Sunday, 22 December 2024
Sunday, 22 December 2024
As even schoolchildren know by now, the primary cause of global warming and the global energy crisis is the use of fossil fuels such as petroleum, the burning of which produces greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
The solution for the globe is using renewable energy, scientists have been screaming from rooftops for a while now. Renewable energy comes from unlimited, naturally replenished sources such as the sun, tides and wind.
India has said it is committed to producing 50 per cent of its total electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
Here is a list of seven countries that meet 100 per cent of their energy demands using renewable resources, according to scientific data authenticated by the International Renewable Energy Agency:
1. Ethiopia
This East African country has 14 major rivers flowing from its highlands, including the Nile. It has the largest water reserves in Africa, and hydroelectric plants constituted almost 90 per cent of the total installed electricity generating capacity. Ethiopia also has reserves of non-renewable energy, such as oil, natural gas and coal, but it does not exploit or export them.
2. Bhutan
The Himalayan country gets most of its energy from hydroelectric power and does not emit significant greenhouse gases for energy production. Bhutan also has policies aimed at environment conservation, such as banning plastic bags and maintaining more than 60 per cent of its land as designated forest cover.
3. Albania
The east European country has a wide variety of energy resources, including gas, coal, oil, as well as wind, water, solar and other renewable sources. With an abundance of lakes, rivers, springs and groundwater aquifers, the country has harnessed these water resources to generate hydroelectric power. Albania has a moderate and improving performance in the Environmental Performance Index, with an overall ranking of 62 out of 180 countries.
4. Nepal
This landlocked Himalayan country sources the bulk of its energy from biomass. Except for some lignite deposits, the country has no known deposits of coal, oil or natural gas. The perennial nature of Nepali rivers and the steep gradient of the country’s topography provide ideal conditions for the development of hydroelectric projects. However, major hydro-power projects suffer delay and setbacks.
5. Paraguay
This is the only Latin American country with almost 100 per cent hydroelectric power generation capacity. Home to the Itaipu dam, which is the world’s second largest generating station, Paraguay exports electricity to Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, making it the world’s largest exporter of electric power.
6. Iceland
The island is known for its geological landscape replete with volcanoes, geysers and rivers, which supply about 85 per cent of its energy. The country has harnessed its abundant natural resources to produce hydroelectric and geothermal power, which has made it the world’s largest electricity producer per capita . The country is considered a strong performer in environmental protection for a while now, ranking 13th in Yale University’s Environmental Performance Index of 2012.
7. Costa Rica
The Central American country has a high concentration per capita of rivers, dams, and volcanoes, allowing for a high renewable energy output. It is also the fourth highest nation in terms of rainfall per capita, Costa Rica uses hydropower, geothermal, wind and solar power to supply its energy needs.
