Renewable Energy
Renewables work by capturing the natural energy of sunlight, the wind,
decomposing crops, waves and hydro power, tides and sea currents. The
energy is converted into electricity, hot water, methane and / or hydrogen
fuel.
Recent independent
research commissioned by Friends of the Earth Cymru revealed very
high support across Wales for more Welsh windfarms both on and offshore.
Renewable energy technologies have numerous benefits over fossil fuels
and nuclear power.
Renewable energy:
- is generally cost competitive, if not cheaper, than generation by
fossil fuels and nuclear power
- emits little if any greenhouse gases unlike fossil fuels
- emits little if any health and countryside damaging acid rain gases
and other air pollutants
- is an indigenous, self-sufficient and secure source of energy, essentially
forever
- poses minimal opportunities for terrorists, in total contrast to
nuclear power facilities
- leaves no long-term toxic legacy such as radioactive waste dumps
- brings energy price stability, because it is little affected by
world events
- generally creates more jobs per unit of energy.
Did you know?
- covering one per cent of the Sahara, or similar hot desert, with
solar thermal mirror arrays could generate all current global electricity
demand
- offshore wind turbines sited within sea areas totalling 70 miles
by 70 miles could generate all current UK electricity use. This would
offset about 25 per cent of UK global warming emissions.
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