Are Renewable Energy sources the future?

[jakdanyel]

I strongly believe that renewable energies are the future especially in terms of cryptocurrencies. As you all know, fossil fuels have been used for cryptocurrency mining for a long time. We are seeing new that renewable energies are starting to be used. And in the future, renewable energies must be used by the majority to have a better environment and better world as a result. Otherwise, there is a really worrying future waiting for people.

[Ultegra134]

I strongly believe that renewable energies are the future especially in terms of cryptocurrencies. As you all know, fossil fuels have been used for cryptocurrency mining for a long time. We are seeing new that renewable energies are starting to be used. And in the future, renewable energies must be used by the majority to have a better environment and better world as a result. Otherwise, there is a really worrying future waiting for people.

Bitcoin mining consumes approximately 0.50% of all electricity consumption worldwide. That's more electricity than the whole of Washington state on a yearly basis. If we also take into account other, Altcoin mining operations, this number is severely larger. It would certainly be more beneficial (And more profitable) if these mining operations were using solar panels, or another form of renewable energy source.

[Davidvictorson]

The world has been depending on burning fossil fuels for energy, throughout all these years. With dependence on fossil fuels, soon enough these finite materials will be depleted. Not only that, but it also has adverse effects for the environment, everything from air to ocean and land pollution.

Fossil fuels include, coil, oil and natural gas, with the latter being cleaner that oil and coal in terms of emissions. Let's also keep in mind how strenuous of a process it is to extract oil, promoting environmental disasters.

Most common renewable energy sources include, solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy, tidal energy and a few others.

The big question here is, can the world be 100% dependent on renewable energy sources? How can that be achieved and are they sustainable?

Renewable is future of human life. It is clean. One major concern I have is smogs. We know how harmful it is to humans, the environment and the economy. Renewable energy will definitely improve the air quality in our cities. The pros outweighs the cons when considering switching to clean energy.

[ILuckyGuyI]

I think that renewables energies are definitely the future for us. It is not only crucial for cryptocurrency mining, but also for the future of our world and environment. There are so many human-induced environmental problems now and fossil fuels can be one of the examples for this. We must completely end using this energy source as soon as possible and we must start using green energies directly. Otherwise, we won't have a world which we will be able to live in like always.

[conected]

I think renewable energy is just a temporary solution to get rid of fossil energy and nuclear power. Humans will have to find a new form of energy to serve humanity to develop to a higher and more sustainable level. We are hoping for scientific and technical achievements.

- Maybe it's just a way to deal with the temporary dangers of energy sources for the future but as a best way, it seems to be recognized as our future because the scientific world has been pursuing for many years in the research of other energy sources that can replace and serve humanity, the result is still that depletion will be a problem that happens over time. Therefore, renewables are almost hitting the nature of the weak points of energy sources, renewables are also simpler when there are quite a lot of impurities and wastes that can be used as fuel.

[Ultegra134]

I think renewable energy is just a temporary solution to get rid of fossil energy and nuclear power. Humans will have to find a new form of energy to serve humanity to develop to a higher and more sustainable level. We are hoping for scientific and technical achievements.

- Maybe it's just a way to deal with the temporary dangers of energy sources for the future but as a best way, it seems to be recognized as our future because the scientific world has been pursuing for many years in the research of other energy sources that can replace and serve humanity, the result is still that depletion will be a problem that happens over time. Therefore, renewables are almost hitting the nature of the weak points of energy sources, renewables are also simpler when there are quite a lot of impurities and wastes that can be used as fuel.

There are plenty of ways to create energy, nuclear is one of the most effective, but dangerous nonetheless, it's a practice that should slowly be diminished, for the sake of our safety. As another user mentioned above, there are a variety of renewable sources, which may and probably will not replace fossil fuels in the next upcoming decades, however, our dependency on them must be decreased, in order to sustain them for the future.

[oHnK]

Our dependency on them must be decreased, in order to sustain them for the future.

If we talk about reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, then this is the same as requiring enormous research and development.  However, I highly doubt it can diminish in a short amount of time.  It takes an extra approach and a very long time to change the people's habits that have taken root.  If fossil materials are replaced, the solution is electricity, but electricity also requires coal for its basic material.

[Ultegra134]

Our dependency on them must be decreased, in order to sustain them for the future.

If we talk about reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, then this is the same as requiring enormous research and development.  However, I highly doubt it can diminish in a short amount of time.  It takes an extra approach and a very long time to change the people's habits that have taken root.  If fossil materials are replaced, the solution is electricity, but electricity also requires coal for its basic material.

That's true, it is indeed a great idea to produce energy from renewable sources, however I don't think we have the technology to apply it on a large scale, yet. I believe that we'll have positive results the upcoming decades, increasing our renewable sources capacity will also decrease our dependency on fossil fuels, thus, preserving them for an extended period.

[CapGelatik]

Our dependency on them must be decreased, in order to sustain them for the future.

If we talk about reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, then this is the same as requiring enormous research and development.  However, I highly doubt it can diminish in a short amount of time.  It takes an extra approach and a very long time to change the people's habits that have taken root.  If fossil materials are replaced, the solution is electricity, but electricity also requires coal for its basic material.

That's true, it is indeed a great idea to produce energy from renewable sources, however I don't think we have the technology to apply it on a large scale, yet. I believe that we'll have positive results the upcoming decades, increasing our renewable sources capacity will also decrease our dependency on fossil fuels, thus, preserving them for an extended period.

I think the technology must already exist but it seems that it is only limited so not all of them can implement it,
I hope that this goal can be achieved because after all by using renewable energy it can protect the earth too

[Kittygalore]

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New energy is increasingly difficult to find, if we don't care about renewing energy then we can be sure that the world will experience big problems, maybe the price of energy is so expensive that only the rich can pay, now we must support energy renewal programs so that they can save the future of our children and grandchildren.

As what we have now, I think that the current products for renewable energy generators are already cheap for an average family so I don't think that the companies would pursue to make an expensive one plus there's a lot of inventions in the renewable energy sector that makes things much cheaper to the point that anyone can provide it.

[RealMalatesta]

Bitcoin mining consumes approximately 0.50% of all electricity consumption worldwide. That's more electricity than the whole of Washington state on a yearly basis. If we also take into account other, Altcoin mining operations, this number is severely larger. It would certainly be more beneficial (And more profitable) if these mining operations were using solar panels, or another form of renewable energy source.

The tricky point there is the fact that mining uses energy, and yes that is correct their energy consumption is high but they are not the ones that generate that energy at all. They are not asking if it is solar or hydro or wind or oil or whatever, they just use it. It means that it is the problem of energy companies to stop with oil, and work on getting renewable energy everywhere around the world. If they could do that then miners would be using renewable energy as well.

So, the problem is not that miners are using too much energy, it is that they are given the wrong type of energy to begin with. Thankfully world is going more and more green every year, not enough yet, but still greener is a good start.

[eaLiTy]

I think renewable energy is just a temporary solution to get rid of fossil energy and nuclear power. Humans will have to find a new form of energy to serve humanity to develop to a higher and more sustainable level. We are hoping for scientific and technical achievements.

What form of energy we are talking about, solar energy can be implementing in places where they get ample sunlight and it wont help in countries where there is freezing cold all round the year, but the major problem i see with the solar energy is that the battery technology has not undergone any major changes for decades and they have a life span of 5 to 8 years maximum and even if i want to move to solar energy the amount of money i need to shell out for maintenance and replace batteries every 5 to 8 years will be huge.

[Gyfts]

The technology is not advanced enough or cheap enough to get a good ROI if you invest in solar for the average consumer. You might have hydroelectric power or windmills used in isolation in some countries if the burden of electricity is small, but larger countries don't have any chance at switching to renewable any time soon, so perhaps the answer is what you mean by "the future."

Nuclear power should be in the near future, though. The main problem with nuclear is what to do with the resulting waste, but it seems the carbon foot print of disposing nuclear waste is lower than that of fossil fuels.

[AndySt]

The technology is not advanced enough or cheap enough to get a good ROI if you invest in solar for the average consumer. You might have hydroelectric power or windmills used in isolation in some countries if the burden of electricity is small, but larger countries don't have any chance at switching to renewable any time soon, so perhaps the answer is what you mean by "the future."
Nuclear power should be in the near future, though. The main problem with nuclear is what to do with the resulting waste, but it seems the carbon foot print of disposing nuclear waste is lower than that of fossil fuels.

I am in favor of renewable energy sources, but I believe that with the introduction of such technologies, it is also necessary to show common sense and not go to extremes. It is quite unpleasant for me to observe how entire fields in nature are blocked by solar panels, disfiguring landscapes that prevent plants and animals from receiving their portion of sunlight, exactly the same can be said about the aquatic environment. It has also been known for a long time that large hydroelectric power plants change the climate and often not for the better in the vicinity of their construction and down the riverbed. The blades of wind generators kill birds. As for nuclear energy, I would like to say the following: now the technology of fast neutron reactors is being introduced, where spent fuel can again be used as fuel, which should almost completely solve the problem of nuclear waste.

[STT]

larger countries don't have any chance at switching to renewable any time soon

Its possible its just that nothing is as cheap as the cheapest oil coming out of the ground in the middle east which is very easy to refine also.     Massive amounts of power are available from hydro power but it also requires the purchase of turbines of equal size.
   Tidal power is ignored by most who could use it and dont, entire countries can be powered in this way if the investment and decision was made to do so.      This isnt going to be for equator countries but there is a tidal range of 50 feet available between high and low tide that could be used not everywhere but tides are openly available if people wanted to use it.   The total amount of energy being taken from millions of tons of water available every day in this weight transfer is zero at present so its ignorance and apathy mostly fueled by cheap oil.   Solar per unit cost that was $70 decades ago has fallen to 70cents cost now, anywhere with consistent sunlight can choose this route but also it requires batteries so there is always some cost but its possible in every case as an option imo

[tulpash]

Currently, developed countries are interested in energy issues and energy use. They have a preference for renewable energy. The research and application of renewable energy is becoming more frequent. Wind power, solar power, electric cars, tides are things that are being talked about a lot.
In Germany, there is a road installed with solar panels.
Policies of countries to promote renewable energy. In many developed countries, there is a policy to buy back electricity at a higher price than electricity from fossil energy sources. I believe renewable energy is the future of the world, but we also need to acknowledge the important role of fossil energy such as oil, gas, coal... in the marine industry, metallurgy industry, chemistry...

[magnum1010]

I have heard that some European countries are going to switch to renewable energy sources until 2050. We see successful examples of those which use wind, sun, water and this way they get energy. It will be a really big step for human civilization to start using only renewable energy and I believe that thanks to new technologies and development of science it will happen within time.

[Vishnu.Reang]

I have heard that some European countries are going to switch to renewable energy sources until 2050. We see successful examples of those which use wind, sun, water and this way they get energy. It will be a really big step for human civilization to start using only renewable energy and I believe that thanks to new technologies and development of science it will happen within time.

That is the aim of the European Union, to have zero net Carbon emissions by 2050. They have three decades, so it should be possible. But right now, there are a lot of countries which are using coal-fired powerplants to generate electricity. Even if they switch to natural gas, there is going to be net emissions of CO₂. One option is to replace thermal powerplants with nuclear ones, but the rise of Green party in countries such as Germany has put a doubt on such moves. Ironically, the Green party is fiercely opposed to nuclear energy, which is one of the cleanest forms of electricity generation (if managed properly).

[add1ct3dd]

That is the aim of the European Union, to have zero net Carbon emissions by 2050. They have three decades, so it should be possible. But right now, there are a lot of countries which are using coal-fired powerplants to generate electricity. Even if they switch to natural gas, there is going to be net emissions of CO₂. One option is to replace thermal powerplants with nuclear ones, but the rise of Green party in countries such as Germany has put a doubt on such moves. Ironically, the Green party is fiercely opposed to nuclear energy, which is one of the cleanest forms of electricity generation (if managed properly).

No one is going to have any problem because of course it's a future but still there are many issues with this which need some good time to solve, and then we can use this all without any interruption because oil and gas is very limited and now really hurting in many countries' economy very badly.

Renewable is also not easy task for many but hopefully as it's working we will be able to have some more flexible things for this because currently its cost is also very high, and we are not sure is this going to work 100% because It's still in developing process I am sure we can go through this and have some better and energetic environment.

[Ultegra134]

I have heard that some European countries are going to switch to renewable energy sources until 2050. We see successful examples of those which use wind, sun, water and this way they get energy. It will be a really big step for human civilization to start using only renewable energy and I believe that thanks to new technologies and development of science it will happen within time.

That is the aim of the European Union, to have zero net Carbon emissions by 2050. They have three decades, so it should be possible. But right now, there are a lot of countries which are using coal-fired powerplants to generate electricity. Even if they switch to natural gas, there is going to be net emissions of CO₂. One option is to replace thermal powerplants with nuclear ones, but the rise of Green party in countries such as Germany has put a doubt on such moves. Ironically, the Green party is fiercely opposed to nuclear energy, which is one of the cleanest forms of electricity generation (if managed properly).

A complete switch from fossil fuels to renewable is highly unlikely within 2050, zero emissions may sound ideal but I'm not sure on how it can be achieved. I hope I'm proved wrong, but the time period looks quite small for something so large.

In my opinion, it'll be a success even if fossil fuel usage is reduced by 50%. Renewable sources sound like a panacea, but I'm not exactly sure on how easy and efficient the transition can be.