For many years, and what is likely to be many more years to come, mankind has relied heavily on the burning of non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas in order to produce energy. This well established, worldwide energy production process of burning fossil fuels does however contribute to climate change due to the significant amounts of CO₂ emissions that are released into the atmosphere.

Ultimately, the main role of renewable energy sources is to reduce our reliance on limited, non-renewable fossil fuels as a means of producing energy. Unlike non-renewable fossil fuels, renewable energy does not contribute to climate change as renewable energy technologies are able to produce clean energy without emitting CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere. These technologies use the sun’s energy and its direct and indirect effects on the earth (solar radiation, wind, falling water and various plants, i.e. biomass), gravitational forces (tides), and the heat of the earth’s core (geothermal) as the resources from which energy is produced ^[1].

The Social, Economic, and Environmental Benefits

Renewable energy sources also have the role of bringing about a number of different social, economic, and environmental benefits worldwide. One of the main social benefits which can be brought about from the use of renewable energy sources is an increase in job opportunities; as renewable energy technologies create jobs in areas relating to their research and design, production, market distribution, and the fitting and operation of the technology itself.

This increased level of employment due to the use of renewable energy sources can also lead to a range of economic benefits. Such benefits are brought about when workers in the renewable energy industry spend part of their income in the local economy, generating spin-off benefits known as the ‘multiplier effect’. This increased spending creates economic activity (jobs and revenues) in other sectors such as retail, restaurant, leisure and entertainment. Other economic benefits include: financial savings on annual energy consumption bills for the direct user; possible reductions in the price of fossil fuels by lessening demand for them, and increased stability in energy prices through diversification of power supplies ^[2].

Air, water and soil pollution are the environmental problems we are causing as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels to generate energy. The use of renewable energy sources mitigates these environmental problems and can bring about a variety of environmental benefits. Such benefits include reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, which helps to combat climate change; avoiding air-borne pollution by sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and mercury, which are to varying degrees by products of most fossil fuel generation; and avoiding potentially harmful side effects of the extraction of fossil fuels through drilling and mining ^[3].

As well as bringing about a number of different social, economic and environmental benefits, it is also suggested that renewable energy sources play a vital role in developing national security by reducing overall payments to potentially hostile regimes or other groups in countries with oil and natural gas reserves.

References:

[1] Kalogirou, S. A., 2004. Solar thermal collectors and applications.

[2] Birgisson, G., Peterson, E., 2006. Renewable Energy Development Incentives: Strengths, Weaknesses and the Interplay.

[3] Birgisson, G., Peterson, E., 2006. Renewable Energy Development Incentives: Strengths, Weaknesses and the Interplay.