RENEWABLE ENERGY EXPLAINED

When learning about renewable energy, it’s important to separate fact from fiction. To help you get the most up-to-date information, we’re addressing some of the more common myths so that you can better understand the positive benefits of renewable energy.

MYTH

Renewable energy won’t work on a large scale.

FACT:

Almost a fifth of the world’s energy comes from renewable energy sources and that amount is set to grow.

MYTH

Energy efficiency is the best way to cut carbon emissions.

FACT:

Greenhouse gas emissions are the result of energy production and consumption. While energy efficiency does reduce the amount of energy used, it doesn’t eliminate the constant need for energy. A combination of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies is the only option to bring carbon emissions down to zero.

MYTH

Renewables can’t provide electricity 24/7.

FACT:

Renewable technologies like biomass and hydropower, together with battery storage, can work together to help meet energy demand when solar and wind are producing less.

MYTH

Wind farms are not green and actually use more electricity than they produce.

FACT:

The wind turbines on wind farms return about 20 times the amount of energy it takes to build them. More important, wind has a better return on energy investment than coal or natural gas.

MYTH

Renewable energy can’t supply significant amounts of reliable energy.

FACT:

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s most recent renewable energy maps, the U.S. has 228,081 gigawatts in theoretical potential for renewable energy. This figure represents more than 200 times the current installed electrical capacity in the United States. We’re only using a small portion of our potential. As such, renewables can meet our current electricity consumption several times over.

MYTH

Wind farms are harmful to birds and bats.

FACT:

While not completely untrue, they don’t do half as much damage as people think. This myth is derived from early wind farms that were poorly designed and not well placed. However, this led to a change in process that ensures new turbines are less harmful to wildlife and a huge amount of consideration goes into their placement.