By Suran Ahmed, PhD.
Renewable energy refers to energy sources derived from natural energyflows that occur repeatedly and automatically in nature (in cycles), such as wind power, solar energy, hydropower, bioenergy, and geothermal energy. These sources differ fundamentally from non-renewable energy sources, which typically exist in finite, solid reserves underground and can only be utilized through human intervention to extract them—such as oil, coal, and natural gas.
With the continued rise in oil prices and the looming depletion of itssources, countries around the world—particularly in the West—have begun preparing for the post-oil era by investing significant efforts into implementing new strategies for alternative energy. Oil, coal, and natural gas currently make up the most important depletable energy sources used globally, accounting for 86% of total global energy consumption. In contrast, renewable energy sources constitute only 14% of the world’s energy usage.
According to reports from the International Energy Agency and majorenergy companies, the world's oil reserves are sufficient to meet global demand for approximately 40 more years. Natural gas reserves may last for 67 years, while coal reserves are expected to last about 192 years based oncurrent consumption rates.
There is a strong link between energy consumption and environmentalpollution. It has become evident that environmental pollution began to significantly increase with the rising consumption of energy from polluting sources like oil, coal, and natural gas. These sources emit pollutants in quantities that exceed the natural system’s capacity to absorb and neutralize them, leading to a disruption of the natural balance. As a result, the concentration of pollutants has increased, causing wide-ranging negative effects such as climate change, global warming, rising atmospheric humidity, widespread floods, destructive hurricanes, and the shifting of climatic and agricultural zones from their usual locations—among other changes that are difficult, if not impossible, to control.
The solution to pollution lies in transitioning from environmentallyharmful energy sources to renewable ones that do not contribute to the pollution problem.
The use of alternative energy sources also has significant political,economic, and environmental implications, including:
- Relieving the burden of rising oil prices and sudden price surges, which have serious economic, social, and security consequences.
- Preventing the repeated use of oil as a political or economic weapon, and stripping oil-producing countries—especially those accused of supporting terrorism—of a key and influential privilege.
- Addressing the growing global concern over the depletion of oil reserves, and the potentially devastating consequences for modern civilization, which may not be able to bear the resulting impacts.
- Eliminating the problems associated with the production and combustion of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), such as environmental pollution and the increase in Earth's surface temperature.