importance of green energy essay

Benefits of Renewable Energy Use

Published Jul 14, 2008 Updated Dec 20, 2017

Wind turbines and solar panels are an increasingly common sight. But why? What are the benefits of renewable energies—and how do they improve our health, environment, and economy?

This page explores the many positive impacts of clean energy, including the benefits of wind , solar , geothermal , hydroelectric , and biomass . For more information on their negative impacts—including effective solutions to avoid, minimize, or mitigate—see our page on  The Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies .

Less global warming

Human activity is overloading our atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other  global warming emissions . These gases act like a blanket, trapping heat. The result is a web of  significant and harmful impacts , from stronger, more frequent storms, to drought, sea level rise, and extinction.

In the United States, about 29 percent of global warming emissions come from our electricity sector. Most of those emissions come from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas [ 1 ,  2 ].

What is CO 2 e?

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is the most prevalent greenhouse gas, but other air pollutants—such as methane—also cause global warming. Different energy sources produce different amounts of these pollutants. To make comparisons easier, we use a carbon dioxide equivalent , or CO2e—the amount of carbon dioxide required to produce an equivalent amount of warming.

In contrast, most renewable energy sources produce little to no global warming emissions. Even when including “life cycle” emissions of clean energy (ie, the emissions from each stage of a technology’s life—manufacturing, installation, operation, decommissioning), the global warming emissions associated with renewable energy are minimal [ 3 ].

The comparison becomes clear when you look at the numbers. Burning natural gas for electricity releases between 0.6 and 2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour (CO2E/kWh); coal emits between 1.4 and 3.6 pounds of CO2E/kWh.  Wind , on the other hand, is responsible for only 0.02 to 0.04 pounds of CO2E/kWh on a life-cycle basis;  solar  0.07 to 0.2;  geothermal  0.1 to 0.2; and  hydroelectric  between 0.1 and 0.5.

Renewable electricity generation from  biomass  can have a wide range of global warming emissions depending on the resource and whether or not it is sustainably sourced and harvested.

Increasing the supply of renewable energy would allow us to replace carbon-intensive energy sources and significantly reduce US global warming emissions.

For example, a 2009 UCS analysis found that a 25 percent by 2025 national renewable electricity standard would lower power plant CO2 emissions 277 million metric tons annually by 2025—the equivalent of the annual output from 70 typical (600 MW) new coal plants [ 4 ].

In addition, a ground-breaking study by the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) explored the feasibility of generating 80 percent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2050. They found that renewable energy could help reduce the electricity sector’s emissions by approximately 81 percent [ 5 ].

Improved public health

The air and water pollution emitted by coal and natural gas plants is linked with breathing problems, neurological damage, heart attacks, cancer, premature death, and a host of other serious problems. The pollution affects everyone: one Harvard University study estimated the life cycle costs and public health effects of coal to be an estimated $74.6 billion every year . That’s equivalent to 4.36 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced—about one-third of the average electricity rate for a typical US home [ 6 ].

Most of these negative health impacts come from air and water pollution that clean energy technologies simply don’t produce. Wind, solar, and hydroelectric systems generate electricity with no associated air pollution emissions. Geothermal and biomass systems emit some air pollutants, though total air emissions are generally much lower than those of coal- and natural gas-fired power plants.

In addition, wind and solar energy require essentially no water to operate and thus do not pollute water resources or strain supplies by competing with agriculture, drinking water, or other important water needs. In contrast, fossil fuels can have a  significant impact on water resources : both coal mining and natural gas drilling can pollute sources of drinking water, and all thermal power plants, including those powered by coal, gas, and oil, withdraw and consume water for cooling. 

Biomass and geothermal power plants, like coal- and natural gas-fired power plants, may require water for cooling. Hydroelectric power plants can disrupt river ecosystems both upstream and downstream from the dam. However, NREL's 80-percent-by-2050 renewable energy study, which included biomass and geothermal, found that total water consumption and withdrawal would decrease significantly in a future with high renewables [ 7 ].

Inexhaustible energy

Strong winds, sunny skies, abundant plant matter, heat from the earth, and fast-moving water can each provide a vast and constantly replenished supply of energy. A relatively small fraction of US electricity currently comes from these sources, but that could change: studies have repeatedly shown that renewable energy can provide a significant share of future electricity needs, even after accounting for potential constraints [ 9 ].

In fact, a major government-sponsored study found that clean energy could contribute somewhere between three and 80 times its 2013 levels, depending on assumptions [8]. And the previously mentioned NREL study found that renewable energy could comfortably provide up to 80 percent of US electricity by 2050.

Getting Excited About Energy: Expanding Renewables in the US

Jobs and other economic benefits.

Compared with fossil fuel technologies, which are typically mechanized and capital intensive, the renewable energy industry is more labor intensive. Solar panels need humans to install them; wind farms need technicians for maintenance.

This means that, on average, more jobs are created for each unit of electricity generated from renewable sources than from fossil fuels.

Renewable energy already supports thousands of jobs in the United States. In 2016, the wind energy industry directly employed over 100,000 full-time-equivalent employees in a variety of capacities, including manufacturing, project development, construction and turbine installation, operations and maintenance, transportation and logistics, and financial, legal, and consulting services [ 10 ]. More than 500 factories in the United States manufacture parts for wind turbines, and wind power project installations in 2016 alone represented $13.0 billion in investments [ 11 ].

Other renewable energy technologies employ even more workers. In 2016, the solar industry employed more than 260,000 people, including jobs in solar installation, manufacturing, and sales, a 25% increase over 2015 [ 12 ]. The hydroelectric power industry employed approximately 66,000 people in 2017 [ 13 ]; the geothermal industry employed 5,800 people [ 14] .

Increased support for renewable energy could create even more jobs. The 2009 Union of Concerned Scientists study of a 25-percent-by-2025 renewable energy standard found that such a policy would create more than three times as many jobs (more than 200,000) as producing an equivalent amount of electricity from fossil fuels [ 15 ]. 

In contrast, the entire coal industry employed 160,000 people in 2016 [ 26 ].

In addition to the jobs directly created in the renewable energy industry, growth in clean energy can create positive economic “ripple” effects. For example, industries in the renewable energy supply chain will benefit, and unrelated local businesses will benefit from increased household and business incomes [ 16 ].

Local governments also benefit from clean energy, most often in the form of property and income taxes and other payments from renewable energy project owners. Owners of the land on which wind projects are built often receive lease payments ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 per megawatt of installed capacity, as well as payments for power line easements and road rights-of-way. They may also earn royalties based on the project’s annual revenues. Farmers and rural landowners can generate new sources of supplemental income by producing feedstocks for biomass power facilities.

UCS analysis found that a 25-by-2025 national renewable electricity standard would stimulate $263.4 billion in new capital investment for renewable energy technologies, $13.5 billion in new landowner income from? biomass production and/or wind land lease payments, and $11.5 billion in new property tax revenue for local communities [ 17 ].

Stable energy prices

Renewable energy is providing affordable electricity across the country right now, and can help stabilize energy prices in the future.

Although renewable facilities require upfront investments to build, they can then operate at very low cost (for most clean energy technologies, the “fuel” is free). As a result, renewable energy prices can be very stable over time.

Moreover, the costs of renewable energy technologies have declined steadily, and are projected to drop even more. For example, the average price to install solar dropped more than 70 percent between 2010 and 2017 [ 20 ]. The cost of generating electricity from wind dropped 66 percent between 2009 and 2016 [ 21 ]. Costs will likely decline even further as markets mature and companies increasingly take advantage of economies of scale.

In contrast, fossil fuel prices can vary dramatically and are prone to substantial price swings. For example, there was a rapid increase in US coal prices due to rising global demand before 2008, then a rapid fall after 2008 when global demands declined [ 23 ]. Likewise, natural gas prices have fluctuated greatly since 2000 [ 25 ].

Using more renewable energy can lower the prices of and demand for natural gas and coal by increasing competition and diversifying our energy supplies. And an increased reliance on renewable energy can help protect consumers when fossil fuel prices spike. 

Barriers to Renewable Energy Technologies

Reliability and resilience.

 Wind and solar are less prone to large-scale failure because they are distributed and modular. Distributed systems are spread out over a large geographical area, so a severe weather event in one location will not cut off power to an entire region. Modular systems are composed of numerous individual wind turbines or solar arrays. Even if some of the equipment in the system is damaged, the rest can typically continue to operate.

For example, Hurricane Sandy damaged fossil fuel-dominated electric generation and distribution systems in New York and New Jersey and left millions of people without power. In contrast, renewable energy projects in the Northeast weathered Hurricane Sandy with minimal damage or disruption [ 25 ]. 

Water scarcity is another risk for non-renewable power plants. Coal, nuclear, and many natural gas plants depend on having sufficient water for cooling, which means that severe droughts and heat waves can put electricity generation at risk. Wind and solar photovoltaic systems do not require water to generate electricity and can operate reliably in conditions that may otherwise require closing a fossil fuel-powered plant. (For more information, see  How it Works: Water for Electricity .)  

The risk of disruptive events will also increase in the future as droughts, heat waves, more intense storms, and increasingly severe wildfires become more frequent due to global warming—increasing the need for resilient, clean technologies.

References:

[1] Environmental Protection Agency. 2017. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2015.

[2] Energy Information Agency (EIA). 2017.  How much of the U.S. carbon dioxide emissions are associated with electricity generation?

[3] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2011.  IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation . Prepared by Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [O. Edenhofer, R. Pichs-Madruga, Y. Sokona, K. Seyboth, P. Matschoss, S. Kadner, T. Zwickel, P. Eickemeier, G. Hansen, S. Schlömer, C. von Stechow (eds)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 1075 pp. (Chapter 9).

[4] Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). 2009.  Clean Power Green Jobs .

[5] National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). 2012.  Renewable Electricity Futures Study . Volume 1, pg. 210.

[6] Epstein, P.R.,J. J. Buonocore, K. Eckerle, M. Hendryx, B. M. Stout III, R. Heinberg, R. W. Clapp, B. May, N. L. Reinhart, M. M. Ahern, S. K. Doshi, and L. Glustrom. 2011. Full cost accounting for the life cycle of coal in “Ecological Economics Reviews.” Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1219: 73–98.

[7]  Renewable Electricity Futures Study . 2012.

[8] NREL. 2016.  Estimating Renewable Energy Economic Potential in the United States: Methodology and Initial Results .

[9]  Renewable Electricity Futures Study . 2012.

IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation . Prepared by Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2011.

UCS. 2009.  Climate 2030: A national blueprint for a clean energy economy .

[10] American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). 2017. AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report: Year Ending 2016. Washington, D.C.: American Wind Energy Association.

 [11] Wiser, Ryan, and Mark Bolinger. 2017. 2016 Wind Technologies Market Report. U.S. Department of Energy.

[12] The Solar Foundation. 2017. National Solar Jobs Census 2016.

[13] Navigant Consulting. 2009.  Job Creation Opportunities in Hydropower .

[14] Geothermal Energy Association. 2010.  Green Jobs through Geothermal Energy .

[15] UCS. 2009.  Clean Power Green Jobs .

[16] Environmental Protection Agency. 2010.  Assessing the Multiple Benefits of Clean Energy: A Resource for States . Chapter 5.

[17] UCS. 2009.  Clean Power Green Jobs .

[18] Deyette, J., and B. Freese. 2010.  Burning coal, burning cash: Ranking the states that import the most coal . Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists.

[20] SEIA. 2017. Solar Market Insight Report 2017 Q2.

[21] AWEA. 2017. AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report: Year Ending 2016. Washington, D.C.: American Wind Energy Association.

[22] UCS. 2009.  Clean Power Green Jobs .

[23] UCS. 2011.  A Risky Proposition: The financial hazards of new investments in coal plants .

[24] EIA. 2013.  U.S. Natural Gas Wellhead Price .

[25] Unger, David J. 2012.  Are renewables stormproof? Hurricane Sandy tests solar, wind . The Christian Science Monitor. November 19.

[26] Department of Energy. 2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report

Related resources

The Electric Utility Toolkit

Siting for a Cleaner, More Equitable Grid in Massachusetts

Barriers and Solutions to Building Clean Energy in California

Accelerating Clean Energy Ambition

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Essay on Green Energy – Samples, 10 Lines to 1500 Words

Essay on Green Energy: Green energy is a hot topic in today’s world as we strive to reduce our carbon footprint and combat climate change. In this essay, we will explore the importance of green energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro power. We will discuss the benefits of transitioning to renewable energy sources, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs in the clean energy sector, and promoting sustainability for future generations. Join us as we delve into the world of green energy and its potential to transform our planet for the better.

Table of Contents

Green Energy Essay Writing Tips

1. Introduction: Start your essay by introducing the concept of green energy and its importance in today’s world. Explain why it is crucial to shift towards renewable sources of energy to combat climate change and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

2. Define green energy: Provide a clear definition of green energy, which includes renewable sources such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass. Explain how these sources are sustainable and environmentally friendly.

3. Benefits of green energy: Discuss the numerous benefits of green energy, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, creating jobs, and promoting energy independence. Highlight how green energy can help mitigate the effects of climate change and contribute to a more sustainable future.

4. Challenges of green energy: Acknowledge the challenges and barriers that green energy faces, such as high initial costs, intermittency of renewable sources, and lack of infrastructure. Discuss how these challenges can be overcome through technological advancements, policy support, and public awareness.

5. Government policies and initiatives: Describe the role of government policies and initiatives in promoting green energy adoption. Discuss examples of successful renewable energy programs and incentives that have helped accelerate the transition towards a greener energy mix.

6. Technological advancements: Highlight the importance of technological advancements in improving the efficiency and affordability of green energy technologies. Discuss innovations in solar panels, wind turbines, energy storage, and smart grid systems that are making renewable energy more accessible and reliable.

7. Public awareness and education: Emphasize the importance of raising public awareness and educating communities about the benefits of green energy. Discuss the role of advocacy groups, educational institutions, and media in promoting sustainable energy practices and encouraging individuals to make environmentally conscious choices.

8. Conclusion: Summarize the key points of your essay and reiterate the importance of transitioning towards green energy to address climate change and promote a sustainable future. Encourage readers to support renewable energy initiatives and take action to reduce their carbon footprint.

Essay on Green Energy in 10 Lines – Examples

1. Green energy refers to renewable sources of energy that are environmentally friendly and sustainable. 2. Examples of green energy sources include solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, and geothermal energy. 3. Green energy helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. 4. It also helps decrease dependence on fossil fuels and promotes energy independence. 5. Green energy technologies are constantly evolving and becoming more efficient and cost-effective. 6. Governments around the world are investing in green energy initiatives to meet climate goals and create jobs. 7. Businesses are increasingly adopting green energy solutions to reduce their carbon footprint and save money. 8. Green energy can be generated on a small scale, such as rooftop solar panels on homes, or on a large scale, such as wind farms. 9. The transition to green energy requires investment in infrastructure, research, and policy changes. 10. Overall, green energy is a crucial part of the transition to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.

Sample Essay on Green Energy in 100-180 Words

Green energy refers to renewable sources of energy that are environmentally friendly and sustainable. These sources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass energy. Green energy is crucial in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, which contribute to air pollution, climate change, and other environmental issues.

One of the main benefits of green energy is that it produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional energy sources. This helps to combat climate change and improve air quality. Green energy also helps to create jobs in the renewable energy sector and promotes economic growth.

Investing in green energy is essential for a sustainable future. Governments, businesses, and individuals should prioritize the development and use of renewable energy sources to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the environment for future generations. By transitioning to green energy, we can create a cleaner, healthier planet for all.

Short Essay on Green Energy in 200-500 Words

Green energy, also known as renewable energy, is becoming increasingly important in today’s world as we strive to reduce our carbon footprint and combat climate change. Green energy sources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power, among others. These sources are considered “green” because they produce minimal or no greenhouse gas emissions, unlike traditional fossil fuels such as coal and oil.

One of the most popular forms of green energy is solar power. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, providing a clean and renewable source of energy. The use of solar power has been steadily increasing in recent years, as the technology has become more affordable and efficient. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, solar power can also help homeowners and businesses save money on their energy bills.

Wind power is another important form of green energy. Wind turbines harness the power of the wind to generate electricity, with no emissions or pollution. Wind farms can be found in many parts of the world, providing a significant source of renewable energy. While some people have raised concerns about the impact of wind turbines on wildlife and the landscape, many experts believe that the benefits of wind power far outweigh any potential drawbacks.

Hydroelectric power is another important source of green energy. Hydroelectric dams use the power of flowing water to generate electricity, with minimal environmental impact. While hydroelectric power has been used for many years, there is still potential for growth in this area, particularly in developing countries with abundant water resources.

Geothermal power is a lesser-known form of green energy, but it has great potential for the future. Geothermal power plants harness the heat from the Earth’s core to generate electricity, providing a reliable and sustainable source of energy. While geothermal power is currently limited to certain regions with active geothermal activity, advances in technology could make it more widely available in the future.

In conclusion, green energy is a crucial part of our transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. By investing in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power, we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and help protect the planet for future generations. It is important for governments, businesses, and individuals to continue to support and promote green energy initiatives in order to create a cleaner and healthier world for all.

Essay on Green Energy in 1000-1500 Words

Green energy, also known as renewable energy, is becoming increasingly popular as the world seeks to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and transition to more sustainable and environmentally friendly sources of power. Green energy sources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass energy, all of which have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. In this essay, we will explore the benefits of green energy, the challenges it faces, and the potential for its widespread adoption in the future.

One of the key benefits of green energy is its environmental sustainability. Unlike fossil fuels, which are finite resources that contribute to air and water pollution, green energy sources are renewable and produce little to no emissions when generating electricity. For example, solar panels harness the sun’s energy to produce electricity, while wind turbines use the power of the wind to generate power. These technologies have minimal environmental impact and can help reduce our carbon footprint, making them a crucial component of efforts to combat climate change.

Another advantage of green energy is its potential to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. As the demand for renewable energy sources increases, so too does the need for skilled workers to design, install, and maintain these systems. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the renewable energy sector employed over 11 million people worldwide in 2018, a figure that is expected to continue growing as countries invest in clean energy infrastructure. In addition, green energy projects can attract investment and drive innovation, leading to new technologies and business opportunities that can benefit local economies.

Furthermore, green energy can enhance energy security by diversifying our energy sources and reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels. Many countries rely heavily on oil, gas, and coal for their energy needs, leaving them vulnerable to price fluctuations and supply disruptions. By investing in renewable energy, countries can reduce their reliance on foreign energy sources and increase their energy independence. This can help stabilize energy prices, improve energy access for underserved communities, and enhance national security by reducing the risks associated with fossil fuel extraction and transportation.

Despite these benefits, green energy faces several challenges that must be addressed in order to realize its full potential. One of the main obstacles is the high upfront cost of renewable energy technologies, which can deter investment and slow the pace of adoption. While the cost of solar panels, wind turbines, and other green energy systems has decreased in recent years, they still require significant capital investment to install and operate. Governments and businesses must therefore provide financial incentives, such as tax credits, grants, and subsidies, to make green energy more affordable and attractive to consumers.

Another challenge is the intermittent nature of some renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. These sources are dependent on weather conditions and may not always be available when electricity demand is highest. To address this issue, energy storage technologies, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, can be used to store excess energy during times of low demand and release it when needed. In addition, smart grid technologies can help balance supply and demand by integrating renewable energy sources with traditional power plants and optimizing energy use across the grid.

In addition, the lack of infrastructure and grid connectivity can hinder the deployment of green energy projects in some regions. Many developing countries lack the necessary transmission lines, substations, and grid interconnections to support large-scale renewable energy installations. In order to overcome this barrier, governments and utilities must invest in upgrading and expanding their grid infrastructure to accommodate the growing share of renewable energy in the energy mix. This will require collaboration between public and private stakeholders, as well as long-term planning and investment in grid modernization.

Furthermore, regulatory barriers and market distortions can impede the growth of green energy by favoring fossil fuels and hindering the development of renewable energy projects. Many countries still provide subsidies and tax breaks to the fossil fuel industry, while imposing tariffs and regulations that make it difficult for renewable energy developers to compete. In order to level the playing field, policymakers must reform energy policies, remove barriers to entry, and create a supportive regulatory environment that encourages investment in green energy. This will require political will, stakeholder engagement, and a commitment to transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

Despite these challenges, the future of green energy looks promising as countries around the world commit to reducing their carbon emissions and transitioning to a more sustainable energy future. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, set a global target to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with the aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. In order to meet this goal, countries must accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, phase out fossil fuels, and invest in energy efficiency and conservation measures.

In conclusion, green energy offers a viable and sustainable solution to the challenges of climate change, energy security, and economic development. By harnessing the power of the sun, wind, water, and earth, we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and create a more resilient and sustainable energy system for future generations. While green energy faces obstacles and barriers to adoption, the benefits far outweigh the costs, and the potential for a clean energy future is within reach. By working together to overcome these challenges, we can build a more sustainable and prosperous world powered by green energy.

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Renewable energy – powering a safer future

Energy is at the heart of the climate challenge – and key to the solution.

A large chunk of the greenhouse gases that blanket the Earth and trap the sun’s heat are generated through energy production, by burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and heat.

Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, are by far the largest contributor to global climate change , accounting for over 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions.

The science is clear: to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, emissions need to be reduced by almost half by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050.

To achieve this, we need to end our reliance on fossil fuels and invest in alternative sources of energy that are clean, accessible, affordable, sustainable, and reliable.

Renewable energy sources – which are available in abundance all around us, provided by the sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the Earth – are replenished by nature and emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air.

Fossil fuels still account for more than 80 percent of global energy production , but cleaner sources of energy are gaining ground. About 29 percent of electricity currently comes from renewable sources.

Here are five reasons why accelerating the transition to clean energy is the pathway to a healthy, livable planet today and for generations to come.

1. Renewable energy sources are all around us

About 80 percent of the global population lives in countries that are net-importers of fossil fuels -- that’s about 6 billion people who are dependent on fossil fuels from other countries, which makes them vulnerable to geopolitical shocks and crises.

In contrast, renewable energy sources are available in all countries, and their potential is yet to be fully harnessed. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 90 percent of the world’s electricity can and should come from renewable energy by 2050.

Renewables offer a way out of import dependency, allowing countries to diversify their economies and protect them from the unpredictable price swings of fossil fuels, while driving inclusive economic growth, new jobs, and poverty alleviation.

2. Renewable energy is cheaper

Renewable energy actually is the cheapest power option in most parts of the world today. Prices for renewable energy technologies are dropping rapidly. The cost of electricity from solar power fell by 85 percent between 2010 and 2020. Costs of onshore and offshore wind energy fell by 56 percent and 48 percent respectively.

Falling prices make renewable energy more attractive all around – including to low- and middle-income countries, where most of the additional demand for new electricity will come from. With falling costs, there is a real opportunity for much of the new power supply over the coming years to be provided by low-carbon sources.

Cheap electricity from renewable sources could provide 65 percent of the world’s total electricity supply by 2030. It could decarbonize 90 percent of the power sector by 2050, massively cutting carbon emissions and helping to mitigate climate change.

Although solar and wind power costs are expected to remain higher in 2022 and 2023 then pre-pandemic levels due to general elevated commodity and freight prices, their competitiveness actually improves due to much sharper increases in gas and coal prices, says the International Energy Agency (IEA).

3. Renewable energy is healthier

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 99 percent of people in the world breathe air that exceeds air quality limits and threatens their health, and more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes, including air pollution.

The unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide originate mainly from the burning of fossil fuels. In 2018, air pollution from fossil fuels caused $2.9 trillion in health and economic costs , about $8 billion a day.

Switching to clean sources of energy, such as wind and solar, thus helps address not only climate change but also air pollution and health.

4. Renewable energy creates jobs

Every dollar of investment in renewables creates three times more jobs than in the fossil fuel industry. The IEA estimates that the transition towards net-zero emissions will lead to an overall increase in energy sector jobs : while about 5 million jobs in fossil fuel production could be lost by 2030, an estimated 14 million new jobs would be created in clean energy, resulting in a net gain of 9 million jobs.

In addition, energy-related industries would require a further 16 million workers, for instance to take on new roles in manufacturing of electric vehicles and hyper-efficient appliances or in innovative technologies such as hydrogen. This means that a total of more than 30 million jobs could be created in clean energy, efficiency, and low-emissions technologies by 2030.

Ensuring a just transition , placing the needs and rights of people at the heart of the energy transition, will be paramount to make sure no one is left behind.

5. Renewable energy makes economic sense

About $7 trillion was spent on subsidizing the fossil fuel industry in 2022, including through explicit subsidies, tax breaks, and health and environmental damages that were not priced into the cost of fossil fuels.

In comparison, about $4.5 trillion a year needs to be invested in renewable energy until 2030 – including investments in technology and infrastructure – to allow us to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The upfront cost can be daunting for many countries with limited resources, and many will need financial and technical support to make the transition. But investments in renewable energy will pay off. The reduction of pollution and climate impacts alone could save the world up to $4.2 trillion per year by 2030.

Moreover, efficient, reliable renewable technologies can create a system less prone to market shocks and improve resilience and energy security by diversifying power supply options.

Learn more about how many communities and countries are realizing the economic, societal, and environmental benefits of renewable energy.

Will developing countries benefit from the renewables boom? Learn more here .

What is renewable energy?

Derived from natural resources that are abundant and continuously replenished, renewable energy is key to a safer, cleaner, and sustainable world. Explore common sources of renewable energy here.

Why invest in renewable energy?

Learn more about the differences between fossil fuels and renewables, the benefits of renewable energy, and how we can act now.

Five ways to jump-start the renewable energy transition now

UN Secretary-General outlines five critical actions the world needs to prioritize now to speed up the global shift to renewable energy.

What is net zero? Why is it important? Our net-zero page explains why we need steep emissions cuts now and what efforts are underway.

• What is climate change?

Our climate 101 offers a quick take on the how and why of climate change. Read more.

How will the world foot the bill? We explain the issues and the value of financing climate action.

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It’s time to stop burning our planet, and start investing in the abundant renewable energy all around us." ANTÓNIO GUTERRES , United Nations Secretary-General

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The Impact of Green Energy on Environment and Sustainable Development Essay

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Today, many researchers and ecologists pay attention to the problems of the environment with references to the notion of the sustainable development. The global community is challenged by a lot of issues associated with the environmental pollution and the constant growth of using the energetic resources. The economic progress of the world with accentuating the concepts of civilization and industrialization is based on the usage of a lot of energy significantly.

Traditional methods of receiving the necessary amount of power for meeting the needs of the developed cites and industries cannot be discussed as efficient according to the threat of the environmental pollution which is the effect of the developed energy industry. Moreover, the traditional approaches to the energy systems do not address the idea of the sustainable development.

That is why, it is necessary to concentrate on the alternative methods of receiving the power. Green energy can be discussed as the effective way to promote the necessary amount of energy for the industries, urban territories, and enterprises without damaging the environment. From this point, the notion of green energy is closely connected with renewable energy which is often discussed as the source of power with the minimal negative effects.

Sustainable development is one of the most significant requirements to the modern society in relation to the general tendencies of the global progress with references to the problems of the nature and environment. The main principle of the sustainable development is based on addressing the demands of the modern population with concentrating on the possible needs of the future generations.

However, contemporary problems which are associated with the environmental pollution caused by the modern energy industries can be discussed as dangerous for providing the necessary sustainable development.

Today, industries and power resources can be considered as the main causes for the greenhouse effects and global warming which can lead to the changes in the climate, air, soil, and water pollution. The carbon dioxide as the result of the energy industries is the main air pollutant which can influence the changes in the environment dramatically.

Furthermore, the usage of the energy resources depends on the destruction of the landscapes and deforestation of the territories. The next issue is the high level of the energy consumption which should be reduced in order to preserve the natural balance (Wengenmayr & Buhrke, 2008). Thus, to overcome all these negative effects of using the traditional energy resources, it is significant to focus on utilizing the alternative resources of power which can be discussed as green energy.

Green energy is based on utilizing the power of the natural energetic processes such as wind power, solar energy, geothermal power, biomass power, and wave power (Boyle, 2004). These processes are realized almost without any pollution that is why they can be considered as beneficial for providing energy for buildings in the urban territories and for industries.

The modern world needs concentrating on the usage of the definite clean energy technologies which can reduce the negative impacts on the environment. The decrease of the environmental pollution caused by the energy systems is important because of the active usage of traditional energy resources for lighting, heating, and cooling the modern buildings within the urban territories.

The rational usage of energy with references to decreasing the energy consumption is the main task of the global community in order to address the needs of sustainability. The negative impact of the carbon dioxide and the other harmful emissions which cause the air pollution as a result of developing the energy systems can be decreased with using such energy resources as, for instance wind, power and solar energy.

The technological progress and a great number of technological innovations which can contribute to using green energy in many sectors of the people’s life are significant for the sustainable development. The technologies associated with utilizing the green energy and renewable energy resources address the principles of sustainability and can have the positive long-term effects (MacKay, 2009). Nevertheless, it is impossible to use the same green energy resources within different territories.

The choice of the appropriate green energy resource which can satisfy the needs of the local territory or organization with references to the questions of availability and economy is the challengeable process, but the effective usage of renewable energy and the positive results of the choice can contribute to reducing the costs on energy and to using the energy system without much pollution.

The impact of green energy on environment and sustainable development can be discussed as positive because of a range of the associated factors. Nowadays, it is significant to concentrate on reducing the energy consumption and costs in the situation when the population’s demands increase and on diminishing the waste and pollution provided by the energy industries.

The traditional energy resources as the fossil energy have a lot of negative effects for the environment and should be changed with the alternative power resources. From this point, the usage of green energy resources is the effective way to address the requirements of the society and the principles of sustainable development.

Boyle, G. (2004). Renewable energy: Power for a sustainable future . USA: Oxford University Press.

MacKay, D. (2009). Sustainable energy – without the hot air . USA: UIT Cambridge Ltd.

Wengenmayr, R. & Buhrke, T. (2008). Renewable energy . USA: Wiley-VCH.

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IvyPanda. (2018, November 20). The Impact of Green Energy on Environment and Sustainable Development. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-impact-of-green-energy-on-environment-and-sustainable-development/

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Essay on Green Energy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his COP21 Summit, ‘Today, when the energy sources and excesses of our industrial age have put our planet in peril, the world must turn to the Sun to power our future.’

The urgency of climate change makes the transition to suitable energy imperative. Green energy, encompassing biomass, solar, wind, and hydropower, offers hope in our environmental battle and promises innovation. This essay highlights renewable energy’s critical role in preserving our planet and foresees societal and economic benefits that could reshape our global landscape. Supporting green energy is vital for securing a sustainable future, especially for us as the next generation inheriting this earth. 

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Essay on Green Energy in 150 Words

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A.1 Renewable energy, like that found in the sun, is referred to as green energy. Clean energy is defined as energy that doesn’t discharge pollutants into the atmosphere, and renewable energy is derived from energy sources like solar, wind, or hydropower that are continuously replenished.

A.2 Utilising renewable energy has both environmental and financial advantages. It generates electricity without emitting greenhouse gases like fossil fuels, and it lessens some forms of air pollution. Decreasing reliance on imported fuels and diversifying the energy source.

A.3 Renewable energy is produced using natural resources such as sunshine, wind, and water. The term “clean energy” or “green power” is also used to describe renewable energy since it doesn’t contaminate the air or water.

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Energy is at the heart of the sustainable development agenda to 2030

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IEA (2018), Energy is at the heart of the sustainable development agenda to 2030 , IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/commentaries/energy-is-at-the-heart-of-the-sustainable-development-agenda-to-2030

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Three years ago, all countries of the world adopted 17 ambitious policy goals to end poverty, protect the planet, promote gender equality, or ensure prosperity, as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda, and vowed to achieve specific targets by 2030.

Energy is at the heart of many of these Sustainable Development Goals – from expanding access to electricity, to improving clean cooking fuels, from reducing wasteful energy subsidies to curbing deadly air pollution that each year prematurely kills millions around the world. One of these goals – commonly known as SDG 7 – aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by the end of the next decade.

All these topics are fundamental to the work of the International Energy Agency. As the world’s leading energy authority, the IEA has unmatched analytical capabilities based on its unique data collection, technological network, research, and policy recommendations, which we put in the service of understanding the energy system. As I have often said –  in the world of energy, data always wins.

The adoption of energy specific sustainable development goals was a milestone in moving the world towards a more sustainable and equitable system. The IEA continues to support this critical goal with unbiased data and projections. This has long been a personal and professional priority for me. Fifteen years ago, we recognized this basic fact when we first compiled data for electricity access and mapped out a scenario for delivering universal electricity access by 2030 in the  World Energy Outlook , the IEA’s benchmark publication.

As a result, the IEA has been tracking country-by-country progress on energy access (SDG 7.1) on an annual basis since 2002. As the world's most authoritative source of energy statistics, the IEA is also the lead custodian agency for reporting progress towards substantially increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix (SDG 7.2) and doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency (SDG 7.3).

The United Nations will have the first in-depth review of SDG 7 goals at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development organized in New York, in July this year. This will be a good time to assess where we stand with our global energy goals, where existing national policies are taking us, and how to steer the global energy system towards a more sustainable path. To assist this critical process, the IEA has decided to create a new online resource to centralize all of our data and scenario projections in support of the 2030 Agenda.

It is clear that the energy sector must be at the heart of efforts to lead the world on a more sustainable pathway. But our data and analysis show that the current and planned policies fall well short of achieving our critical energy-related sustainable development objectives.

There has been tremendous progress in delivering universal electricity access (SDG 7.1.1) in Asia and parts of sub-Saharan Africa, with the number of people without access declining to 1.1 billion in 2016, from 1.7 billion in 2000. But on the basis of current progress, more than 670 million people are still projected to be without electricity access in 2030. Much work remains to be done in this field.

The picture is even dimmer when it comes to access to clean and modern cooking facilities (SDG 7.1.2). About 2.8 billion people rely on polluting biomass, coal and kerosene to cook their daily meals, a number which has not changed since 2000. Without greater ambition, 2.3 billion will still remain without clean cooking access in 2030, with grave health, environmental and social consequences.

The share of modern renewables in global final energy consumption (SDG 7.2) has been growing steadily in the past decades, reaching nearly 10% in 2015. However, to achieve a truly sustainable energy system, this share needs to more than double to 21% by 2030. But while wind and solar deployment has accelerated, thanks to falling costs and policy support in many parts of the world, this goal is still out of reach under current policies.

Finally, 2015 was an impressive year for energy efficiency (SDG 7.3), with global energy intensity falling by 2.8%, the fastest annual improvement since 1990. However, the average improvement between 2000 and 2015 of 2.2% still falls short of the 2.6% target needed to achieve the SDG target, and the 3.4% annual improvement needed to meet more ambitious long-term climate objectives.

Tracking progress towards these goals is only one aspect of our sustainable development work. Through our new Sustainable Development Scenario, introduced in 2017, we also seek to map an integrated path for achieving critical global goals in the next three decades: delivering universal energy access by 2030, an early peak in carbon emissions (SDG 13), and reducing deadly air pollution (SDG 3). One of the main finding of this new scenario is that these three goals are not incompatible. Indeed, our analysis shows they can successfully be met together.

But there is an urgent need for action on all fronts, especially on renewables and energy efficiency, which are key for delivering on all three goals – energy access, climate mitigation and lower air pollution. The IEA is committed to keep leading this agenda, and stepping up efforts to support the clean energy transition. We will do so with our unparalleled data, unbiased analysis, and our determined policy support to help move the world towards delivering the 2030 Agenda.

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• 08 August 2023

Clean energy can fuel the future — and make the world healthier

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China is on track to reach its solar-power target for 2030. Credit: Zhao Yongtao/VCG/Getty

The 2030 targets laid out by the United Nations for the seventh Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 7) are clear enough: provide affordable access to energy; expand use of renewable sources; improve energy efficiency year on year; and enhance international cooperation in support of clean-energy research, development and infrastructure. Meeting those goals, however, will be anything but simple. As seen in many of the editorials in this series examining the SDGs at their halfway stage , the world is falling short.

This is due, at least in part, to the influence of the fossil-fuel industry, which drives the economics and, often, the politics of countries large and small, rich and poor. Rising human prosperity, as measured by economic growth, has long been linked to an abundance of fossil fuels. Many politicians fear that the pursuit of clean-energy sources will compromise that economic development. The latest science clearly counters this view — but the voice of the research community is not being heard in the right places. To meet the targets embodied in SDG 7, that has to change.

There is much to be done. In 2021, some 675 million people worldwide still did not have access to electricity. This is down from 1.1 billion a decade or so ago, but the pace of progress has slowed. On the basis of current trends, 660 million people, many of them in sub-Saharan Africa, will remain without electricity by 2030. And projections indicate that some 1.9 billion people will still be using polluting and inefficient cooking systems fuelled by coal and wood (see go.nature.com/3s8d887 ). This is bad news all round: for health, biodiversity and the climate.

Carbon emissions hit new high: warning from COP27

Achieving the energy-access targets was always going to be a stretch, but progress has been slow elsewhere, too. Take energy efficiency. More energy efficiency means less pollution, and energy efficiency has increased by around 2% annually in the past few years. But meeting the target for 2030 — to double the rate of the 1990–2010 average — would require gains of around 3.4% every year for the rest of this decade.

The picture for renewable energy is similarly mixed. Despite considerable growth in wind and solar power to generate grid electricity, progress in the heat and transport sectors remains sluggish. Renewable energy’s share of total global energy consumption was just 19.1% in 2020, according to the latest UN tracking report, but one-third of that came from burning resources such as wood.

One reason for the slow progress is the continued idea that aggressive clean-energy goals will get in the way of economic development. It’s easier and more profitable for major fossil-fuel producers to simply maintain the status quo. Just last month, ministers from the G20 group of the world’s biggest economies, including the European Union, India, Saudi Arabia and the United States, failed to agree on a plan to phase out fossil fuels and triple the capacity of renewable energy by 2030.

But this is where science has a story to tell. In the past, researchers say, many models indicated that clean energy would be more expensive than that from fossil fuels, potentially pricing the poorest nations out of the market as well as driving up people’s food bills and exacerbating hunger. But the latest research suggests that the picture is more complex. Energy is a linchpin for most of the SDGs, and research that merges climate, energy and the SDGs underscores this 1 . For example, the agriculture and food-transport sectors still depend on fossil fuels, and that generates pollution that kills millions of people each year. Other links are indirect: lack of access to light at night and to online information — as a result of energy poverty — hampers educational attainment and contributes to both long- and short-term inequality.

US aims for electric-car revolution — will it work?

The lesson from research is that it might be easier, not harder, to address these challenges together. In 2021, researcher Gabriela Iacobuţă at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability in Bonn and her colleagues showed that technologies centred on renewable resources and efficiency tend to come with few trade-offs and many benefits, including improved public health and wealth, thanks to a cleaner environment and better jobs 2 . And climate scientist Bjoern Soergel at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany and his colleagues found that a coordinated package of climate and development policies could achieve most of the SDGs while limiting global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels 3 .

The study assessed 56 indicators across all 17 SDGs. One proposed intervention is an international climate finance mechanism that would levy fees on carbon emissions that would be redistributed through national programmes to reduce poverty. A second focuses on promoting healthy diets — including reducing the consumption of meat, the production of which requires a lot of water, energy and land. This would benefit people on low incomes by lowering both food and energy prices.

The biggest challenge lies in translating these models to the real world. To do so, we need leaders who are not bound by outmoded thinking, are aware of the latest science and can draw on the research to build public support for the necessary energy transition. We require more national and international public institutions that are willing to address problems at the system level. And all of this needs a science community that is willing and able to champion knowledge and evidence.

Nature 620 , 245 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02510-y

Vohra, K. et al. Environ. Res. 195 , 110754 (2021).

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Iacobuţă, G. I., Höhne, N., van Soest, H. L. & Leemans, R. Sustainability 13 , 10774 (2021).

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Soergel, B. et al. Nature Clim. Change 11 , 656–664 (2021).

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Home — Essay Samples — Science — Energy — Importance Of Energy

Importance of Energy

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Solar Energy Essay

500 words essay on solar energy.

Solar energy is the energy which the earth receives from the sun which converts into thermal or electrical energy. Moreover, solar energy influences the climate of the earth and weather to sustain life. It has great potential which we must use to our advantage fully. Through the solar energy essay, we will look at this in detail and know more about it carefully.

Importance of Solar Energy

Solar energy is very important as it is a clean and renewable source of energy. Thus, this means it will not damage the earth in any way. In addition, it is available on a daily basis. Similarly, it does not cause any kind of pollution.

As it is environment-friendly, it is very important in today’s world. It is so much better than other pollution sources of energies like fossil fuels and more. Further, it has low maintenance costs.

Solar panel systems do not require a lot of solar power energy. Moreover, they come with 5-10 years of warranty which is very beneficial. Most importantly, it reduces the cost of electricity bills.

In other words, we use it mostly for cooking and heating up our homes. Thus, it drops the utility bills cost and helps us save some extra money. Further, solar energy also has many possible applications.

A lot of communities and villages make use of solar energy to power their homes, offices and more. Further, we can use it in areas where there is no access to a power grid. For instance, distilling the water is Africa and powering the satellites in space.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Uses of Solar Energy

In today’s world, we use solar energy for a lot of things. Firstly, we use solar power for many things as small as calculators to as big as power plants which power the entire city. We use the most common solar power for small things.

For instance, many calculators use solar cells to operate, thus they never run out of batteries. Moreover, we also have some watches which run on solar cells. Similarly, there are also radios which run on solar cells.

Thus, you see so many things run on solar power. All satellites run on solar power otherwise they won’t be able to function. Moreover, large desalinization plants make use of solar power if there is little or no freshwater.

In addition, many countries have solar furnaces. We also use solar power commercially and residentially. You will find its uses in transportation service too. In fact, soon, solar powers will also be out on the streets.

Conclusion of Solar Energy Essay

To sum it up, solar energy is a cost-effective means of energy which is quite useful for people that have huge families. When we install solar panels, we can get solar energy which will reduce electricity costs and allow us to lead a sustainable lifestyle. Thus, we must all try to use it well to our advantage.

FAQ of Solar Energy Essay

Question 1: What is solar energy in simple words?

Answer 1: Solar energy is basically the transformation of heat, the energy which is derived from the sun. We have been using it for thousands of years in numerous different ways all over the world. The oldest uses of solar energy are for heating, cooking, and drying.

Question 2: What are the advantages of solar energy?

Answer 2: There are many advantages of solar energy. Firstly, it is a renewable source of energy which makes it healthy. Moreover, it also reduces the electricity bills of ours. After that, we can also use it for diverse applications. Further, it also has low maintenance costs.

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The transition to a clean energy economy will enhance the lives of all Americans.

How does clean energy benefit all americans.

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Clean energy is important because it has the power to enhance economic growth, support energy independence, and improve the health and well-being of the American people. 

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is committed to leading the nation’s transition to a clean energy economy for these reasons. Read about how EERE worked to bring clean energy to Americans nationwide in 2023. 

What Is Clean Energy?

Renewable energy resources provide an affordable, reliable, and sustainable U.S. power supply—while also reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. 

We can harness abundant domestic resources including wind energy ,  solar energy ,  bioenergy ,  geothermal energy ,  hydropower , and  marine energy to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. 

About 20% of all U.S. electricity now comes from renewable energy sources with 60% from fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas, and the remainder from nuclear energy. 

Why Do We Need Clean Energy?

Renewable power is not only cost-competitive; it’s also the most cost-effective source of energy in many situations , depending on the location and season. 

Still, we have more work to do both on the technologies themselves and on our nation’s electric system as a whole to achieve the U.S. climate goal of 100% carbon-pollution-free electricity by 2035. 

EERE’s job is to give Americans access to the energy resources they want at a price they can afford with the infrastructure they can count on. 

Learn more about why EERE believes in bringing clean energy and efficiency improvements to the American people:

Diversity in STEM and Clean Energy

Diversifying the clean energy workforce and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) introduces a wider variety of perspectives that support greater innovation and American competitiveness. 

Domestic Manufacturing and Competitiveness

We need American-made clean energy technologies to provide the fastest, most effective, and most lucrative pathway to a sustainable power supply.

Energy Accessibility and Affordability

Providing all Americans with affordable clean energy , especially those in underserved and low-income communities, has an immediate and tangible impact on daily lives.

Energy Equity and Environmental Justice

The transition to a clean energy economy requires a transformative commitment to prioritizing disadvantaged and underserved communities . 

Energy Independence and Security

Adopting clean energy in the United States reduces the need to rely on other countries for energy resources and technologies, while also helping isolated communities support their own energy needs .

Using more renewable energy resources—solar, water, wind, geothermal, and bioenergy—and energy storage gives us more ways to keep the power on or bring it back after an outage.

A modern electric grid that incorporates renewable energy sources can support a reliable power supply under harsh weather, cyber threats, and dynamic grid conditions.

Renewable energy has fewer harmful environmental impacts than conventional energy does and can help combat the effects of climate change .

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Transitioning to clean energy reduces air pollution, which can improve public health and lead to lower healthcare costs.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY

Every day we hear more about the importance of green technology. But do we all know what green technology is? Green or eco-technology includes sustainable or environmental technology and it covers continuously evolving groups of methods, practices, and materials, from techniques for generating energy to non-toxic cleaning products. It considers the long and short-term impact of something on the environment. Green technology is environmentally friendly by definition since it encompasses energy efficiency, health and safety concerns, recycling, renewable resources, and many other things.

Although it seems as a completely new concept, renewable energy has been around for thousands of years. The wind was used to carry ships over water thousands of years ago and the primary sources of renewable energy in history were human labor, animal power, water power, wind, and firewood. In the 1800s people started using fossil fuels and shortly after they started fearing that we would run out of fossil fuels and became more interested in renewable energy. Nowadays, we still seem so dependent on fossil fuels that it is almost impossible to fathom a world without them in it.

However, the harmful energy policies, climate change, deforestation, soil degradation, and excessive use of resources are just a few of the issues that experts say people need to address in order to achieve sustainability on our planet. Green technology can help us achieve this sustainability and we believe everyone should be more interested in developing it and using it for their business operations.

At Green Machines we have always tried to come up with better solutions that will reduce the overall negative impact of technology, but this year we are going to present an even more forward-looking product, a true game-changing technology that we believe will capture everyone’s interest. We believe it is time to learn something from our ancestors from thousands of years ago and use renewable resources to create technology that will be beneficial but also harmless to the environment. We are eager to introduce this new product and prove once again that the importance of green technology is immense if we want to preserve our environment and build a sustainable future.

So, stay tuned and subscribe to our social media channels, and don’t forget to regularly check our news section here at www.greenmachines.com . When we say game-changing, we mean it. 😊

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Make Your Note

India’s Green-Energy Transition

• 28 Nov 2022
• 12 min read
• GS Paper - 3
• Issues Relating to Development
• Growth & Development
• Renewable Energy
• Environmental Pollution & Degradation

This editorial is based on “A green-energy boost” which was published in Financial Express on 26/11/2022. It talks about the impact of climate change and the need for a green energy transition.

For Prelims: Green energy, PM- KUSUM, Green Energy Corridor (GEC), National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) and Smart Meter National Programme, Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME), International Solar Alliance (ISA), Energy poverty, World Energy Outlook report, COP27, Biofuels.

For Mains: Challenges Related to India’s Energy Sector, Initiatives Shaping India’s Energy Transition, Interlinking Women Empowerment with Green Energy.

Climate change is an existential threat that has the potential to change the course of human history for the worse. Fossil fuels are the traditional energy sources that constitute the largest contributors to climate change. They account for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and approximately 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions.

For a better future, green energy is the key solution through which India's net zero emission target by 2070 can also be accomplished.

Therefore, India should pioneer a new model of economic development that could avoid the carbon-intensive approaches that many countries have pursued in the past and provide a blueprint for other developing economies for clean energy transition.

What is Green Energy?

• The production of green energy does not release toxic greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, meaning it causes little or no environmental impact.
• Some important green energy sources include power produced by solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, low-impact hydroelectricity, and certain eligible biomass sources.

How is India Facilitating the Green Energy Transition?

• On a per capita basis, India’s energy use and emissions are less than half the world average.
• In 2019 India announced that it would take up its installed capacity of renewable energy to 450 GW by 2030.
• The Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) scheme is another initiative of the Government of India with respect to enhancing the manufacturing sector for the production of raw materials for renewable energy.
• Solarisation of water pumps is a step in distributed power provided at the doorstep of the consumer.
• IRIX is a platform that promotes the exchange of ideas among energy conscious Indians and the Global community.

What are the Other Initiatives Shaping India’s Energy Transition?

• Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA)
• Green Energy Corridor (GEC)
• National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) and Smart Meter National Programme
• Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME)
• International Solar Alliance (ISA)

What are the Challenges Related to India’s Energy Sector?

• The problem is even more acute in rural India where up to 44% of households lack access to electricity.
• While India has undertaken various programs and initiatives to address energy poverty , they have been faced with logistical problems and inadequate implementation locally.
• With its growing dependency on imported oil, India's energy security is under severe strain , and the current disrupted global supply chain due to disturbed geopolitics is compounding the problem.
• Backward integration in the solar value chain is absent as India has currently no capacity for manufacturing solar wafers and polysilicon, which is hindering clean energy transition.
• Heatwaves and disturbed monsoon due to climate change are already putting existing energy generation under stress, making it even more important to reduce fossil fuel emissions.
• The use of non-clean energy sources increases women’s risk of respiratory, cardiovascular, and psychological diseases and also increases maternal and infant mortality.
• Despite the availability of adequate reserves, coal extraction has been declining in the larger coal producing States.
• Owing to the rising prices and unresolved pending contractual issues with power plants is worsening the issue.
• At the same time, there is a sharp increase in costs of petroleum globally.

What Should be the Way Forward?

• The “just transition” should also include a gender perspective , to guarantee equal opportunities in green jobs for both men and women in the workforce.
• Particularly in the household as responsible mothers, wives and daughters, women can also play an important role in the green energy transition in entrepreneurship and policy making.
• In this regard, COP27's agenda of climate finance can be used as a carrier. As traditional energy sources get replaced, revenues and employment will shift from certain geographies to others and this will need to be carefully managed.
• For example, the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) program decreased the unit cost of LED bulbs by over 75%.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change, along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), jointly launched ‘ In Our LiFEtime’, a campaign that both urges and encourages young people between the ages of 18 to 23 years to adapt and promote sustainable lifestyles is also a good step in this direction.
• Emission norms should be tightened as well as biofuels should replace fossil fuels.
• The development of several electric freight corridors to promote electrification is also crucial to reaping the benefits of electric vehicles.
• India can gradually reduce its exposure to commodity imports and foreign supply chains through distributed energy systems and the promotion of domestic manufacturing.
• Circular economy solutions linked with green energy should become a core feature of India’s future economy.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct? (2015)

• It is a Public Limited Government Company.
• It is a Non-Banking Financial Company.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only  (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q. “Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (2018)

Personal perspectives on the value of greenspace and backyards

How important is having a backyard? We asked Globe readers – those with backyards and those living in cities without one – to weigh in on the role that access to private and public green space plays on their happiness and well-being.

Urban backyards are disappearing. Can we be happy without them?

While [governments] will be pushing for all the growth, I hope they take a moment to consider what it means to have a home, and not just “housing.” Policies should promote and protect green spaces right alongside housing. The two go hand-in-hand. - Harmony Huffman, Duncan, B.C.

Looking back, I have spent countless hours cutting, trimming, raking, weeding, watering, fertilizing, aerating, dethatching, applying pesticide and top dressing my lawns. Today, I don’t own a single blade of grass! What was I thinking?!!! - Robert Gates, raised in Scarborough and Pickering, Ont.

People are supposed to be grateful for little boxes in the sky – our expectations are being collectively lowered by the relentless drive for density in cities. Demand your own piece of paradise – your own backyard. Make our governments give us better options other than 400 sq. ft of concrete in the sky cut off from nature. Or is it only the richest 1 per cent who will have backyards to play in while the rest of us make do with tiny, overpriced, concrete boxes with scarce access to green space in ever-warming cities? - Mary-Lou Rossiter, Halifax, N.S.

People spend an extraordinary amount of time, labour and chemicals to keep their lawns green yet do not use them. It would be better as a society if we expanded green spaces for all to use. - Craig Perry, North Bay, Ont.

My backyard is my oasis in the middle of a large city. The birds and animals that I share my trees and yard with serve to maintain my connection with nature and remind me that I am NOT just another cog in the machine. - Ron Baugh, Red Deer, Alta.

I grew up in a small city in rural Alberta and my family home was a single-detached house with a large wraparound backyard. I have fond memories of my parents hosting BBQs and birthday parties a couple times a year. I have since moved to a larger city in B.C. and live in an apartment building with no backyard. However, my apartment has a waterfront green space open for public use. My partner and I often go down to this green space, which provides a great opportunity to meet our neighbours. I loved my backyard growing up, but if the choice is to provide housing for others or have a private green space, I would choose the former. - Sarah Greer, Victoria, B.C.

I live in central Montreal, where many of the apartment plexes don’t have a backyard. It’s common to have three or four birthday parties in the public parks when the weather is nice. Giving up a private backyard isn’t a huge sacrifice, as long as we can have access to good shared green space – it’s probably well worth it to live in an animated and walkable community - Mara Bender, Montreal

I have a backyard. I recognize that I’m very fortunate. In truth, my husband and I use it less than I thought I would. I have a vegetable garden – enough to grow all the tomatoes we eat, including canning for the winter, which I love. And once we fenced part of the yard a few years ago, we appreciate being able to let the dog out for a quick off-leash bathroom break. But, honestly, we don’t need it. We do have a lovely green space across the street, and a dog park nearby, and THOSE I wouldn’t do without! I’d be happy to see fewer homes with yards and everyone having access to a bit of outdoors on a porch/balcony, with more parks of various kinds. - Elizabeth d’Anjou, Picton, Ont.

We have been condo dwellers in the heart of downtown Toronto for decades. You REALLY need to love your neighbours if you want to relax outside in public green space in Toronto these days. I have total envy for anyone with a yard, even a postage stamp would feel like an oasis. - Marc Gignac, Toronto

I live in a downtown neighbourhood and my yard is more important to me than my house. I think almost everyone needs a little patch of outdoor space, it fills their soul. - Michelle Purchase, Kitchener, Ont.

I am a Canadian who has been living in Switzerland for 12 years. We bought an apartment soon after moving here (houses were prohibitively expensive). I love apartment living and have abandoned the idea of ever buying a house. I think Canadians have a lot to learn from the Swiss, where 60 per cent of the population rents and even more live in apartments. Ours is surrounded by a very large communal backyard, which is also the norm. We had two young children when we moved in, and initially had to accompany them to play in the backyard, but those years didn’t last long. We have a trampoline and other play equipment in the yard, yet we don’t have to do any of the maintenance or yard work. We travel regularly without worrying about home upkeep. Additionally, Swiss towns generally have a forest “refuge” that locals can rent cheaply by the day. We’ve hosted and attended many a party in those as well. - Jan Sandink, Lausanne, Switzerland

We use our outdoor spaces extensively. It is a place to relax and reflect; a very important part of our lives beyond a residence. A lonely 500 sq. ft box in the sky is not the answer to a healthy mindset. - Alexander Tye, Calgary

Submissions have been edited for length and clarity.

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