Over the past few decades, renewable energy sources have become more efficient, less expensive, and widely available to much of the planet. Although petroleum products still account for a majority of the world’s energy sector, there’s no denying that solar, wind, and geothermal energy have taken their place as crucial factors in electrical production.
This is especially true in certain nations that have worked hard to reduce their reliance on non-renewable energy sources. Ron Foster explores just a few examples of countries and regions that have maximized their natural renewable resources to ween off carbon-intensive fuels.
Geothermal Energy Use in Iceland
Iceland has long stood as the poster child for renewable energy, having made the switch from petroleum products to geothermal energy as far back as the 1960s. This is thanks in no small part to Iceland’s location at the intersection of two tectonic plates according to Ron Foster of Energy Quest, Inc. The sparsely populated island benefits from constant volcanic and hydrothermal activity that drives its energy sector.
Today, Iceland is the world leader in geothermal energy production, using the natural heat of the Earth to power nearly all its homes and businesses. In fact, geothermal energy accounts for
about 66% of the country’s total electricity production says Ron Foster.
What’s more, Iceland’s geothermal plants produce very little carbon emissions – about 0.15% of the world’s total – making it a model for other countries looking to move away from fossil fuels. Of course, only a handful of nations around the world are at a similar geographical advantage, limiting the widespread usability of geothermal energy.
Hydroelectric Energy in China
This may come as a bit of a surprise considering that China’s energy sector is still highly dominated by pollution-inducing coal, but a huge swath of the nation’s electricity is created from hydroelectric energy states Ron Foster. In fact, China is home to the world’s largest dam—the Three Gorges Dam—which draws power from the constant roaring flow of water streaming from the Yangtze River.
Since its completion in 2012, the Three Gorges Dam has powered roughly 18% of the world’s most populous country, making it the top hydroelectric producer in the world. Of course, this didn’t come without widespread environmental impact. By damming China’s largest river, the government flooded a massive section of the surrounding banks, forcing 3.67 million people out of their homes.
While there is an argument to be made that, by damming the river, the government can better control floodwaters downstream, it still stands that the reservoir created from such a massive project has affected the local environment. Whether the benefits outweigh the downsides remains to be seen states Ron Foster.
What can be said, though, is that China has contributed quite a lot to its renewable energy programs and currently stands as the number one solar, wind, and hydroelectric producer in the world.
Wind Energy in the Mid-West and Coastal Regions of the United States
Ron Foster of Energy Quest, Inc explains that while there’s no denying that the United States loves its fossil fuels, renewable energy sources have quickly gained ground over the past decade and a half. Today, the United States is the world’s second-largest producer of wind energy, falling just behind China in terms of sheer output.
Ron Foster explains that the success of wind power in the United States can be attributed to the vast stretches of open and flat land in the Mid-West, as well as high cliffs that catch sea breezes off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. Surprisingly, though, Texas—a leader in global oil output, falling just behind Russia, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia—produces the highest volume of wind energy in the nation.
In total, the United States benefits from more than
100 gigawatts of wind power capacity, which represents a little over 9% of the total energy sector. This helps bolster the roughly 40% renewable capacity already available to Americans. As more wind farms are built throughout the Mid-West, this number is sure to increase, given the amount of available land explains Ron Foster.
Ron Foster of Energy Quest Inc explains that paired with efforts to increase offshore wind farming from the Biden Administration, wind power looks set to become the renewable energy source de jour for the United States. While there’s no denying that petroleum products will likely continue to contribute a large segment of US energy production, there does seem to be hope for a green revolution.
Final Thoughts
As we’ve seen, there are many different types of renewable energy sources being used around the world today. While some, like geothermal and hydroelectric, are only viable in specific locations, others, like solar and wind, have a much wider range of applicability. As technology improves and becomes more widely available, we can expect to see even more countries making the switch to renewable energy according to Ron Foster.
