Negative Impacts of Renewable Energy: The Dark Side of Renewables

Substantial countries have committed to becoming renewable over the next 10-20 years. Globally, renewable energy investment is growing, and it isn’t likely to slow down over the next decades. Carbon emissions are high in some countries that need to be reduced. Others should increase their use of renewable energy sources. The future is on renewable energy sources, and the construction of new energy plants has been accelerated.

China and other countries are known for their high carbon emissions and have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions dramatically. The increased focus on building renewable energy plants has led to an increase in their construction. These pledges aim to reduce carbon emissions, but are they as eco-friendly as they seem?

Renewable energy is no exception. However, every good thing comes with downsides. This AGRIKULTURE TODAY article will discuss some of the drawbacks of renewable energy so you can better understand why people are reluctant to use it.

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Negative Impacts of Renewable Energy 

The negative aspects of renewable energy include large floods, financial costs, and the release of poisonous gases into the atmosphere. Let us now discuss some of these negative aspects to understand better.

Changes in the Wildlife Habitats

As biomass resources, we use crops, forest products, agricultural waste, urban waste, and agricultural waste. Bioenergy feedstocks and the way they are harvested for electricity production can have a significant impact on land use as well as global warming emissions. For example, bioenergy can be made from tree products. To collect enough lumber, many trees and forests should be removed. Changes in animal habitats are a result. Another example is methane emission. This happens when engines are powered by animal waste.

Death of Wildlife

The wind is one of the most popular sources of renewable energy. It provides significant amounts of electricity that are used in Europe. In the coming years, many wind farms around the globe are needed to make this renewable energy source more accessible. Many birds like bats have been killed by wind power and the changes in air pressure caused by this industry. The National Wind Coordinating Committee said that these deaths were caused by collisions with turbines or changes in the air pressure due to spinning turbines.

Environmental Changes 

Sun, another renewable energy source, is becoming increasingly popular. Solar power has a downside. It can have a negative impact on the environment, water, and land. To build large panels that receive more sunlight, you will need a lot of lands. Not only does this require grading and clearing land, but it also impacts the current use of the land. These actions can lead to soil compaction and erosion as well as changes in drainage channels. Solar panels can also cause damage to the soil through their manufacturing, material extraction, disposal, exploration, and maintenance.

Floods

Hydropower is one of the most well-known renewable energy. Although they don’t directly impact the air, hydroelectric reservoirs may have a negative impact on the environment. This includes flooding. The dam that harnesses hydropower will store water. When this water is released, it can cause a sudden flood downstream. Floods like these can cause damage to wildlife, farms, and forests.

Release of Poisonous Gases 

To find the most suitable area for building geothermal power stations, it is necessary to do extensive research. Because geothermal power stations should be built in areas with hot rocks beneath their surface, the environment is at risk from poisonous gases released by the drilling holes in the ground. Another negative effect of geothermal power plants is their ability to release poisonous gasses into the air. Geothermal energy stations can cause earthquakes in extreme circumstances. Last but not least is the cost of building a geothermal power station.

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Dependency on Weather 

Renewable energy is often dependent on certain weather conditions. As such, the weather can have an impact on how we use these resources. For hydro generators, it is necessary to have enough rain to fill the dams. Wind turbines also need wind to make their blades turn. Solar panels, too, depend on the sun shining in clear skies.

Conclusion

Renewable energy sources have some negative effects on the environment, and they make a significant impact on global warming. It is important to reduce carbon emissions. Engineers, scientists, and nations are all trying to find positive ways to increase the use of renewable energy. They also seek to reduce the negative effects that these sources can have on our environment.