Effects

In Solutions, we discussed possible ways to solve the Problems - that is, replace fossil fuels with clean energy sources. However, this energy change doesn't come without its consequences. In Effects, we'll talk about the consequences of making the change to clean energy, both good and bad.

Benefits

The positive results of switching to clean energy are numerous.

As more clean-energy-producing structures are built in the U.S., the energy supply of the country will become more diverse. The U.S. will become less dependent on imported fuels. Furthermore, as mentioned before in Solutions, jobs will be made for things like creating, improving, and maintaining wind turbines and solar panels.

In addition to this, the switch will greatly lessen pollution. This, in turn, means that people with health problems relating to breathing in cities will be able to go outside more often.

The effects of clean energy are not limited to humans. Nature, too, will be positively affected by the change from fossil fuels. In Problem, we detailed two big effects of fossil fuel use: global warming and pollution. Switching to clean energy is crucial to the reduction of these two things. Though the Earth will never be the same as it was, it can heal from fossil fuels, so long as we give it a chance by switching to clean energy.

Test yourself: How will switching to clean energy affect the job market? 👷

Making the switch to clean energy opens up more jobs for designing, maintaining, and building clean energy sources.

Test yourself: How will switching to clean energy affect life in cities? 🏙️

Replacing fossil fuels with clean energy sources means that the air will be safe and cleaner to breathe. As a result of this, people with breathing problems in cities will be able to go outside more often.

Did you know? 🧼⚡➡5️⃣✖️ 👷 ⬅🦴⛽

Translation: Clean energy creates 5 times the jobs the fossil fuels create. According to Renewable Energy Facts: Fun Facts About Clean Energy, the amount of clean energy jobs "outnumber fossil fuel jobs by more than 2.5 to 1, and when it comes to exclusively coal and gas (excluding oil), that number rises to 5 to 1."

Detriments

Despite the many benefits of switching to clean energy, there are negative effects that should be kept in mind to be avoided.

One such detriment is how clean energy producers' manufacturing relates to abuses of human rights. When clean energy sources are made, they require materials, such as metal and minerals. For example, silicon metal is needed to make solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, and, according to Forced Labor and the Clean Energy Transition: Finding A Responsible Way Forward, "Credible evidence indicates that manufacturers of silicon metal—used by the solar supply chain and other sectors—in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC)–directly engage in state-sponsored forced labor programs targeting predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups, amid the ongoing genocide and other crimes against humanity."

Another negative effect of clean energy is, believe it or not, on the environment. As already mentioned in Solutions, wind turbines harm the bats and birds that fly into them. Clean energy production also requires more land than fossil fuel production, which could break up or completely get rid of valuable ecosystems.

These detriments, as well as others, should be looked into and considered before we start building more clean-energy-producing-structures. If we don't solve these problems early on, they will arise later and have an even worse blowback.

Test yourself: What is the example given here of a material used to produce solar power that is related to forced labor and other human rights violations? ⛏️

In the section above, silicon metal is given as an example. It is used to make solar PV modules and often acquired through forced labor.

Test yourself: Does clean energy production require more or less land than fossil fuel production? 🏞️

As stated above in Detriments, clean energy production requires more land that fossil fuel production.

Did you know? 🌬️𖣘➡ >1️⃣4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣🐦😵🗓️

Translation: Wind turbines cause more than 140,000 birds to die each year. This number has most likely grown since the time they had been put into studies (2013-2014) due to the increased amount of wind turbines. The studies in 2013 and 2014 actually provided a range of 140,000 to 679,000 bird deaths caused by wind turbine collisions.

An Electric Future

As our world changes and develops, the future is rapidly changing.

As solar power becomes more and more popular, we have to ask ourselves, "Will everyone be able to afford it?" As of now, some people can barely afford to buy food and keep the lights on. We should, and are, working to make it so that solar panels are cheaper than ever to give aid to people who need it. A few decades ago, only the richest of people could afford solar panels, and they were only installed on spacecrafts and special applications. However, as stated by the World Economic Forum, "That game changed a couple of decades ago with the advent of thin-film solar cells that forced the industry to focus on lower costs rather than high performance." In other words, companies are working hard to make sure that solar panels are cheaper than ever and that more and more people have access to solar panels.

We should also consider how scientists will transfer energy from place to place. Researchers believe that it may be possible in the future to use hydrogen as storage and energy containers. According to the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA), "Hydrogen could someday serve as a long-duration storage solution for renewables, replace gasoline and diesel as a transportation and heating fuel, or help decarbonize industrial processes that are difficult or impossible to electrify." Despite the immense potential that hydrogen has, using hydrogen has a humongous barrier: cost - "Green" hydrogen is extremely expensive and is not yet available for commercial use.

We hope that in the future, solar panels will be more affordable and there will be more developments in technologies such as using hydrogen.

Test yourself: A few decades ago, only the richest of people could afford _________ and they were only installed on ________ and special applications. 🪙

A few decades ago, only the richest of people could afford solar panels and they were only installed on spacecrafts and special applications.

Test yourself: What is a "humongous barrier" mentioned above for using hydrogen as storage for energy? 🚧

Cost. The type of hydrogen that we would want to use, "green" hydrogen, is too expensive to be used commonly and isn't even available for commercial use yet.

Did you know? 🔮 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣8️⃣☀️🛰️&🌬️➕s 🟰 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣☀️🛰️&🌬️➕s x2️⃣ 🔮

Translation: The solar PV (solar panel) and wind additions in 2028 are predicted to be double the solar PV (solar panel) and wind additions in 2022. In fact, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says that 75% (3/4) of 2023's worldwide renewable capacity additions were accounted for by solar panels. (Renewable power capacity is defined by Leading countries in installed renewable energy capacity worldwide in 2022 as "the maximum generating capacity of installations that use renewable sources to generate electricity.")

Page updated

Report abuse