Clean Energy Reliability

By: Jayden Shaw

Clean renewable energy is a worldwide topic. Countries, companies, and groups all over have been making the switch and or trying to implement the switch to clean energy. The drawback to fossil fuel energy continues to be an ongoing issue with its carbon emissions, which is a main reason that prompts people to make the switch over to clean energy. This form of energy is reliable while having great potential.

Abundance

The reliability of renewable energy comes from a variety of factors. One of the factors being its abundance. This type of energy is widely available for use around the world. In the US alone the availability of renewable energy sources is 100 times that of the nation's annual electricity needs. These sources are so available that every region of the country has access to multiple of them.

The reliability also stems from the fact that clean energy sources are naturally occurring. Meaning that they are generated by nature itself. So the source of energy is in turn never ending. Solar energy, hydro energy, and wind energy are key examples of clean sources, and among all other sources, solar energy is considered the most abundant. The rate that the Earth intercepts solar energy is 10,000 times more than the rate that humans consume energy, meaning that solar power is relatively a never ending energy source.

Longevity

The longevity of technologies used for harnessing clean energy is also a key factor. Solar panels alone have an estimated life span of 30-35 years, while some might run longer than that. The fact that this technology can last decades before needing to be replaced is a sign of progress, and SETO(Solar Energies Technologies Office) funds research to develop new materials and designs to make solar panels last longer. So considering future technological advances, the lifespan of solar panels could receive a major increase. The same goes for technologies like hydroelectric power plants. The lifespan of hydropower plants ranges from 50-100 years, making it one of the longest lasting energy sources, and with proper maintenance these plants can operate past 100 years. With that being the case now, with technological advances the longevity could increase to possibly 150 years to maybe even 200 years. 

Cost Effectiveness

Cost effectiveness also plays a crucial role in this matter. A prominent concern about clean energy has been cost, but over the years the cost of clean energy has gradually reduced. Renewable energy is actually considered to be the cheapest power option in most parts of the world today. The cost of electricity from solar power has decreased by 85% between 2010 and 2020. Not only that but the cost of onshore and offshore wind energy decreased by 56% and 48%. As time passes technology develops in such a way that clean energy technologies are able to become more affordable, which is favorable to places such as low and middle income countries, as well as low and middle income families and homes. Clean energy is not only affordable to buy but it is affordable to keep as well. States that rely on hydropower for the majority of its electricity such as Idaho, Oregon, or Washington have lower energy bills than the rest of the US. 

When comparing cost between clean energy and fossil fuel, clean energy also triumphs. It is cheaper to build a new solar or wind project than to continue using most coal-fired power plants. And driving an electric car costs less than half as much per mile than a gas fueled car.

With all this information in mind, it isn’t hard to see the overall usefulness of clean energy sources. With it being much better for the environment and it being widely available and affordable, the change to this type of energy use would serve to be a great way to tackle climate change, other environmental issues, and even certain economic struggles.