The world has been debating on renewable energy for years – the place it should have in our energy policy, the support it should gain, and the impact it actually has. Yet, many of the arguing points we hear today are based on old assumptions and facts. Some of these are the following:
Myth No. 1: Renewable Energy is Too Expensive
Renewable energy is more affordable than nuclear and coal power. An electrical unit from renewable energy costs about 89c/kWh, while an electricity unit from coal plants typically cost about 97c/kWh. Coal and nuclear power sources have huge hidden input costs, such as wide spread transport, the amount of water used to cool Nuclear Power Stations, not to mention the environmental impacts on the waste produced. Mean while solar and wind energy don’t have these input costs, as sunlight and wind are found everywhere and does not need to be transported, there is minimal use of water for cooling & of course there is no waste produced that can impact on the environment.
Myth No. 2: Large Scale Renewable Energy Farms Are Science Fiction
Renewable energy on a large scale is already being used reliably in countries globally. In fact Germany gets 25% of its electricity from renewables and aims for 80% renewable energy by 2050. Portugal, who is one of the world leaders in using green energy, generated about 80% of its electricity from renewable energy sources during the first few months of 2013. For more proof that large scale renewable energy is cost effective, South Africa now has one of the highest and most stable solar installations in the world. All these facts show that large scale renewable energy ‘farms’ are no longer science fiction.
Myth No. 3: Renewable Energy is Inefficient and Can’t Supply Electricity 24/7
Having a mixed sources of solar and wind power, anaerobic digestion plants, and natural gas is the key to getting a constant supply of electricity from renewables. As the sun goes down, the wind production increases; while as the wind drops in one region, it picks up in another. During peak times, natural gas and biogas bolster our energy supply. You can use these to meet electricity demand. With many countries generating over 60% of their energy from renewables, these facts prove that solar and wind energy sources can provide enough juice for even the largest of countries.
With the fast progress renewables have made in recent years, it’s safe to say that joining the solar and wind energy bandwagon will be beneficial to you, your bills, and the environment. With the ever increasing efficiency of home solar energy systems, the consistent increases in electricity rates, and overall reductions in the cost of Solar Energy solutions, there’s no reason not to get solar-powered equipment for your home and start benefiting today.