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Why dont we use more renewable energy?
Why is it that we do not use more renewable energy resources for our environment?
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5 answers
Updated
Melanys’s Answer
Unlike natural gas and coal, we can't store wind and sunshine to use when we need to make more electricity. If the wind doesn't blow or the sun hides behind clouds, there sometimes isn't enough power for everyone.
Updated
Vern’s Answer
The American electrical grid is a massive machine that was built over a 100 year period. The grid is in a constant state of change. Some of the changes include: 1) increasing supply to meet future demands; 2) improve safety; and 3) reduce costs. Because of the complexity each change requires approval by utility operators, the public utility commision; local agencies; contractors, and investors. For example, a rather simple residential solar array needs to be authorized by a PUC regulation; permitted by the local building department; recieve an approval to connect to the utility provider; be designed by the installing contractor; and paid for by the homeowner(investor). To make matters worse some state legislatures (Florida and Arizona come to mind) have passed legislation that protects power plant operators, utilities and investors from lower cost renewable energy technologies.
On the other hand, some state legislatures have passed legislation that strongly supports new renewable energy projects. California is a prime example of the second approach. In the case of California now routinely get more than 80% of their power from renewable sources (solar, wind, geothermal, and small hydro) and non-fossil fuel sources (large hydro, nuclear, biogas) for short periods of time. For example, on April 29, 2022 California was able to support 95% of consumer demand from renewable energy sources.
If you want you can explore more about the California Electric Grid at https://www.caiso.com/Pages/default.aspx
All this said, if we want renewable energy to grow more rapidly we will need more people in the many of the following jobs:
1) Scientists and engineers to create better technologies that cost less,
2) Engineers to design and build the manufacturing capacity,
3) Manufacturing workers to operate manufacturing systems,
4) Community activists for gain support for renewable energy progrms and projects,
5) Government policy makers to implement renewable energy programs and projects,
6) Contractors to manage renewable energy construction projects,
7) Installers to actually install and mantain renewable energy equipment, and
8) Financial people to create programs to pay for all of the work.
This begs the question which career path do you want.
Find out what is required by your local utility and building department to install PV solar in your commuinity.
Talk to a solar installer to see if they can install solar your home, how much would it cost, and how long would the return-on-investment (ROI) be.
Talk to a many local politicians to ask what they are doing to increase renewable energy in your community.
On the other hand, some state legislatures have passed legislation that strongly supports new renewable energy projects. California is a prime example of the second approach. In the case of California now routinely get more than 80% of their power from renewable sources (solar, wind, geothermal, and small hydro) and non-fossil fuel sources (large hydro, nuclear, biogas) for short periods of time. For example, on April 29, 2022 California was able to support 95% of consumer demand from renewable energy sources.
If you want you can explore more about the California Electric Grid at https://www.caiso.com/Pages/default.aspx
All this said, if we want renewable energy to grow more rapidly we will need more people in the many of the following jobs:
1) Scientists and engineers to create better technologies that cost less,
2) Engineers to design and build the manufacturing capacity,
3) Manufacturing workers to operate manufacturing systems,
4) Community activists for gain support for renewable energy progrms and projects,
5) Government policy makers to implement renewable energy programs and projects,
6) Contractors to manage renewable energy construction projects,
7) Installers to actually install and mantain renewable energy equipment, and
8) Financial people to create programs to pay for all of the work.
This begs the question which career path do you want.
Vern recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Angela’s Answer
It's hard to adjust to the new actions. Most people dont know much about renewable resources or the process start. Education, information, and stats is a start!
Updated
Romeu’s Answer
because many companies have different interests and most of time renewable energy is more expensive. It depends basically on supply demand balance, in several countries the availabilty of renewables is limited, thus more expensive. However, it is going to be a question of time as new technologies to generate renewables are becoming more affordable and easier/faster to adopt.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
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James Constantine’s Answer
Hi Elijah,
Historically, we've been content with profiting from non-renewable energy sources. This was largely due to the preference of industry leaders to maintain the status quo. Alternative energy solutions were often dismissed as impractical or too costly to implement.
However, the tide is slowly turning with the advent of large-scale solar power grids. Nuclear fusion, while still viewed with skepticism, is yet to provide a feasible solution. The energy input required to generate power from nuclear fusion is too immense to sustain a thermonuclear yield.
The game-changer will be more affordable solar cells, which will make power generation more accessible. The notion of free energy generation is largely a myth propagated by enthusiasts. After all, you can't create power out of thin air! Some of the most impressive examples of wind turbines can be found in Norway. Australia has also ramped up its solar power generation. A solar array measuring 28 kilometers by 28 kilometers could power the whole of Australia.
The crux of the matter is economic viability. Any solution must be self-sustaining, which will be possible with cheaper components. A promising new technology has surfaced in England involving the use of ferrocene.
New, cost-effective solar cell devices could soon hit the market, thanks to materials developed at Imperial College London. Traditional solar cells, made from silicon, are efficient and stable, but their production is costly and they can only be manufactured in rigid panels.
Perovskite solar cells present an interesting alternative. They can be printed from inks, making them inexpensive, efficient, thin, lightweight, and flexible. However, they have lagged behind silicon cells in terms of efficiency and stability, often breaking down under normal environmental conditions.
The introduction of Imperial-made ferrocenes into perovskite solar cells by the City University of Hong Kong has significantly improved their efficiency and stability. The results of this groundbreaking research have been published in the journal Science.
As co-lead author Professor Nicholas Long from the Department of Chemistry at Imperial explains, "Silicon cells are efficient but expensive, and we urgently need new solar energy devices to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. Stable and efficient perovskite cells could ultimately allow solar energy to be used in more applications – from powering the developing world to charging a new generation of wearable devices."
I hope this information is helpful,
God Bless,
James.
Historically, we've been content with profiting from non-renewable energy sources. This was largely due to the preference of industry leaders to maintain the status quo. Alternative energy solutions were often dismissed as impractical or too costly to implement.
However, the tide is slowly turning with the advent of large-scale solar power grids. Nuclear fusion, while still viewed with skepticism, is yet to provide a feasible solution. The energy input required to generate power from nuclear fusion is too immense to sustain a thermonuclear yield.
The game-changer will be more affordable solar cells, which will make power generation more accessible. The notion of free energy generation is largely a myth propagated by enthusiasts. After all, you can't create power out of thin air! Some of the most impressive examples of wind turbines can be found in Norway. Australia has also ramped up its solar power generation. A solar array measuring 28 kilometers by 28 kilometers could power the whole of Australia.
The crux of the matter is economic viability. Any solution must be self-sustaining, which will be possible with cheaper components. A promising new technology has surfaced in England involving the use of ferrocene.
New, cost-effective solar cell devices could soon hit the market, thanks to materials developed at Imperial College London. Traditional solar cells, made from silicon, are efficient and stable, but their production is costly and they can only be manufactured in rigid panels.
Perovskite solar cells present an interesting alternative. They can be printed from inks, making them inexpensive, efficient, thin, lightweight, and flexible. However, they have lagged behind silicon cells in terms of efficiency and stability, often breaking down under normal environmental conditions.
The introduction of Imperial-made ferrocenes into perovskite solar cells by the City University of Hong Kong has significantly improved their efficiency and stability. The results of this groundbreaking research have been published in the journal Science.
As co-lead author Professor Nicholas Long from the Department of Chemistry at Imperial explains, "Silicon cells are efficient but expensive, and we urgently need new solar energy devices to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. Stable and efficient perovskite cells could ultimately allow solar energy to be used in more applications – from powering the developing world to charging a new generation of wearable devices."
I hope this information is helpful,
God Bless,
James.