Introduction
The world stands at the juncture of two roads today. One is filled with the hawkers of fossil fuels; consequentially, all the environmental ills arise from such an orientation, and the other points toward a future powered by renewable energy sources for a purer and cleaner environment in the future. That is why, for this very reason, renewable energy is no longer an option but a necessity.
Solar Energy: Alternate Power through the Sun
"सूर्य ऊर्जा," or solar energy, harnesses the power of the sun to produce electrical energy. It is a technology that has highly evolved in the past couple of years. With large tracts of land and plentiful sunshine, India emerged on the world stage as a champion in solar power.
On a capacity-related milestone reached in 2022, the country crossed more than 50 GW of solar power. This made India one of the top five countries in the world as far as solar power capacity is concerned.
The International Energy Agency has estimated that before 2035, solar energy could become the largest source of electricity worldwide.
Wind Energy: Tapping Nature's Anger
The other critical player in renewable energy is wind energy, or "वायु ऊर्जा." It is simply kinetic energy in the wind, converted into electrical energy by working through a wind turbine. This has already been exploited quite considerably in countries like Denmark and even Germany.
For instance, somewhere around 50% of Denmark's electricity comes from wind power. Similarly, on a small scale, Tamil Nadu is capable of producing enough electricity because of wind power, and hence it is touted as being in the lead as far as wind power generation in India is concerned; thus, it contributes so much to the solar policies aimed at by the nation.
Hydropower: Water Power
Hydropower is the oldest form of renewable energy, wherein the energy of flowing water is used to produce electricity. In the United States, hydropower has become one of the most significant sources of power.
In India, the Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand is one of the main hydropower projects supplying electricity to millions of people. Globally, hydropower generates about 16 percent of global electricity, so it is an important component of our mix of renewable energy.
Bioenergy: energy from organic matter.
This does not come directly from mineral resources like fossil fuels. Actually, it appears in the form of biofuels, biogas, and biomass. Biofuels are primarily consumed massively in countries like Brazil in the form of ethanol, which comes from sugarcane.
It has a national biofuel policy assuring huge consumption of the transportation sector to be covered under biofuels in the country for the purpose of reducing dependability upon imported oil and injecting a lesser quantity of GHG emissions.
Geothermal Energy: The Need to Include it.
Geothermal energy harnesses heat from the earth to generate electricity. This is a reliable, continuous source of energy, independent of climatic factors. Countries effectively using this kind of energy are those where volcanic activities are periodic, like Iceland and the Philippines. For India, parts like Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh may turn out to be potential locations for geothermal energy development and the supply of cleaner energy to far-flung areas.
International Scenario on Renewable Energy
Renewable energy capacity has grown colossally across the world. Renewable energy technologies are making huge investments that create millions of jobs all over the world and are creating economic growth and stability. India, as a country, is committed to a sustainable future.
Ambitious renewable energy targets of 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030 have been set. Needless to say, the steps taken by India in initiating the International Solar Alliance definitely display its commitment to the international community for the propagation of solar energy. In addition, plans like the PM-KUSUM scheme encourage the use of solar pumps for irrigation purposes, therefore helping farmers and reducing carbon footprints.
Conclusion
Renewable energy is not just ushering in a set of new technologies; it is underpinning the sustainable future of one and all. A future when our children inherit a blooming, resilient earth. We can all make a difference by switching to renewable energy solutions at home, using our votes to campaign for clean energy policy actions, and raising awareness about sustainability.