Consequences for renewable energy resources have been very limited, but they still need to be addressed. One of those consequences includes intermittency. According to EnergySage, “Though renewable energy resources are available around the world, many of these resources aren’t available 24/7, year round. There can be unpredictable weather events that disrupt these technologies.” Renewable energy resources can sometimes not last as long, because they solely depend on the environment itself. With intermittency, there also exists a problem in terms of establishing renewable energy facilities. Renewable energy resources, such as solar power and wind energy, require land which can decrease the amount of wildlife and can negatively affect their habitat.
Renewable energy also comes with many benefits, the first being it releases little to no harmful gases into the atmosphere, reducing the chances for climate change. According to The Union of Concerned Scientists, “Even when including ‘life cycle’ emissions of clean energy (ie, the emissions from each stage of a technology’s life—manufacturing, installation, operation, decommissioning), the global warming emissions associated with renewable energy are minimal.” Renewable energy also has a beneficial impact on employment rates. As stated by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), “The renewable energy sector, according to IRENA’s estimates, employed a record 10.3 million people worldwide in 2017, driven by rising investments.” The price of renewable energy resources have lowered greatly by 2019, with more than half of renewable energy achieving lower electricity costs than new coal.
Overall, renewable energy resources have lots of benefits, and most importantly, can reduce climate change and pollution. Many experts agree that the benefits of renewable energy outweigh the consequences and renewable energy would be very helpful for the environment.
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