Energy transition: the primary tool for combating the climate crisis

The energy transition is the main tool we have to tackle the climate crisis. The IPCC says so, it’s written several times in the 2030 Agenda, and it’s repeated at every meeting where climate change is the topic of discussion. The European Union has set an official goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2, by 55% compared to 1990 levels by the year 2030. How? By using more and more renewable sources in order to reduce emissions to a minimum. Today, more than a third of electricity produced on our planet comes from renewable sources and this figure is growing substantially – but we need to take action that’s even more decisive in abandoning fossil fuels. Sun, wind and water Renewable energy sources are produced from natural elements that renew and regenerate themselves quickly, ensuring their availability in the future. They’re environmentally friendly, inexpensive and available to everyone. The energy sources considered renewable are: Solar energy: photovoltaic systems use silicon panels to transform solar radiation directly into electricity. Solar thermal plants, on the other hand, use storage tanks: the liquid in the tank is heated by concentrating the sun’s rays to produce steam, which then turns a turbine that generates electricity. Wind energy: wind turbines use the kinetic force of the wind to produce mechanical energy, from which electricity can be generated. In a certain sense, this can be considered a form of energy deriving from the sun, because it’s the heat of the sun that causes the pressure differences that result in winds. Hydroelectric energy: used since time immemorial to power watermills, nowadays the kinetic energy produced by waterfalls and rivers can be transformed into electricity. Hydroelectric power plants are usually built in the mountains close to watercourses in order to take advantage of the combination of kinetic energy and the force of gravity. The water cycle, too, is triggered by the sun. From the sea and the Earth’s core Geothermal energy: geothermal power harnesses the Earth’s natural heat by using the flow of steam from underground to power turbines. This mechanical energy is transformed into electricity using an alternator. Marine energy: this works in a similar way to wind power, using the movement of currents, tides or the motion of waves to produce electricity. Biomass: biomass produces electricity by burning firewood residue, waste from the agri-food industry, municipal organic waste, pruned branches and crop stalks from forestry and agricultural activities, seaweed, livestock waste and manure. These energy sources – the sun, wind, water, heat from the earth and biomass – have always existed but, thanks to advances in technology, today they provide the best response to climate change. Some are more efficient and cost-effective than others, and in some cases (like wood) they produce CO2. To take full advantage of them – especially solar and wind power, which are intermittent because they depend on the sun’s rays or on weather and climate conditions – it’s essential to have a way of storing the energy produced in order to utilize it when it’s needed, so that we can avoid interruptions to the supply of electricity.

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Energy transition: the primary tool for combating the climate crisis

Energy transition: the primary tool for combating the climate crisis

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