What makes renewable energy different from nonrenewable energy

Failed to save article Please try again. Discussion Questions for Exploring Careers in Renewable Energy What are some ways that humans used renewable resources for energy centuries or even millennia ago? Research what kind s of renewable energy your state produces.

Why is your state an optimal location for that form of renewable energy? Choose a renewable energy resource. Brainstorm three to five types of jobs in that field. Research a new and innovative technology in each of the renewable energy categories. What are the benefits of the new technologies? What are the risks? Which area solar, wind, etc. Take a look at the pie chart of our national energy consumption by source in Which renewable do you think has the potential for the most growth as a source of energy for the U.

What factors are involved? Find out about clean energy jobs, explore careers, and find internships in the renewable energy industry. In the fight against climate change, these increases in renewable energy utilization need to become the norm. Coal is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and the rapid changing of our climate and increasing temperatures. It is possible for the world to only run on renewable energy. The technology has been there for quite a while now.

Still, due to the fossil fuel industry's influence, the rollout of new renewable energy projects has been slow up until the last years. The challenge will be to transition from fossil fuels and other nonrenewable energy sources to renewable energy sources without causing overwhelming damage to the U.

Aside from potential economic losses from the transition to renewable energy, governments and energy policymakers are careful to make sure they increase their dependence on renewable energy sources as the technology continues to improve and costs continue to drop. One significant technological advancement that needs to continue progressing is energy storage for renewable energy sources.

For example, solar energy only works during the daytime when there is little to no cloud cover and dry weather conditions. During these times of peak energy absorption, there needs to be a cost-efficient way to store excess energy that is not being used immediately.

The extra energy needs to be stored in a solar battery system that can be utilized when the sun is not present or low production. Currently, these battery storage systems can be pretty expensive. As battery storage technology becomes more advanced and more accessible, prices should also drop, helping solar become an even larger contributor to the world's renewable energy production.

The same idea is accurate for wind and hydro. We need better ways to store excess energy for all types of renewable energy sources that are cheap and efficient. Their findings calculated that if the world could produce all of its energy needs using renewable energy sources, it would ultimately be more cost-effective than the current fossil fuel and nuclear-based energy system. The short answer is yes, renewable energy is profitable.

According to a study conducted by the Imperial College London and the International Energy Agency, renewable energy investments deliver massively better returns than fossil fuels in the U. They looked at energy investment returns over a 5-year and year period.

When they looked at renewable energy investments in France and Germany, they found that the returns over five years totaled a For fossil fuels over the same period, there was a loss of nearly However, fossil fuels did have some return on investments in the United States and the United Kingdom.

During the same 5-year period, fossil fuels produced a return of 8. Compare that to renewable energy investments. However, you will see that the green energy investments had a much higher return.

In the U. The bottom line is that renewable energy is cheaper with a higher rate of return than fossil fuels in many circumstances. This will further push countries and private businesses to make investments in large-scale renewable energy projects 4. Yes, it is hard to imagine a future where renewable energy is not a significant component of the fabric of our society. Renewable energy has been expanding rapidly in recent years.

As the prices get cheaper and more governments and private businesses become aware of the potential returns on investment, this increase of renewable energy use we are currently experiencing will continue to grow.

Much of the increase from and the projected increase to will be due to increased wind and solar power. Two main statistics that will be instrumental in the continued growth of renewable energy utilization by include the following.

Countries like China, the U. These facts above make excellent indicators that the world is moving in favor of renewable energy and that there will be an undeniable presence of renewable energy in the future 5. In an ideal world, we would all use renewable resources every day. While fossil fuels are reliable and easily stored, they are running out. They pollute the air we breathe, cause climate change, are dangerous to produce, and kill wildlife when things go wrong.

While they're slightly less consistent we can only use solar power when the sun shines, for example , renewable energy is instantly available.

It does not require millions of years to form and develop, nor does it need to be transported over land and sea to be accessible.

Renewable energy sources are better for the environment, and an increased reliance on wind and solar power will help improve global air quality. Using renewable energy isn't just a case of making the responsible choice. When you choose to supply your home with renewable energy, you also give people in underserved communities quality air to breathe, prevent workplace deaths, increase local jobs, stop contributing to climate change, and so much more.

If you care about the future of the planet, it's time to make the switch. If Inspire's clean energy supply plans are available in your area, you can proceed with linking your utility and discover the beginning of consistent and predictable monthly energy bills. Ready to make the switch to clean energy? Get started You may also like. The inevitable reality is that, because of how long non-renewable energy sources take to renew, we will eventually run out.

Alternatively, renewable energy is much more environmentally sound and helps curb our collective carbon footprint. Because of this, changing the way we create energy is crucial.

Right now, fossil fuels still make up a large portion of the energy market. But the great news is, the world is turning towards sustainable energy and more and more technologies and opportunities are being created.

Together, we can be part of a collective shift towards a more sustainable energy future.