable energy sources 20, no.1:2-4. SocINDEX with Full Text, EBSCOhost accessed April 30, 2019

[3] Tony Pyke, “The Energy Debate: Renewable Energy Cannot Replace Fossil Fuels – DevelopmentEducation.ie,” DevelopmentEducation.ie, last modified April 12, 2017, https://developmenteducation.ie/feature/the-energy-debate-renewable-energy-cannot-replace-fossil-fuels/

[4] Lehr, Ulrike, Christian Lutz, and Dietmar Edler. “Green jobs? Economic impacts of renewable energy in Germany.” Energy Policy 47 (2012): 358-364.

[5] Lehr, Ulrike, Christian Lutz, and Dietmar Edler. “Green jobs? Economic impacts of renewable energy in Germany.”

[6] Cohen, Steven. “What is stopping the Renewable Energy Transformation and what can the US Government do?”

[7] Nogee, Alan, Steven Clemmer, Deborah Donovan, and Jeff Deyette. “Clean energy blueprint: Increasing energy security, saving money, and protecting the environment with energy efficiency and renewable energy.” Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society 22, no. 2 (2002): 100-109.

[8] Evans, Annette, Vladimir Strezov, and Tim J. Evans. “Assessment of sustainability indicators for renewable energy technologies.” Renewable and sustainable energy reviews 13, no. 5 (2009): 1082-1088.

[9] Leiden University, “Renewable Energy Sources Can Take Up to 1000 Times More Space Than Fossil Fuels,” Phys.org – News and Articles on Science and Technology, last modified August 28, 2018, https://phys.org/news/2018-08-renewable-energy-sources-space-fossil.html.

[10] Mackin, Jeanne.1991.” These are dark days for solar energy.” Human Ecology 19, no.3-4. so index with Full Text, EBSCOhost accessed March 18, 2019