33 Shocking Facts about Renewable Energy

Written by Stanley Udegbunam || Dec 14, 2020

AFRILCATE

You might have an idea of what Renewable Energy is, its major sources, and why it’s gradually gaining acceptance across the globe.

But they are some amazing things you probably don’t know about renewable energy.

In today’s article, we’ll be looking at 33 shocking facts about renewable energies, and trust me, they are all worth knowing.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

33 FACTS ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY

  1. Renewable energy can be said to be a gift from the creator because it comes from sources not created by humans but naturally bestowed upon mankind.
  1. The best fact about renewable energy lies in its name, “renewable” which means that it is constantly replenished. Major renewable energy sources are solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass.
  1. More energy from the sun falls on the earth in one hour than what is used by everyone in the world in one year.

This is really mind-blowing. If we maximize the energy from the sun, we can provide enough power for the entire world.

  1. Renewable energy creates roughly three times more jobs than fossil fuels. A national study shows that job creation in clean energy outweighs fossil fuels by a ratio of 3-to-1.
  1. Statistics shows that in every 1 hour, 2 wind turbines are built in China since 2017.
  1. 50% of the energy used in the United States of America is sourced from biomass. This makes biomass the largest U.S. renewable energy source with more than 200 existing plants providing electricity for 1.5 million American homes.
  1. Costa Rica successfully generates more than 98. 53% of its electricity using different sources of alternative energy. It has sustained itself by generating energy from its rivers, volcanos as well as wind and solar power. The residents still drive gas-powered cars, but the electrical grid used 98% renewables for the year.
  1. Solar Impulse 2 was the first plane powered by renewable energy sources.

It flew 40,000km from Abu Dhabi to Hawaii in 2015 and completed the first circumnavigation of the globe with no fuel making it the longest solo solar flight ever achieved in aviation history.

It’s also the first solar plane to have crossed the world’s two biggest oceans.

  1. General Electric (G.E), an America-based company reveals the world’s biggest offshore wind turbine, Halide X with a capacity of 12MW.

It is nearly 900 ft tall and each blade is more than 300ft long, which is almost a football field in length.

It is estimated to generate enough electricity to power 30,000 homes.

  1. The world resource base for geothermal energy is larger than the resource base for coal, oil, gas, and uranium combined.
  1. The Geysers Geothermal Complex located 115km north of San Francisco is considered the biggest geothermal installation in the world.

It has 18 power plants with an active production capacity of 900MW and an installed capacity of 1,517MW.

The Geysers Geothermal Complex accounts for 20% of the green power generated in California and considered one of the most reliable sources of energy in the state.

  1. 71% of the planet is made of water hence it’s the most used renewable energy source.

It is estimated to have the capability of producing enough power to meet the needs of 3 million people.

  1. Water wheels were among the earliest forms of generating hydro-power.
  1. The Three Gorges hydroelectric power plant in Yiling District, China is the largest hydropower station in the world. It provides a whopping 22,500MW. It is a traditional hydropower facility sourcing its water resource from the Yangtze River.
  1. Renewable sources of energy get fewer subsidies compared to fossil fuels.

Despite the negative effect of non-renewables on the environment, they still get four times more subsidies compared to renewable sources of energy.

  1. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable sources of energy like hydropower, wind and solar do not directly emit greenhouse gases. The only emission they produce is indirect like the ones resulting from manufacturing parts, installation, operation and maintenance but it’s still very minimal.
  1. An efficient wind turbine can generate enough electricity to power 1,400 homes. A typical onshore wind turbine with a capacity of about 2.5 to 3 MW can produce more than 6 million kWh in a year.
  1. The World’s Largest Dam, “The Itaipu Dam” Provides Both Brazil & Paraguay With Electricity.

The Itaipu dam provides Paraguay with 76% of the country’s electricity while also generating 17% of Brazil’s energy needs every year.

The dam was nominated as one of the seven wonders of the modern world by the American society of civil engineers due to its size and output.

  1. Renewable energy investments are cost-effective. But when built they cost little to operate because the fuel is gotten freely from nature. As a result, renewable energy prices tend to be stable over time.
  1. Renewable energy improves power grid stability and reliability.
  2. The United States does not have any tidal power plants.
  3. More than 92000 turbines have been built in China, capable of generating 145 gigawatts of electricity.
  4. By 2025, the global renewable energy market is expected to be worth a whopping $1,512.3 billion.
  5. . Compared to other renewable energy sources, solar energy is the most readily available source of renewable energy.
  6. Geothermal energy is produced using the magma that can be found beneath the earth’s crust.
  7. Hydro-electric power is energy derived from fast-flowing water descending rapidly from a high point. That’s why hydroelectric stations are situated at waterfalls or dams.
  8. Large dams are considered detrimental to the environment because it disrupts river ecosystems, reduces natural flows, restricts access for humans and aquatic animals, and also harmful to wildlife.

  9. Tidal energy is energy gotten from the rise and fall of sea level. There are two existing large tidal barrages in the world today. One is in France and the other in Canada.
  10. Biomass is part of the carbon cycle. It is the only renewable energy source that’s carbon neutral and its energy is derived from the combustion of organic materials like wood pellets and forest debris.
  11. Biomass energy is not far from us as it seems. A common example of biomass energy in our local homes is the burning of wood to release heat for heating and cooking.

  12. Renewable energies are each location-specific. Some locations may have a lot of sun, wind, and/or hydro, while others may have very little. It’s meaningless to set up wind turbines in areas with low wind speed.
  13. Advancement in technology makes renewable energy more accessible, affordable and efficient.
  14. More than 60 countries are planning to bring their carbon footprint to zero by 2050 with the European Union (E.U) aiming to become the first climate-neutral economy.
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Now…Over to You!

I’m really fascinated by Costa Rica running on almost 100% renewables (fact 7)

And also the solar plane project that flew for a whooping 44,000km without conventional fuel but just powered by renewable energy source (fact 8).

What about you?

Which of these facts fascinated you the most? 

Share your thoughts and answers with us in the comment section below.

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