6 Myths About Renewable Energy, Busted!

3/13/2018 6 Myths About Renewable Energy, Busted!
RENEWABLE

ENERGY MYTHS
6 M Y T H S A B O U T R E N E WA B L E E N E R G Y,
B LO W N A WAY
Imagine a world free of oil accidents, coal pollution and nuclear waste. A
world where we wouldn’t have to feel helpless in the face of climate change,
because we did everything we could to prevent further warming. A world
where energy was clean, safe and available for all.
That world is within our reach now.
The evidence is in: Renewable

energy is viable, reliable, and ready
to go – all that’s needed for a clean
energy revolution.
On this page we’ve grouped

together some of the most common
myths about renewable energy,
explaining why they are just that –
myths that don’t stand up to reality.
But here’s the thing, although we’ve

busted the myths here, we need you
to make the myth busting go
beyond this page.
Please share it widely. Tweet,

Facebook, and talk about it freely.
http://www.greenpeace.org/archive-international/en/campaigns/climate-change/energyrevolution/renewable-energy-myths/ 1/11
Tweet
Share
Now, let’s get going!

MYTH 1
R E N E WA B L E E N E RG Y I S TO O
EXPENSIVE
In recent years the costs of wind and solar energy have declined substantially
Today renewable technologies are the most economical solution for new
capacity in a growing number of countries and regions, and are typically the
most economic solution for new grid-connected capacity where good
resources are available.
• Citigroup: The age of renewable THE HIDDEN COSTS OF COA

energy is beginning. Increasingly AND NUCLEAR
cost competitive with coal, gas and
Market price aside, coal and nuclea
nuclear in the US. Source
power have huge hidden costs that
Tweet aren’t included in the price that you
• HSBC: Wind energy is now cost and I pay for electricity.
competitive with new-build coal
capacity in India. Solar to reach We’re talking about the costs of
parity around 2016-18. Source water pollution, health impacts, the
plant’s huge water footprint, and
Tweet
climate change.
• Deutsche Bank: solar now
competitive without subsidies in at For instance, in the United States,
least 19 markets globally. In 2014 accounting for these hidden costs,
prices to decline further. Source conservatively doubles to triples th
price of electricity from coal per
Tweet
kWh generated. In South Africa, the
• Unsubsidised renewable energy is Energy utility Eskom is currently
now cheaper than electricity from building a coal- red power plant,
new coal and gas red power plants and it’s estimated that the plant wil
in Australia. Source cause damage of up to 5.7 bln US$
for every year it operates.
Tweet
These massive costs aren't taken

But it doesn't stop there. There are into account when the price of coal
Like 7 people like this. Be the first of your friends.
no input costs for wind and solar power is calculated -- but they are
energy. So for example, while one still very real!
needs to buy coal for a coal- red
power plant to generate electricity
(and coal mining itself has massive
environmental costs), solar and
wind energy don’t have input costs
like that – sunlight and wind are
free. As a result, they replace more
expensive production in the
electricity market, lowering
wholesale electricity prices. This is
good for consumers but –
unsurprisingly – upsets the
producers of dirty energy.

MYTH 2
R E N E WA B L E E N E RG Y I S N I C E TO H AV E
B U T N OT B I G E N O U G H

Renewable energy technology is ready to go, and it is working reliably in countries around
the world.
1. International Energy Agency: Any 6. In 2012 China’s wind power generation

country can reach high shares of wind, increased more than generation from coal.
solar power cost-e ectively. Source Source
Tweet Tweet
Share Share
2. By 2050 almost all of global energy 7. Portugal generated more than 70% of its
needs can be met with renewables. Source electricity from renewable energy sources
during the rst quarter of 2013. Source
Tweet Tweet
Share Share
3. Germany, Europe's biggest economy, 8. In the US, nine states are getting 12% or
already gets 25% of it’s electricity from more of their electricity from wind. Iowa &
renewables, and is aiming for 80% by 2050. South Dakota exceed 25%. Source
Source
Tweet Tweet
Share Share
4. Wind power was Spain's top source of 9. Philippines produces 29% of its
electricity in 2013, ahead of nuclear, coal & electricity with renewables, targeting 40%
gas. Source by 2020. Source
Tweet Tweet
Share Share
5. Renewables supplied 42% of mainland 10. Denmark is going to produce 100% of

Spain’s electricity in 2013. Source its heat and power with renewable energy
by 2035 and all energy by 2050. Source
Tweet
Share Tweet
Share
Tweet
Share

MYTH 3
R E N E W A B L E E N E R G Y C A N ’ T S U P P LY
ELECTRICITY 24/7
Renewable energy can meet all our energy needs in a safe and reliable way. When the
shares are small, balancing supply and demand goes with the ow as part of the overall grid
management. As shares of wind and solar approach 30% and more, smart integration
becomes important.
The key is to have a mix of sources spread over a wide area: solar and wind power, biogas,
biomass and geothermal sources. In the future, ocean energy can contribute too.
Intelligent technologies can track and manage energy use patterns, provide exible power
that follows demand through the day, use better storage options and group producers
together to form virtual power plants. With all these solutions we can secure the renewable
energy future needed. We just need smart grids to put it all together and e ectively ‘keep
the lights on’.
Tweet
Share

MYTH 4
ELECTRICITY GRID CAN’T HANDLE
RENEWABLE ENERGY
An electricity grid – the system that connects power stations to consumers – can handle
large shares of variable renewable energy if it is designed to do so. Adding wind and solar on
top of ‘business as usual’ is not how it works. What’s needed is a gradual transformation of
the whole energy system to accommodate modern energy production and consumption.
Typically the ones who claim that wind and solar will bring trouble to the grid are the old
players, who failed to take renewable energy seriously and over-invested in fossil fuel
capacities instead. Renewable energy is now eating their pro ts and making their old
business models out-of-date. Source
In reality, Europe, for example, can switch to 77% renewable electricity by 2030 while
maintaining a ordable security of supply. Source
WHAT IS A SMART GRID?
A smart grid is a system that can connect

(and switch between) a number of energy
sources (solar, wind, etc.), at many
di erent sites, to provide a constant ow
of electricity to users. It allows us to create
a network of electricity production sites
that spread over a wide area. So for
example, it would allow you to create solar
power on the roof of your house, and feed
extra power back into the grid. This is part
of what makes the grid “smart”:
components can “talk” and “listen” to each
other, making the supply of electricity
much more exible, reliable, and e cient.
With smart grid solutions, we are no longer
just passive consumers of energy, but
active producers and consumers of clean Tweet
energy – prosumers! Share

MYTH 5
RENEWABLE ENERGY IS BAD FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT
Birds and bats: A common argument against wind farms is that they kill
birds and bats. However, if environmental impact assesments are
conducted and migratory and local bird population patterns are assesed
before construction, this is avoided completely. It is vital that these
assessments are made to ensure the safety of birds and bats, as with any
development project.
Noise: Studies have shown that noise complaints, especially those related to
wind farms, are often unrelated to actual noise. In most cases it was found
that people were actually opposed to the farms on aesthetic grounds –
which would be the same with coal or nuclear plants. It was also found that
‘noise’ complaints dropped o rapidly when local communities derived
income from the renewable energy projects in question.
Land use: The land used for renewable energy projects, like wind farms, can
still be used for farming and cattle grazing. International experience has
shown that livestock are completely una ected by the presence of wind
farms and will often graze right up to the base of wind turbines.
Footprint of renewables: Unlike coal and nuclear RE pays o its carbon

footprint and does so relatively quickly. Depending on where they are
made, solar panels o set their carbon footprint in about four years.

MYTH 6
G R E E N P E A C E WA N T S TO T U R N O F F A L L
COAL AND NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
TO D AY
Greenpeace’s Energy [R]evolution model is about a gradual transition to renewable energy.

It’s a blueprint which has been developed for over 30 countries and regions for decreasing
our reliance on coal, oil, gas and nuclear over time, while investing increasingly in
renewables.
Fully switching over to renewable energy involves 3 steps.
Increase our energy e ciency: This is most important. It is about using our energy
wisely, so that we get more done while using less and less energy.
Shift investments to renewable energy projects, and steadily increase investments
over time.
Stop investing in new fossil fuels and nuclear plants whilst also shutting down old
stations as they reach the end of their lifespans.
Find the sustainable energy plan for your country here:

http://www.energyblueprint.info/1645.0.html?&L=1%252520
Tweet
Share
WHERE TO FROM HERE?

The good news is that clean energy
revolution has already started – but we
must speed it up. Given the incredible
renewable energy potential the world has,
the millions of jobs that could be created
and millions of lives that could be saved
from air pollution and other hazards of the
current energy system, the bene ts of a
clean energy future are undisputable.
We have created a global blueprint for just

how such a revolution could take place – in
every corner of the world. Click here to
download the Energy [r]evolution report
and nd out more – and don’t forget to
share this page so it can live up to its true
myth-busting potential!
Download the Revolution
© 2014 Greenpeace International

6 Myths About Renewable Energy, Busted!

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

6 Myths About Renewable Energy, Busted!

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

3/13/2018 6 Myths About Renewable Energy, Busted!

That world is within our reach now.

The evidence is in: Renewable

On this page we’ve grouped

But here’s the thing, although we’ve

Please share it widely. Tweet,

• Citigroup: The age of renewable THE HIDDEN COSTS OF COA

These massive costs aren't taken

1. International Energy Agency: Any 6. In 2012 China’s wind power generation

solar power cost-e ectively. Source Source

5. Renewables supplied 42% of mainland 10. Denmark is going to produce 100% of

WHAT IS A SMART GRID?

A smart grid is a system that can connect

energy – prosumers! Share

Footprint of renewables: Unlike coal and nuclear RE pays o its carbon

Greenpeace’s Energy [R]evolution model is about a gradual transition to renewable energy.

Fully switching over to renewable energy involves 3 steps.

Find the sustainable energy plan for your country here:

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

We have created a global blueprint for just

Download the Revolution

© 2014 Greenpeace International

You might also like