The Need to Renewable Sources of Energy

The term "renewable" in relation to energy refers to a natural power source which can be replenished on a human time scale. For example, coal and oil may both be replenished but cannot be considered "renewable" sources as the process is not easily replicated artificially and therefore takes millions of years to replace what has been extracted from the earth. The use of sunlight, tides, waves, wind, geothermal heat and biomass are examples of natural power that are considered renewable sources.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) had a disproportionate access to electricity compared to all the other developing regions for the period 2000-12, ranging between 26-35% in its urban areas and 10-15% in its rural areas were about 70% of its population dwell. This scenario may look alarming but it presents SSA a springboard to leapfrog to renewable energy sources hence also reducing the carbon footprint. However, in order for the transition from energy poverty to energy sustenance to occur, multiple interventions need to take place. This study had answered the following fundamental questions 1) What was the generation capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2000-12 compared to the other developing regions of the world? 2) What were the major sources of energy generated and the cost of generation? 3) What were the challenges that the energy sector in SSA face and what were the possible solutions for these challenges? 4) What were the major emissions produced by SSA and how can these emissions reduce to reverse the adverse effects of climate change in SSA and the world? This study has put forward possible strategies that will need a coordinated effort by SSA policy

The consumption of fossil fuels has grown to an alarming rate over the years. Due to this, our atmosphere is being weighed down with excessive carbon-dioxide and other harmful gases. When gases are released, they trap heat and produce a network of powerful and harmful impacts, ranging from sea level rise, drought, and incessant storms. The global dependence on non-renewable energy is not only harmful to the environment and economy, but will ultimately get exhausted due to excessive consumption. Therefore, there is a greater need to shift focus to renewable energy and explore the many positive impacts it brings to the environment.

Renewable energy is a source of energy that does not consume the finite resources of the earth and can be easily and quickly replinished.

Renewable energy generation mainly takes place in remote settings. Hence there is a great possibility for local towns or areas of getting a fair share of power generated. Electrification of those areas can open sky-kissing opportunities for development .

Renewable energy, what is it ? To put it simply, it’s a type of energy source that is eco-friendly and for the most part efficient. Fossil fuels such as gasoline, oil, methane gas, and other harmful energy sources will only aggravate earth's health and will inevitably affect our biosphere and atmosphere, in which we humans reside. There is nothing inherently wrong with this issue but can seriously be spoken more and enforced upon society, for the sake of humanity. It will take centuries before we can consider colonizing other planets and have humans living on them. We are unfortunately not there yet technologically speaking. All we can do is prolong earth's life before that happens, which will take some time. According to scientists, earth is approximately 4.3 billion years old, which is a long time, but as time progressed we humans kept finding ways to harm the earth at an exponential rate. In some cases we have also caused the extinction of many species that once inhabited earth. Some countries and certain states have started to take note of these trends and started to implement public policy and also have come up with new ways to combat this. Renewable energy is one of the best options at the moment and will hopefully make our earth a better place,literally. Many people go about their day always concerned about the political spectrum,which is fine, but the issues that accompany earth such as climate change are always swept under the rug and never heard of again.

1. The term ‘renewable’ in terms of energy sources are those sources that do not run out, and are being restored all the time. For example, ‘The sun, or energy from it never dries up, it is therefore the source of most types of renewable energy’ (Renewable Energy World, 2017)

This link between renewable energy and sustainable development is also shown in the initiatives that are taken by world institutions such as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). All of these world organizations provide financial support to any project that is aimed to produce any form of renewable energy as well as aimed at improving the quality of life by lowering the consumption of energy that comes from fossil fuels. Recently, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has published a report whereby it suggests that renewable energy has an impact on economic growth and furthermore it highlights ways on how to utilize renewable energy to positively affect rural development (OECD).

Indonesia’s current electrification ratio is 65% and more than 50% of electricity demand is centered in Java and Bali alone, indicating that the growth of population and/or demand distribution for electricity is not proportional (Hidayat & Li, 2011). Geologically, Indonesia is rich with minerals and various energy resources including oil, natural gas, coal, geothermal, hydro-power, solar energy and biomass;

The demand for electricity it is increasing in recent years, mainly because the world population is also increasing. The necessity for power generations is a constantly subject across the globe and is from that point that the concept of renewable energy emerge and become an important subject.

Most America families are dependent on fossil fuels for their energy needs. However, the cost associated with fossil fuels is very unstable and has caused many to seek alternative sources. Many experts think, that alternate source has been realized in the form of renewable energy. These types of energy have shown potential for sustained demands, economic growth, and environmental benefits. Consumers should consider renewable energy as a replacement for their everyday energy needs as they are a better and more beneficial source of power.

Global warming has taken a significant toll on the environment and heath of human and animals. The use of non-renewable fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, crude oil, tar sands and oil shales are finite resources on the planet and will one day run out because they are regularly used. Subsequent pressure and heating while being buried consisting of organic matter and dead plant over millions of years are what created these fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels form greenhouse gases from carbon dioxide, acid rain from sulfur dioxide, and photochemical pollution from nitrous oxides. The use of renewable energy is cleaner and safer for the environment and promotes investments. Some examples of renewable energy are Solar, Wind, and Hydro. Renewable energy is any energy that does not intake limited resources of the Earth and can be conveniently and instantly restored.

A renewable energy is naturally regenerated over a short time scale and received directly from the sun. Renewable energy does not include energy resources that come from gasoline, natural gas or oil, waste products from fossil sources or waste products from not related to living sources.

Energy conversion has been essential in every human activity since the prehistoric age. A basic extent of the evolution of society is directly associated with the changes in the fundamental sources of energy and its uses. Through the last 250 years, people have learned how to harvest and deal with energy in different forms to make work easier and live more comfortable. Nevertheless, this human activity is overloading the atmosphere with greenhouse gases emission, which make the temperature higher, trap heat and generates serious and harmful impacts on the environment and on climate. Therefore, the governments all around the world are making an effort to promote and develop renewable energy as the new main energy source.

Every day fossil fuels are heavily emitting greenhouse gases leading to the destruction of the ozone layer and limiting the ozone’s ability to perform an essential function of protecting humans from deadly UV rays. Many ideas for solutions are being researched to help prevent these emissions, but the most promising solution is going green and eliminating fossil fuels. Although conventional energy such as coal, gas, and crude oil are the most popular energy sources, renewable energy including solar, wind, and hydroelectricity could provide the same amount of energy without the same detrimental consequences for our environment.