With climate issues worsening, and more people turning towards renewable energy, we’re going to break down the pros and cons of renewable energy below.
But first, what is renewable energy?
Well, renewable energy comes from a source that restores itself; in other words, the energy source won’t deplete, it is infinite (automatically a strength because fossil fuels are finite and will deplete eventually).
Advantages Of Choosing Renewable Energy
• Usually, renewable energy resources do not produce pollution, so they are environmentally friendly.
• Since the energy supplies for renewable energy do not have any costs, it is usually cheaper to maintain long-term.
• Wave and tidal generators are reliable and trustworthy.
• Hydroelectric power stations as well as tidal wave generators produce a lot of electricity and heat.
Disadvantages Of Using Renewable Energy
• The initial costs of installation for renewable energy generators are expensive.
• Energy sources from solar cells and wind turbines depend on the weather. If the weather is not sunny, then the solar cells won’t produce a lot of electricity. Likewise, if it is not windy, the wind turbines won’t either.
Now that we’ve looked at the overall advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy, let’s look at the specific renewable energy sources and their pros and cons.
Wind Turbines
Put simply, wind turbines convert wind or air into electricity. The pros of wind turbines are that there is no pollution and they require little to no maintenance. However, wind turbines tend to be displeasing to the eye (for some people) and no breeze will mean no electricity is generated. Wind turbines can also be harmful to wildlife, need a lot of land, and produce quite a bit of noise.
Landfill Gas (Waste Energy)
This waste energy comes from the decomposition of organic material. This is an incredibly good use of waste as it minimizes the emission of methane. However, significant landfill areas are needed, which produce pollution.
Solar Power
Solar power converts light from the sun into electricity using cells. There is, of course, an endless supply of light from the sun and panels don’t generate pollution. The downside to relying on sunlight, however, is that there’s none during the night nor is there enough when the weather is overcast. It is also slightly more expensive than the other types of renewable resources on this list.
Biomass Power
Biomass power comes from burnt trees, plants, and organic material. Again, it’s very abundant and a lot more environmentally friendly than using fossil fuels, but it can cause air pollution and takes a lot longer and more energy to produce.
Hydroelectric power
Water is used to power turbines that, in turn, generate electricity. Although a clean option and with plenty of supply available, there are environmental concerns to consider, especially when water is restricted.