As humans, we rely heavily on finite resources like fossil fuels for everyday activities such as commuting, cooking, and powering our homes. Currently, non-renewable energy sources supply about 80% of the world’s energy. Without these resources, our way of life would be unsustainable, yet they will eventually run out, which shows the importance for a shift towards renewable energy.
Having lived in both Malaysia, a country heavily dependent on fossil fuels, and Switzerland, which has one of the lowest rates of fossil fuel usage, I have developed an interest in the use of renewable energy. I have observed significant differences in waste management and energy production in these countries. In Switzerland, households sort their waste into categories like paper, cardboard, glass, metal, PET plastic bottles, batteries, organic waste, and general waste, and then drop it off at public collection points. In contrast, waste sorting in Malaysia is not widely practiced, and most waste is collected as mixed garbage, which limits the positive impact of recycling. With a better recycling system in Switzerland, more non-renewable energy is conserved. I believe that the recycling practices in Switzerland are very effective, and by adopting similar approaches worldwide, we can significantly improve waste management systems and contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet
In Switzerland, it is also more common to see renewable energy sources like hydropower stations and solar panels. One of the reasons Switzerland is able to invest in many renewable energy sources is due to its wealth. While it would be ideal for other countries to invest as much in renewable energy, the high cost often acts as a barrier. One study even showed that 95% of all renewable energy is located in just 16% of global countries (which mainly included the richest countries in the world). I believe that this is one of the major problems with current renewable energy sources.
As someone who is also passionate about technology, I am interested in the use of technology to develop cheaper renewable energy sources. Currently, latest technology advancements are already reducing costs of certain renewable energy sources. For instance, the recent innovations in solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies actually improve energy conversion rate while also reading manufacturing costs.
A new type of renewable energy, called hydrogen energy, uses advanced technology to generate electricity from hydrogen. It uses hydrogen fuel cells to generate energy. This method is very cost — effective and can significantly reduce the need for mining if employed on a larger scale. This method shows how technology can transform renewable energy.
Recently, smart grids have also been introduced. They use advanced communication and control technologies to monitor and manage the flow of electricity. This ensures efficient and reliable energy distribution. This can potentially reduce the energy wasted by a significant amount.
In the future, technology will likely change renewable energy even more. Moving away from finite resources is essential, and systems like hydrogen energy and smart grids are just the beginning. With technology advancing rapidly every day, it seems like the best solution is to move away from non-renewable energy sources, as technology has so much potential.
References:
Evolving energy technologies in the renewable energy industry | Four Corners Clean Energy Alliance. (n.d.). https://fourcornerscleanenergyalliance.org/evolving-energy-technologies-in-the-renewable-energy-industry-2/#:~:text=Smart%20Grids&text=A%20smart%20grid%20uses%20advanced,sources%2C%20and%20reduce%20energy%20waste.
Nishat. (2021, August 12). Study finds 95% of renewable energy capacity in richest countries. Open Access Government. https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/decarbonisation-race/117121/#:~:text=Their%20analysis%20found%20that%2095,heavily%20reliant%20on%20fossil%20fuels.
Solar — IEA. (n.d.). IEA. https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables/solar-pv
Selin, N. E. (2024, May 30). Renewable energy | Types, Advantages, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/renewable-energy
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