Renewable energy has been making headlines for quite some time now. Not limiting to headlines, renewable energy has also created a monumental shift in the energy landscape as the world population is seen to be increasingly moving towards renewable energy sources to promote sustainability and environmental consciousness. 

According to the UN, renewable is any energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed. Sunlight, wind, and water are such sources of renewable energy. Solar, wind, hydroelectric and other forms of renewable energy have been increasingly gaining attention for the last decade moving away from the overdependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power.

The rise in the use of renewable energy can be mainly attributed to several factors including technological advancements, increase in public awareness due to climate activism and in the Sri Lankan context the government subsidizations allowed for the users of renewable energy.

As per the UN, to avoid the worst impacts of climate change,emissions need to be reduced by almost half by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. To achieve this, we need to diversify the sources where our energy comes from. We especially need to bring our over-reliance on fossil fuels to an end. Renewableenergy can be obtained at almost 0 cost, however the cost of initial capital required in the conversion of renewable energy is considerably high, which has been why the shift from non-renewable energy to renewable energy has been at snail’s pace. Nevertheless, once the shift to renewable energy is made the marginal cost is almost negligible. 

Solar energy in particular has experienced a notable growthwith the rise of renewable energy. Economies of scale in generation have driven down costs causing the increasing popularity in the use of solar energy.

Wind energy has also seen a rise in use, with wind turbinesscattered in most landscapes. These turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into electricity with no harm to the environment. Changes in designs of wind turbines have dramatically increased efficiency making wind power the next cornerstone in the renewable energy revolution.

Hydropower, which is the longest-standing established form of renewable energy continues to play the most significant role in most developing economies where water is available in abundance. A number of small-scale hydro projects can also be seen in Sri Lanka which harness the power of flowing water streams without the need for massive reservoirs.

Beyond solar, hydro and wind-power a diverse array of renewable energy sources is gaining traction nowadays.Geothermal, biomass and tidal energy are being deployed in various contexts further diversifying the global energy mix and reducing the reliance on non-renewable energy. However,challenges remain on the path to creating a future fully powered by renewable energy. Continued investments in research and development are mandatory to address these challenges and make use of the full potential of renewable energy. Access to clean affordable energy is a fundamentalhuman right and hence, equity and inclusivity of all communities is a must in this shift to renewable energy.

The rise of renewable energy is an enormous opportunity to reshape our relationship with energy and the environment. Renewable energy is the path to create a more sustainable future for the coming generations and hence the transition to renewable energy is not merely an economic gain, but a gain to the society as a whole.

Written by: Rtr. Imandie Madanasinghe
Graphic design by: Rtr. Sathmi Dinanja