The main energy sources used in the world are fossil energy (oil, natural gas, coal), renewable energy and Nuclear energy.

In the human mind, renewable energies are better than all the others and fossil fuels are the worst. This is not false in itself, but with a bit of hindsight, you realize that the picture is much more complex than it seems.

Renewable energy does not only have advantages. Despite its limitations, is it still the best option against global warming? SirEnergies helps you answer that question.

What are the advantages of renewable energies?

What are the 5 types of energy?

La Renewable energy family brings together different sources:

• Solar energy ;
• Wind energy ;
• Geothermal energy ;
• Biomass-energy ;
• Hydraulic power.

All these energies have been on the rise for several years because of their benefits for the environment and users.

Inexhaustible energies

Unlike fossil fuels, which exist in limited quantities in nature, renewable energies are inexhaustible. Air, water, sunlight, Earth's heat and Biomass are energy sources that do not run out. They can still be exploited for centuries while fossil fuels will run out in about 50 years. It's about one of the biggest advantages of renewables.

Green energy to protect our planet

The use of renewable energy (also called green energy) makes it possible to preserve the planet. For now, we only have one planet where we can live peacefully. It is therefore better to protect it as much as possible.

Fossil fuels do not help in that sense. Their use leads to the production of pollutants and greenhouse gases. The latter are at the root of the problems of Global warming and respiratory and cardiac problems in humans. Going green not only protects nature, but also human health.

Savings with ENR

Renewable energies are not only useful for maintaining the environment. They are also good for our finances. In reality, unlike fossil fuels, which must be refuelled regularly, the sun, wind and water do not need to be refuelled.

Once the installations are in place, they make it possible to continuously provide humans with the electricity, heating and hot water they need. It's abouta real economy for households. The most interesting thing is that renewable energy installations require little maintenance, compared to fossil fuel installations.

What are the disadvantages of renewable energies?

It is great to know how renewable energies are beneficial for humans and Mother Nature. Their limitations should also not be ignored. Moreover, it is better to speak of “limitations” rather than “disadvantages”. To remain honest and objective, let's review the issues surrounding renewable resources.

Renewable energy storage limits

The main advantages of fossil resources over renewable energies remain storage. Coal, oil, or even natural gas can be easily stored and shipped to end users. This is not the case with renewable energies.

It is true that today, we are witnessing the development of certain storage technologies renewable energies, but these technologies are still primitive. In other words, they are either too expensive for consumers, or they are not efficient enough to conserve renewable energies.

Renewable energy not necessarily available over time

How can we say that the clean energy that exists in unlimited quantities in nature is not available 24/7? Put like that, it may seem paradoxical, but it is the strict truth. The wind doesn't blow with the same intensity every day. Likewise, the sun may shine brightly one day, but not the next.

However, household energy needs are constant. It is true that biomass does not obey the rule since green resources are available at all times. It must be recognized that the most used clean energies are wind power, hydraulic power and solar energy.

The intermittency of renewable energies is therefore weighing heavily on the balance of the limits of renewable energy.

The high cost of renewable energy systems

In addition to the problem of the availability of renewable energies over a certain period of time, the acquisition and installation of the equipment necessary to exploit clean energies is relatively expensive. Finally, this is the case if we compare it with the cost of renewable energy systems.

The high costs of renewable energy installations constitute an obstacle to the adoption of this solution by the mass. To install a heat pump for example, thousands, if not tens of thousands, of euros should be provided for the most efficient models. Even if we know that it is possible to make such an investment profitable after a few years, not everyone has the financial capacity to afford it.

It is obvious that the aid and subsidies put in place by the government for the energy transition are a commendable effort. The State supports green energy by providing financial assistance and by setting up mechanisms that encourage households to adopt renewable energies. This is a big boost, but there is still a long way to go for the widespread adoption of alternative energies.

Fossil fuels are still useful for balancing the balance

Today, the reading on green energy and its benefits is quite clear. However, it must be recognized that renewable energies also have limitations. These constitute an obstacle to the widespread adoption of green energy. The least we can say is that the energy transition will not be easy, since our energy needs are constantly increasing.

Renewable energy is still the best option, but we still have to rely on fossil fuels to meet our current needs. It is to be hoped that actions in the direction of popularizing clean energy will multiply and that by the time fossil fuels are exhausted, we will be ready to use only renewable energies.

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