4 Ways renewable energy is saving the planet

When most of us are spending a lot of time, money, and efforts to create the most comfortable and sustainable life at our homes, we fail to see the larger picture. All our technological progress is pointless if a part of it is not directed towards protecting the planet we live in. Much of the progress has actually come at the cost of the environment, and it’s high time we figure out how to reverse the adverse impact.

Renewable energy sources offer the highest potential to combat climate change and its causes. The reliance on fossil fuels has created a state of overexploitation, pollution, and imbalance in the division of resources. However, the shift to renewables might just be what will save the planet, and here are four ways in which that will happen.

Reduces land, air, and water pollution

A survey conducted in 2018, indicated that 89% of CO2 emissions came from the fossil fuel industry which includes the energy sector. In fact, coal-based power singlehandedly contributed to over 0.3 Degree Celsius increase in the 1 Degree Celsius increase in global temperature. Even Natural gas which is the cleanest of all fossil fuels is responsible for a fifth of the total carbon emissions in the world. Together, all the nations have released a staggering 37 Billion Tonnes of CO2 in 2021.

The extraction of fossil fuels also pollutes the land and water. Harmful gases and particulates seep into the soil and groundwater, rendering the land unfit for cultivation and the water unfit for consumption. The offshore oil rigs and pipes cause oil leaks in the ocean, polluting it. The sludge also washes up on the nearby shores, impacting the local population and marine life.

Use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydropower, etc. does not involve any burning of raw material to convert heat into electricity or power to run machinery. The control in particulate emission has been a major concern of air pollution in the use of conventional fuels. Power generation from renewables does not release any particulate matter into the atmosphere. There are no harmful effluents that affect the land and water.

Prevents overexploitation of resources

The extraction of these fossil fuels like coal and petroleum exerts a toll on the ecosphere. Sources like Coal and Crude oil are a finite supply. Their extraction involves deforestation of vast swathes of land, dangerous mining activity, oil leaks in the oceans, etc. which puts the planet and all life on it at great risk.

Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower are available naturally without having to extract them. They are practically inexhaustible and available in plenty. They are not limited by the supply of resources and there is no risk of overexploitation, which can create a massive disturbance to the current ecological state of the planet. Switching to renewables will mean a sustainable future that has the least carbon footprint while maintaining a high standard of living.

Slows down Global Warming

Global warming is a worldwide phenomenon that is a drastic shift in weather and temperature patterns everywhere. The emissions from burning conventional fuels releases polluting gases like CO2, CFCs, methane, etc. that form a blanket in the earth’s atmosphere that is causing heat to be trapped in our ecosystem. The resultant effects of this temperature increase are chaotic weather conditions, rise in sea levels, famine, drought, extinction of crucial wildlife species on both land and water, etc.

The Global temperature right now is at an all time high, compared to the data gathered from the 1880’s till date. There has been a 1.2 Degree Celsius rise in temperature since then.

Collectively, we need to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 Degree Celsius by 2030, if we are to live sustainably on this planet. Renewable energy sources are the only way to achieve this. They are almost emission free and their generation process releases little to no heat. Solar powered homes, commercial spaces, industries, and vehicles could bring down the temperature rise when incorporated on a large scale.

Enables wildlife conservation

As discussed earlier, the extraction of fossil fuels is space intensive and vast stretches of land are subject to deforestation. This not only affects the lives of the people living near the plants and mines, but also impacts the wildlife that are native to that land. The loss of habitat forces animals to move to urban areas, where they are forced to adapt to an unfamiliar environment. Larger animals are seen as a threat to the human population living nearby. Those animals that are unable to adapt, slowly dwindle in numbers and are near extinction or have gone extinct. Many species of plants have gone extinct as they were destroyed to make room for energy infrastructure.

Like humans, plants, animals, and birds are also affected by air, water, and land pollution. The particulate matter and gas emissions into the atmosphere render the air unbreathable. They get poisoned by effluents released into the ground and water as they are reliant on the watering holes. The loss of habitat also means loss of food; Vegetation for the herbivores and prey for the carnivores. The oil spills in the oceans and seas affect both marine life as well as the birds that hunt them.

The transition to renewable energy sources will bring this to a halt. With reduced pollution and space-efficient technologies, we can help build a thriving planet. This could mean the revival of species that are on the brink of extinction, creating a balance in the ecosystem.

The shift to renewable energy is accelerated by the increased investment from large industry players and world governments. The early investors are literally creating a new world order that could mean a better quality of life and a healthy planet. Distributed Energy is an experienced platform aggregator for enabling renewable energy projects. We leverage our technical expertise in optimizing clean energy production. With projects spread across Asia and Africa, investors can choose to invest in a wide array of projects which will provide attractive and reliable returns. Make use of our investment options and exhaustive resources on Renewables at our site https://de.energy/