Sustainable Energy Resources: Assessing the Environmental Impact

Unlike non-renewable sources, which are derived from perishable fossil fuels, sustainable or renewable energy sources are directed toward the natural replenishable habitat. Wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, biogas, and biomass are to name a few primary sustainable energy resources.

Now that we know that sustainable energy sources are derived from the natural sources available in the environment in abundance let’s look at a few sources that are primarily leveraged on a global scale.

• Solar energy: Solar energy is an umbrella term that is used to denote the myriad of sustainable energy resources that leverage direct sunlight. Wind, ocean, and thermal energy make use of solar energy after it has been absorbed by the planet and transitioned into other forms of energy. Solar energy helps the masses meet their electricity requirements with the help of solar irradiance and is also used in the transportation industry.
• Tidal energy: This is a type of hydropower that makes the use of wind to convert the energy from the tides into other forms of energy similar to electricity. ^[1] Wind plays a significant role in the creation of waves on the ocean surface. These high-intensity winds are leveraged to create energy, and the intensity of the winds determines the amount of energy produced. The thermal disparity between deep and shallow seawater helps in the production of Tidal energy.
• Bioenergy: Bioenergy is derived from biological sources and can be leveraged to produce electricity and biodiesel for the transportation industry. Bioenergy has the capability to ensure a seamless supply of fuel and reduce greenhouse emissions in the environment.
• Wind energy: This is one of the most dependable sustainable energy resources that encourage sustainable development. The primary focus of wind energy is to leverage kinetic energy, move large turbines and generate electricity.
• Geothermal energy: This is a reliable, sustainable energy resource that is taken from the Earth’s interior and acts as a source of heat. The uneven distribution of heat on the Earth’s crust makes it hard to mine it for energy procurement. Geothermal energy is mined from heat reservoirs by leveraging heat wells and other suitable means.
• Hydropower: Hydropower is regarded as one of the oldest and most dependable resources of sustainable energy. It leverages the natural flow of water to produce power. The energy is harnessed to produce electricity or move turbines. Hydropower does not lead to the emission of any greenhouse gasses and is an absolute green source of energy.

The materials leveraged in the development of sustainable energy installations include selenium, gallium, indium, dysprosium, and neodymium. The recent development of these materials makes it difficult to construct a recycling system. ^[2] The construction of a large-scale and reliable recycling system is essential to alleviate the negative impact of sustainable energy installations on the environment and to ensure the seamless functionality of operations in the future. The environmental impacts of hydropower need to be assessed as well. There are instances when the hydropower facility is situated in a way where it can eliminate the vegetation. This can also result in the emission of methane and other greenhouse gasses capable of trapping the heat within the atmosphere. Solar panels are leveraged to absorb the sun’s rays and, in turn, convert them into a sustainable energy source capable of producing electricity. Solar energy is inoperable at night and necessitates the use of a battery. Furthermore, cloudy conditions can deem the energy source unreliable at times. Therefore, an understanding of how to maximize the benefits of solar energy is vital. The influence of sustainable energy installations in limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius necessitates an in-depth evaluation of its environmental impacts. Furthermore, the assessment can allow the energy sources to reach their maximum potential.

Proactive efforts are crucial to the success of sustainable strategies. The urgency of climate change is real, and it is only with collective efforts that we can mitigate the worst impacts. Green Yodha is a productive sustainability effort empowered and embraced by Schneider Electric. It is focused on creating a community of conscious personnel, enterprises, and institutions to unite for a collective cause and work towards the adoption of processes involved in renewables, sustainability, digitalization, energy efficiency, and more. We support enterprises to acknowledge their carbon contribution and curate effective strategies that propel the global movement toward a green future.