With growing global energy demands and rising concerns over environmental degradation and fossil fuel depletion, there is an urgent need to shift towards non-conventional (renewable) energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal energy.
1. Depletion of Fossil Fuels
- Conventional energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas are finite.
- At the current rate of consumption, these fuels will not be able to meet long-term energy needs.
- Renewable energy offers a sustainable and inexhaustible alternative.
2. Environmental Pollution & Climate Change
- Fossil fuel combustion emits CO₂, SO₂, and NOₓ, causing global warming, acid rain, and air pollution.
- Renewable energy sources produce little to no emissions, making them environmentally friendly.
- Essential for mitigating climate change.
3. Energy Security & Self-Sufficiency
- Many countries depend on imported fossil fuels, which affects national security and economy.
- Renewable sources like solar and wind utilize local natural resources, enhancing energy independence.
4. Rising Global Energy Demand
- Due to population growth and industrialization, energy demand is increasing rapidly.
- Fossil fuels alone cannot meet the future energy needs.
- Renewables can provide continuous and reliable energy supply.
5. Economic Benefits & Job Creation
- The renewable energy sector creates jobs in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance.
- Reduces the economic burden of importing expensive fossil fuels.
- Cost of renewables is decreasing due to technological advancements.
6. Decentralized Power Generation
- Enables off-grid solutions like rooftop solar, micro-hydro, and wind farms.
- Ideal for rural areas where extending the grid is difficult.
- Reduces transmission losses and improves access to electricity.
7. Supportive Government Policies
- Governments are promoting renewables through incentives, subsidies, and feed-in tariffs.
- Global efforts like the Paris Agreement aim to reduce carbon footprints.
- Policies make renewable energy more attractive and affordable.
8. Technological Advancements
- Issues like intermittency (e.g., no sun at night) are being solved with energy storage systems (e.g., lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen cells).
- Smart grids allow efficient energy distribution and integration of renewable energy sources into the grid.