Renewable energy and the future of solar

The advent of global warming is motivating scientists all over the world to develop energy solutions that protect human health. A new study shows how close the world is to a more sustainable approach to combat climate change. A comprehensive study by the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows that the U.S. can generate most of its own electricity from renewable energy by 2050. That is important because fossil fuels are expected to run out by then. Without renewable energy, what hope would the planet have for healing itself? The Renewable Electricity Futures Study found that an 80 percent renewables future is possible with currently available technologies, including wind turbines, solar photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, biopower, geothermal, and hydropower. The study also suggests that a high renewables scenario can meet electricity demand across the country. Wind and solar power can provide approximately fifty percent of our electricity, with the remaining 30 percent from other renewable sources.

There is more than one way to “skin a cat.”

The NREL study shows that a range of renewable energy scenarios provides the country with multiple pathways to reach this goal. Renewable energy provides substantial benefits for our climate, our health, and our finances. It dramatically reduces global warming emissions, improves public health, and provides jobs and other economic benefits. Since renewables don’t require water for cooling, this dramatically reduces the water requirements for power production compared to fossil-fueled power plants. 

Lawmakers must wake up

The renewable revolution can only be achieved with the right policies in place. The world already has the tools to start significantly increasing renewable energy today. But we must also work to modernize the electricity grid with increased transmission infrastructure to integrate a high amount of renewable generation and incorporate more advanced grid planning to ensure reliability. In the final analysis, the United States needs a long-term clean energy policy that creates a long-term market for renewable energy.

You can do your part by installing a solar energy system!

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.