Just how sustainable is renewable energy?

As interest in environmental issues has surged over the past few years, we’ve seen a massive increase in interest in renewable energy sources. Some commentators have spoken about the negative environmental effects of renewable energy sources, such as the negative impact that wind farms can have on birds, raising the question of just how sustainable we should consider renewable energy to be.

Minimising greenhouse emissions

When it comes to sustainability, one of the main things we need to think about is greenhouse emissions. This refers to certain gasses, most significantly carbon dioxide, that contribute to the warming of the planet via what’s known as the greenhouse effect.

One of the most important benefits of renewable energy sources is that they achieve net zero when it comes to greenhouse emissions. The common examples – solar, wind, and water – all release no emissions while operational, making them highly sustainable compared to other energy sources such as fossil fuels.

Abundant

Another sustainability benefit of renewable energy sources is their abundance. The wind will continue to blow, and the sun should shine for several billion years. For as long as these environmental phenomena continue, we will be able to tap into them and create usable energy for any number of projects and uses. Compared to oil, which experts predict will run out in around 50-60 years, this is a massive sustainability-related benefit.

Using diverse resources

Renewable energy is a blanket term that refers to a number of different resources. This is also one of its many strengths – it allows communities to tap into whichever resource is most predictable and abundant in their location. 

Communities will typically tap into multiple resources, to reduce reliance on a single energy source. For example, if the sun is weak but it’s raining for months, then it’s likely that hydroelectric sources will be able to take the place of solar while that’s happening, and vice versa.

Minimising air pollution

In addition to the negative effects that greenhouse gasses have on the warming of the planet, burning fossil fuels also decreases the quality of the air that we literally breath to survive. Pollutants such as particulate matter and sulfur dioxide can be incredibly damaging to all life, and the fact that renewable energy sources pretty much eradicate those pollutants is a massive plus when it comes to measuring the sustainability of those kinds of energy sources.

Broader social benefits

Finally, it’s crucial to realise that the environment isn’t just some abstract concept – it’s literally the system that supports all life and human existence. Renewable energy is socially sustainable, in that it will allow us to all continue living on a healthy planet that can support a diverse array of different life forms.

Clearly, renewable energy is highly sustainable. While there are some emissions associated with setting up renewable energy infrastructure, as time goes on, these emissions are only set to decrease. The positive feedback loop will become increasingly intense, as renewable practices continue to feed into creating more renewable practices and energy sources.

As always, thanks to the team at Exagen for their insights that made this article possible.