Renewable Energy Technologies: Definition, Trends & Outlook

Renewable energy technologies are transforming the world by offering sustainable solutions to our growing energy needs. They utilise natural, replenishing resources like sunlight, wind, and water to generate clean power. As we face climate change and dwindling fossil fuels, renewables are becoming increasingly crucial.

This article will explore the diverse landscape of renewable energy technologies from solar panels to wind turbines. We will also examine current trends shaping the industry and look ahead to the future of renewable energy technologies. Let’s begin!

What are Renewable energy technologies?

Renewable energy technologies are systems that generate power from naturally replenishing sources. These include solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity, wind turbines that harness wind energy, hydroelectric systems that capture the power of flowing water, and geothermal plants that tap into Earth’s heat.

Watch the below video to learn more about renewable energy.

Unlike fossil fuels, these technologies produce clean energy with minimal environmental impact, offering sustainable solutions to meet our growing power needs while combating climate change.

Global Renewable Trends

Let us look at some renewable energy trends that are shaping the global energy scenario.

The Rise of Renewable Electricity

Renewable electricity generation has been consistently growing. According to Rated Power, from 1990 to 2018, the global renewable energy supply grew by 2% yearly, just more than the 1.8% growth in total energy supply.

Solar PV energy saw the maximum growth here at 37% annually, while wind energy wasn’t far behind with a 23% growth rate.

Table 1. Renewable energy growth trends

Source: Evolution of renewable energy: How energy use has changed over time, Rated Power

This shift to renewable energy is a big win for our planet. Since 2012, new renewable electricity installations have been beating out fossil fuel plants, making up 78% of all new capacity in 2019.

Renewable Energy Share in Electricity Production

Renewables are grabbing a bigger slice of the electricity pie every year. In 2020, they made up 29% of global electricity generation. That’s a huge jump from previous years and shows we’re serious about going green.

Table 2. Renewable energy growth trends

Source: IEA Global Energy Review 2021, IEA

It is amazing to see renewable tech, excluding big hydropower, making such strides. They made up ~30% of global electricity in 2021 and continue growing even further.

Types of Renewable Energy

There are four major types: wind power, solar energy, hydroelectricity, and bioenergy. These are described below.

1. Wind Power

Wind power harnesses the kinetic energy of wind to generate electricity. Large turbines with massive blades capture wind energy and convert it into usable power. Both onshore and offshore wind farms are becoming increasingly common. When installed, wind power is clean, renewable, and has minimal operational costs. However, it depends on consistent wind patterns and can face opposition due to visual impact and potential wildlife concerns.

2. Solar Energy

Solar energy technology converts sunlight directly into electricity using photovoltaic cells or concentrates solar radiation to generate heat. For instance, solar panels can be installed on rooftops or in large solar farms, providing scalable solutions for both individual homes and entire communities. Solar energy is becoming increasingly accessible with efficiency improving and costs decreasing. It’s a versatile technology that works well in sunny regions but can still generate power on cloudy days.

3. Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectricity generates power by harnessing the energy of flowing water. Large dams or smaller run-of-river systems channel water through turbines, spinning generators to produce electricity. It’s a reliable, established technology that can provide consistent baseload power.

Hydroelectric plants have long lifespans and low operational costs. However, large-scale dams can significantly impact local ecosystems and communities, leading to a growing interest in smaller, more environmentally friendly hydroelectric solutions.

4. Bioenergy

Bioenergy utilizes organic matter, or biomass, to produce heat, electricity, or biofuels. Sources include agricultural residues, forest products, and dedicated energy crops. It can provide a renewable alternative to fossil fuels in various applications, from heating homes to powering vehicles.

While bioenergy can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there are concerns about land use competition with food crops and potential deforestation. Sustainable management practices would, therefore, be needed to maximize bioenergy’s benefits while minimizing environmental impacts.

Why Renewable Energy Matters

Increasing power generation using renewable energy is crucial for the sustainability of our plant. Below are the prime reasons why switching to renewable energy is important.

1. Fighting Climate Change

Renewable energy is a game-changer in the battle against climate change. Using wind, solar, bioenergy, and hydroelectric power, we can slash our carbon emissions. Unlike fossil fuels, these energy sources have little to no carbon footprint. This means they don’t pump out the greenhouse gases that are heating our planet.

Take wind and solar power, for instance. They don’t produce carbon emissions while generating electricity, making them much cleaner than coal and gas. Switching to these renewables is key to hitting the Net Zero goals for many nations and cutting our dependence on fossil fuels.

2. Carbon Footprint Reduction

When you stack up the carbon footprints of renewable energy against fossil fuels, the difference is huge. Fossil fuels like coal and gas generate loads of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which traps heat in our atmosphere. On the flip side, renewable energy sources barely produce any CO₂ during operation.

Check out the following table to see the carbon footprints of different energy sources:

Table 3. Carbon footprint from various energy sources

Source: Data from National Grid

As you can see, renewables like wind and bioenergy have way lower carbon footprints compared to coal and natural gas. Moving towards renewables is crucial for cutting our carbon emissions and tackling climate change.

By embracing renewable energy, we can make big strides towards a greener future, cutting our carbon footprint and fighting climate change.

Challenges in Renewable Energy

Switching to renewable energy is a must if we want to tackle climate change head-on. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are some big hurdles we need to jump over. Let’s break down the main ones.

1. High Installation Costs

First up, is the price tag. Setting up renewable energy systems can be pretty pricey. Take solar power, for example. Installing a large-scale solar system costs around $2,000 per kilowatt. If you’re thinking smaller, like a residential setup, you’re looking at about $3,700 per kilowatt. Compare that to a new gas-fired plant, which is about $1,000 per kW, and you see the problem.

Table 4. Installation costs for various energy systems

Source: What are the problems faced by renewable energy? Regen Power

These high upfront costs can scare off both individuals and businesses from making the switch.

2. Outdated Infrastructure

Next, let’s talk about the grid. Our current energy infrastructure was built for fossil fuels and nuclear power. It’s not exactly ready to handle a ton of renewable energy. This leads to inefficiencies and makes it tough to distribute renewable energy effectively. Upgrading the grid is a must if we want a smooth transition. This is especially true for places looking to use green building technologies.

3. Power Storage Problems

Then there’s the issue of storing power. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are great, but they’re not always reliable. The sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always blow. This inconsistency makes it hard to match energy production with peak demand. We need better, more affordable battery storage solutions to store extra energy and keep the grid stable.

Table 5. Challenges with renewable energy

Source: Secondary Research

Understanding these challenges is the first step to fixing them. By tackling high installation costs, upgrading our infrastructure, and developing better power storage solutions, we can make renewable energy more accessible and reliable for everyone.

Future of Renewable Tech

Now let’s talk about what the future holds for renewable energy. It is an important technology from the perspective of sustainability. There are a few important trends that will emerge going ahead.

1. Cost Reduction Trends

Looking ahead, one of the most exciting things about renewable energy is how much cheaper it’s getting. Over the past decade, the cost of new solar panels and onshore wind installations has dropped like a rock. Solar panel costs have plummeted by a whopping 82%, making them a real contender against traditional fossil fuels. Onshore wind energy hasn’t been slacking either, with annual cost reductions of 3-10% since 2010.

Here’s a quick look at the cost reduction trends:

Table 6. Cost reduction of renewable energy

Source: Renewable Power Generation Costs In 2020, IRENA

These falling costs are making renewable energy more accessible and appealing to everyone. With cheaper installation and running costs, switching to green energy is becoming a no-brainer for many.

2. Innovative Advancements

Innovation is the name of the game in renewable energy. We have seen some mind-blowing advancements that are pushing the limits. One of the coolest areas is energy storage, especially in battery tech. Efficient energy storage is key to dealing with the ups and downs of solar and wind power.

Smart systems and grid integration tech are also making waves. These advancements help manage energy flows better, ensuring energy is used more efficiently and sustainably. Smart grids can balance supply and demand on the fly, cutting waste and boosting the reliability of renewable sources.

Plus, sustainable fuel production is picking up steam. Research into biofuels and hydrogen as alternative energy carriers is opening up new ways to cut our reliance on fossil fuels.

3. Research and Development

The future of renewable energy is looking bright, thanks to ongoing research and development. Continued investment in R&D is driving improvements in efficiency, energy storage, and overall system performance. Organizations and institutions worldwide are pouring resources into exploring new materials, innovative designs, and cutting-edge technologies.

One of the big perks of this research is job creation. The renewable energy industry is more labour-intensive compared to fossil fuels. In 2016, the wind energy sector employed over 100,000 full-time workers, while the solar industry had more than 260,000 jobs.

Table 7. Jobs created by the U.S. renewable energy industry

Source: U.S. Renewable Energy Jobs Employ 800,000+ People and Rising: in Charts, Inside Climate News

Advancements in research are not only making renewable energy systems more efficient but also boosting the economy by creating jobs. To dive deeper into innovations and examples of sustainable technology, check out the sections on green building technologies and eco-friendly gadgets in our blog.

Renewable Energy in the UK

Now let us look at a country as an example. The UK has been making some serious moves in renewable energy.

The Numbers

2020 was a banner year for the UK, with renewables making up 43.1% of the electricity mix. Compare that to 2010, when less than 20% of our electricity came from zero-carbon sources. Check out how things have changed:

Table 8. Share of different energy sources in UK energy generation

Source: Why are renewables vital to achieving net zero?, NESO

Wind power alone is now responsible for about 29.4% of the UK’s energy. This shift shows the UK’s seriousness about cutting down on carbon and going green.

Growth in Renewable Capacity

The UK has been seriously ramping up its renewable energy game. Back in 2019, the capacity was at 47.16 GW. The goal is to almost double this to 86.21 GW by 2026. This shows a real push towards sustainable energy.

Table 9. UK Renewable energy capacity

Source: Greenmatch

Renewable sources like wind, solar, and bioenergy are becoming more common. About 43% of the UK’s electricity now comes from renewables, which is a big deal. It’s exciting to see the progress towards a greener future.

Contribution of Wind Energy

Wind energy is a big player in the UK’s renewable energy scene. Offshore and onshore wind energy together generate about 24.2% of the country’s electricity. This is a huge chunk and it’s only getting bigger.

Table 10. Wind power contribution to renewable energy

Source: National Grid

Wind power alone contributes around 29.4% of the UK’s energy supply, making it one of the top sources of clean energy for the National Grid. The main sources of renewable energy in the UK are wind, solar, hydroelectric, and bioenergy. Each of these plays a part, but wind energy stands out.

If you’re curious about other types of sustainable tech, check out our articles on sustainable technology examples, and green building technologies. It’s amazing to see how these innovations are changing our world.

Cities Going 100% Renewable

Some UK cities are shooting for 100% renewable energy by 2050. They are investing in everything from wind and solar to bioenergy and hydroelectricity.

Take green building tech, for example. Cities are using it to cut down on energy use and push sustainability. This not only shrinks their carbon footprint but also gets residents on board with eco-friendly living.

Here’s how they are doing it:

• More Renewable Installations: Think wind turbines and solar panels popping up everywhere.
• Boosting Energy Efficiency: Making buildings and infrastructure smarter and less wasteful.
• Eco-Friendly Gadgets: Encouraging folks to use gadgets that sip, not gulp, energy.

These steps are helping cities hit their green targets. It’s pretty inspiring to see the UK leading the charge in renewable energy and setting a global example.

Want to dive deeper into sustainable tech?

In Conclusion

As we look toward the future of energy, the evolution of renewable technologies stands at the forefront of a global transformation. The shift away from fossil fuels toward cleaner, more sustainable renewable energy technologies is not just a necessity but an opportunity to reshape our world for the better.

Innovations in solar, wind, and other renewable technologies are not only enhancing efficiency and reducing costs but also driving a wave of economic growth and environmental stewardship. These technologies and supporting sustainable practices can help us all contribute to a cleaner, greener planet for tomorrow.