What are renewable energies, and what benefits do they bring us?
We live in an age where green and unlimited energy is necessary. Companies are becoming increasingly committed to the planet and leaving a positive legacy for future generations. Join us to find out what renewable energies are and the benefits they bring us.
What are renewable energies?
Renewable energy is obtained from natural, inexhaustible sources such as the sun, wind, and water and can be replenished by managing its production.
Some sources often refer to renewable energy as alternative or clean energy, and even though the terms are similar, alternative energy (such as nuclear or hydroelectric energy) is a term that refers to different alternatives to the use of traditional energy sources and isn't the same thing. We should bear this difference because alternative energy isn't necessarily renewable. We can use the term green energy as a synonym for renewable energy.
Now that we have established the definition let's look at how renewable energy was used. The interest in this type of energy arose from fears over the increasingly worrisome energy crises, with specialists realizing that we could no longer depend exclusively on oil, gas, or electricity from traditional sources.
This issue is, without a doubt, becoming increasingly relevant, not only because of the diminishing fossil reserves and environmental concerns but also because of political and military crises, such as the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
From 1970 onwards, the search began for renewable and sustainable energy solutions that would reduce pollutants and the greenhouse effect. Let us now examine the different types of renewable energy.
Types of renewable energy
There are at least eight types of renewable energy: solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, biomass energy, biogas energy, ocean energy, geothermal energy, and wave energy. Solar and wind energy are perhaps the most familiar to businesses and society as a whole.
These types of renewable energy are, in turn, classified into two types: clean energy and polluting energy. The good news here is that only biomass energy is polluting. This is because it comes from organic matter such as plant solids or wood and produces carbon dioxide like traditional energy sources. Nevertheless, it is still considered cleaner than fossil fuels and renewable as it comes from organic matter that can continue to grow.
What are the benefits of renewable energy?
Renewable energy has innumerable benefits, including environmental and financial advantages. So, this is, without a doubt, the way forward if we want our planet and society to move towards a better world.
We can combat climate change by tackling and ending greenhouse gases.
We can prevent polluting waste and oil spills that have caused significant environmental catastrophes.
Industries can become smaller and, in turn, reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact.
The air we breathe will be cleaner. This is essential because respiratory diseases linked to air pollution are becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly in densely populated cities.
Renewable energies will become the most cost-effective sources of electricity for the planet and economic development.
Thanks to renewable energy's advantages and attributes, it's even possible to offer electricity services to remote communities, which shows that its benefits have a much greater social impact.
Financial benefits:
One of the significant benefits is the reduction in electricity prices. According to different pieces of research, traditional energy production costs are much higher. This is particularly beneficial for households and businesses, especially big companies with high energy consumption due to their particular line of work, such as bottling or refrigeration companies.
According to the UN, renewable energy parks and power plants create three times as many jobs as fossil fuel plants.
Consumers are increasingly opting for responsible products, so it's becoming essential for companies to switch to new types of energy to remain competitive in the market.
Scientific advances have enabled us to discover how to use renewable and inexhaustible energy sources. Our society has a great responsibility to look after our planet and to halt the impact of climate change.
Energy companies like Enel are already offering opportunities for decarbonization and encouraging companies to unite to care for the planet. This will allow them to show the world that they're committed to the environment.
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