Thanks to the lockdowns that took place early on into the pandemic, people were forced to stay home and avoid going outside. This led to fewer vehicles on the road, fewer businesses running, and minimal usage of greenhouse gases emitted into the air. During this time, researchers saw that the levels of pollution and greenhouse gases were at an all-time low, as businesses and factories that made use of fossil fuels were temporarily closed. However, this doesn’t mean that the environmental crisis is over, but it does put us on the right track to a more sustainable future.
Since the start of the pandemic, renewable energy has become attractive to investors and regular consumers alike, as it serves as both an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to power homes and businesses. The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects the demand for renewable energy to surge into 2025, with economies shifting to more inexhaustible energy sources such as sunlight, water, and wind.
But how will renewable resources change the future of electricity in the post-pandemic world?
Investors’ Choice
The interest and demand for renewable energy are on the rise, and it is quickly surpassing fossil fuels as a more commercially attractive investment. Years ago, renewable power wasn’t as accessible to the public compared to how it is today. Now, prices for renewable energy are steadily competing with that of more traditional power sources, making them a viable business that is more profitable than fossil fuels and other exhaustible energy sources. In fact, renewables are now the energy source of choice for power plants, with 72% of renewable plants making up new power capacity.
Providing Jobs
With more investors showing interest in the renewables market, economies are likely to see socio-economical benefits such as an influx of jobs. The number of jobs in the industry is expected to increase to 42 million over the next 3 decades. In 2019, around 250,000 people worked in the solar industry, which is more than twice the amount in 2012. This alone shows how quickly the industry is growing. However, we are still far from making a complete transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Since it isn’t a quick or easy process, jobs created in the industry are also likely to last for a long time.
Those who want to see exponential growth in the industry can make this possible through promotions and recruitment that allows people to see the benefits of renewables and how it can help not only businesses and consumers but the environment as well. If people can visualize a future using renewable energy in households, businesses, and factories, chances are they would also want to get involved.
Improving Public Health
Many people don’t realize the relationship between COVID-19 and the environment. However, studies show that long-term air pollution affects COVID-19 death rates. Carbon emissions are one of the main causes of air pollution. Reducing these emissions by adopting clean energy might be the key to decreasing the risk of contracting respiratory diseases like COVID-19.
At a time when health is the utmost priority in our lives, finding innovative and effective ways to decrease pollution in the air will not only improve the condition of our environment but will also improve health within communities.
Reevaluate How We Make Use of Our Energy
Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have all been spending most of our time indoors. Many companies have transitioned to remote work to protect employees from spreading and contracting the virus. On the other hand, schools have also gone digital by making use of video conference applications like Zoom schools, allowing students and teachers to interact with each other from the comforts of home.
With these activities taking place at home and the need to travel reduces, energy consumption has become a concern for many households. With increased consumption comes higher electricity bills- and with many people on a tight budget, households are looking for ways to save on energy and money.
This shift in living situations has prompted homeowners to consider renewable energy sources such as solar energy to power their homes and reduce energy consumption. Fortunately, costs have fallen almost 70% in the last decade, making it more accessible for homeowners and businesses who want to use solar panels or wind turbines to power their homes and offices.
There’s no telling what the future will hold for economies across the globe concerning the pandemic. Still, the chance to make the world more sustainable through renewable energy sources is here. With the right policies, information, and public support, a sustainable future could be the key to economic and environmental recovery by allowing us to reevaluate the way we use energy, improve public health, and create jobs for those who need it.
