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Australia : How effective is renewable energy in reducing carbon emissions?
How effective is renewable energy in reducing carbon emissions?
By Niki Panayiaris
Increasing amounts of carbon dioxide and other fossil fuel emissions are being released into the atmosphere, increasing the temperature of the planet and significantly impacting the environment, our health, and the climate. Carbon dioxide is released following the burning of fossil fuels for energy. To minimise carbon emissions into the atmosphere, renewable energy sources (biomass, wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal) are being utilised to harness energy and provide an alternate energy source that is less harmful to the environment. There are many factors that may influence the effectiveness of both non-renewable and renewable methods, including environmental impact, economical impact (cost), and the reliability or availability of energy source.
Environmental Impact
Utilising renewable energy sources in place of burning fossil fuels significantly reduces the impact of energy production and consumption on the environment, particularly regarding water and air pollution and carbon emissions. Increased reliance on renewable sources of energy will be integral in reducing carbon emissions and thus halting climate change. Carbon emissions associated with renewable energy are minimal as compared to fossil fuel burning options. Increasing the sources of renewable energy utilised would allow for less carbon-intensive sources, and would hence reduce carbon emissions (UNEP, 2015). Fossil fuel burning plants generate exorbitant amounts of carbon dioxide, which has a significant detrimental impact on the surrounding environment. Conversely, wind, solar and hydroelectric sources generate no air pollution or waste products, and geothermal and biomass emit limited emissions, and total emissions are significantly lower than that of coal or natural gas power plants (UCSUSA, 2015). In addition, coal-burning plants require water to operate and release toxins into surrounding water sources, which corrupt the ecosystem and damage plants and fish. Wind and solar sources require no water to operate and do not pollute water sources or strain water supply by completing with agriculture, while fossil fuels demand large sources of water and power plants pollute surrounding water sources. Hence, these sources are inexhaustible and do not damage the environment to the same extent. In the future, replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy will be the driving force of climate change and reducing air pollution and thus is highly effective solution of reducing carbon change regarding the environmental impact. In addition, renewable energy is associated with improved public health, as traditional methods have been strongly associated with breathing problems, neurological damage, heart attacks, and cancer in works of the power plants and those living nearby (UCSUSA, 2015).
Conversely, not all sources of renewable energy benefit the surrounding environment. Biomass, geothermal and hydroelectric power plants use surrounding water sources and impact river systems. In addition, biomass as energy source reliable on combustion of feedstock to generate electricity as power plants do. While renewable energy sources impacts the environment to a lesser degree than carbon burning plants, the air emissions and water use is still toxic to the environment. Also, hydroelectricity has a significant environmental impact and is extremely dependant on the local water supply.
Reliability/Availability
As the sources for renewable energy is not finite, they will not run out, and renewable energy will be an option for generations to come, while sources of coal and oil have developed over millions of years, and will eventually run out. When a source of coal or oil has been utilised, the process and power plant are either relocated, or the coal needs to be transported over a greater distance, increasing long-term production cost. Furthermore, renewable energy is more reliable and resilient than fossil fuel burning power plants, as wind or solar energy sources are less prone to large scale accidents as they are widely distributed (not localised) and do not rely on one source of energy.
Alternately, it is extremely difficult to generate the quantities of energy that is in demand from renewable energy source. While fossil fuel energy sources generate exorbitant amounts of energy, wind and hydroelectric sources are unlikely to generate the energy needed, and thus are not used to their fullest potential. This indicates that a better solution may involve the use of a range of renewable energy sources, rather than one source, as this will not provide sufficient energy. In addition, renewable energy sources provide energy at a much slower rate than traditional sources, and this is not effective when energy is in demand. In addition, while renewable energy sources may be more reliable in terms of potential accidents or disasters, the amount of energy is highly reliant on the weather, a factor that cannot be influenced or controlled. Thus, while renewable energy sources are more reliant and stable, they are highly dependant on weather (wind, rain, sun etc.), which is not as effective. Therefore, renewable energy is more unpredictable than burning fossil fuels and significant changes in weather patterns directly influence production of energy (UNEP, 2015). There is also a lack of availability of the renewable energy sources. Renewable energy is not as accessible or utilised enough to be deemed effective. Renewable energy is not possible in some areas, as it requires large areas of land and specific weather regulations (in some cases), and exorbitant start up cost. Furthermore, while renewable energy is highly effective in minimising carbon emissions, it is not utilised fully, and hence, due to a variety of reasons, may not be highly effective, as factors including high cost, dependency on weather, and lack of energy and availability reduce the effectiveness of these sources (Clarke, 2014).
Cost
Production and management cost is a significant factor in the effectiveness of renewable energy. Benefits involving renewable energy sources include: stabilising energy prices, reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels, large scale job created, and reduction in economical impact. As fossil fuels are a finite source, when one source is utilised, fossil fuels are imported and transported across large distances to be used, which incurs a large cost. Energy is more affordable, as energy prices are not dependant on inflation or companies and governments that control power plants, and the cost of energy is less likely to fluctuate (Clarke, 2014). In addition while the initial cost of renewable energy is significantly, the operational cost is less than traditional methods, and while fossil fuel technology is typically mechanised, renewable energy technology is more labour intensive, creating more jobs and requiring more workers.
Conversely, renewable energy is relatively new and thus the cost to produce necessary large-scale wind turbines or solar panels is enormous. While the cost of operation is comparatively low, the cost to develop and manufacture is extremely high (Clarke, 2014), which is not as effective. In addition, there are big companies an government leaders with a monopoly on fossil fuels oppose to using clean energy (smh, 2015) and it would be an ineffective method if the governments are unable to enforce regulations regarding renewable energy
In conclusion, both non-renewable and renewable energy sources are effective to varying extents. While renewable energy sources are significantly more beneficial in reducing carbon emissions and reducing environmental impact, renewable energy is not as reliable or accessible as non-renewable energy. Conversely, non-renewable energy has a high operational cost, while non-renewable energy is more beneficial to the economy through job creation and stabilising energy prices. Thus, renewable energy is effective in reducing carbon emissions and reducing climate change.
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