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Renewable energy: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Renewable energy
In 1982, a massive solar power plant opened in Hesperia, California, built by the company ARCO, yet it failed to turn a profit and was sold just eight years later. This early failure marked the beginning of a long, difficult journey for solar energy, but it also set the stage for a revolution that would eventually make sunlight the cheapest source of electricity in history. Today, the global solar photovoltaic capacity has surged to over 1 terawatt, providing about 6 to 7 percent of the world's electricity supply, a figure that has grown exponentially since 2010. The story of renewable energy is not just about technology, but about the relentless human drive to harness the sun's power, turning a once-costly and inefficient resource into the backbone of a new global economy. From the first utility-scale plant to the massive solar parks in China, the journey has been one of rapid innovation, falling costs, and a growing recognition that the sun is the most abundant energy source available to humanity.
Wind That Shapes Nations
Humans have harnessed wind energy since at least 3500 BC, using it to power ships, windmills, and water pumps, but it was not until the 20th century that wind power began to generate electricity on a large scale. Modern utility-scale wind turbines, ranging from 600 kilowatts to 9 megawatts, have become a dominant force in the global energy mix, with offshore wind speeds averaging 90 percent greater than those over land. In Denmark, wind energy met more than 40 percent of its electricity demand, while Ireland, Portugal, and Spain each met nearly 20 percent, showcasing the potential of wind to transform national energy systems. The global wind capacity increased by 557 gigawatts between 2013 and 2021, with capacity additions increasing by an average of 19 percent each year, driven by policy incentives in China and expansion in Europe. Despite these successes, wind power faces challenges such as intermittency, aesthetic concerns, and opposition from local communities, yet it remains a critical component of the global transition to clean energy.
Water's Hidden Power
The Three Gorges Dam, completed in 2003 on the Yangtze River in China, stands as the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, generating enough electricity to power millions of homes, yet it also displaced hundreds of thousands of people and submerged vast areas of wildlife habitat. Water is about 800 times denser than air, meaning even a slow-flowing stream can yield considerable amounts of energy, with a conversion efficiency of about 90 percent, the highest rate in renewable energy. China is the largest producer of hydroelectricity, with more than 45,000 small hydro installations, while countries like Canada and Norway are spending billions to expand their grids to trade with neighboring countries. Despite its high efficiency, new hydropower projects face opposition from local communities due to their large impact, including the relocation of communities and the flooding of wildlife habitats and farming land. The future of hydropower lies in repowering old dams, increasing their efficiency and capacity, and integrating them with intermittent wind and solar power to create a more flexible and resilient energy system.
When did the first massive solar power plant open in Hesperia California?
The first massive solar power plant opened in Hesperia California in 1982. This facility was built by the company ARCO and failed to turn a profit before being sold eight years later.
What percentage of global electricity supply does solar photovoltaic capacity provide today?
Global solar photovoltaic capacity provides about 6 to 7 percent of the world's electricity supply today. This figure has grown exponentially since 2010 and has surged to over 1 terawatt of capacity.
Which country has the largest hydroelectric dam in the world and when was it completed?
China has the largest hydroelectric dam in the world known as the Three Gorges Dam. The dam was completed in 2003 on the Yangtze River and generates enough electricity to power millions of homes.
How much water does lithium mining in the Salar de Atacama desert use?
Lithium mining in the Salar de Atacama desert uses around 65 percent of the water. This usage forces farmers and llama herders to abandon their ancestral settlements.
What is the global renewable power capacity in 2024?
Global renewable power capacity reached 4,300 gigawatts in 2024. Solar photovoltaics accounted for over 60 percent of annual additions during this period.
How much investment is needed per year to meet the Net Zero Emissions Scenario by 2035?
Meeting the targets set in the Net Zero Emissions Scenario by 2035 requires an investment of 5.3 trillion dollars per year. The energy sector currently receives investments of approximately 1.9 trillion dollars each year.
Iceland, a country built on the edge of tectonic plates, relies almost entirely on its abundant geothermal and hydroelectric resources derived from volcanic activity and glaciers, making it a global leader in renewable energy. Geothermal energy, extracted from the Earth's crust, originates from the slow radioactive decay of minerals and leftover heat from the formation of the Earth, and it can be used directly to heat homes or to generate electricity. As of 2023, the United States has by far the most geothermal capacity, followed by Indonesia and the Philippines, with global capacity reaching 15 gigawatts. Technical advances, such as enhanced geothermal systems, may eventually make geothermal power more widely available, allowing heat to be extracted from solid rocks anywhere on Earth. Despite its potential, geothermal energy remains a niche technology, with only a small fraction of global electricity generated from it, yet it offers a stable and reliable source of energy that can complement the intermittency of wind and solar power.
The Cost of Green
The transition to renewable energy requires the extraction of vast quantities of metals and minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, which are often mined in countries with weak governments and a history of political instability. Lithium mining in the Salar de Atacama desert uses around 65 percent of the water, forcing farmers and llama herders to abandon their ancestral settlements, while the production of wind turbines requires large amounts of copper and zinc, and solar panels need significant amounts of aluminum. The expansion of electrical grids demands both copper and aluminum, and batteries, which are critical to enable storage of renewable energy, use large quantities of copper, nickel, aluminum, and graphite. Demand for lithium is expected to grow 42-fold from 2020 to 2040, while demand for nickel, cobalt, and graphite is expected to grow by a factor of about 20 to 25. The geopolitical impact of this transition is profound, with countries rich in renewable resources and the minerals required for renewable technology expected to gain influence, while nations dependent on fossil fuel revenue may face political instability and popular unrest.
The Battle for the Land
More than 2,000 renewable energy facilities are built, and more are under construction, in areas of environmental importance, threatening the habitats of plant and animal species across the globe. Installations used to produce wind, solar, and hydropower are an increasing threat to key conservation areas, with facilities built in areas set aside for nature conservation and other environmentally sensitive areas. They are often much larger than fossil fuel power plants, needing areas of land up to 10 times greater than coal or gas to produce equivalent energy amounts. In 2020, scientists published a world map of areas that contain renewable energy materials as well as estimations of their overlaps with Key Biodiversity Areas, Remaining Wilderness, and Protected Areas, emphasizing that careful strategic planning is needed. The key is ensuring that renewable energy facilities are built in places where they do not damage biodiversity, while still meeting the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
The Future of Energy
In 2024, global renewable power capacity reached 4,300 gigawatts, with solar photovoltaics accounting for over 60 percent of annual additions, and renewables are set to account for over 90 percent of global electricity capacity expansion over the forecast period. To achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the International Energy Agency believes that 90 percent of global electricity generation will need to be produced from renewable sources, a goal that requires massive investment and technological innovation. The energy sector receives investments of approximately 1.9 trillion dollars each year, but to meet the targets set in the Net Zero Emissions Scenario by 2035, this investment must increase to 5.3 trillion dollars per year. The future of energy lies in the integration of diverse renewable sources, the development of advanced storage technologies, and the creation of a global energy system that is clean, secure, and sustainable, capable of meeting the needs of a growing global population while protecting the planet for future generations.