5 Myths About Renewable Energy Busted

As time goes on, renewable energy is becoming more and more competitive with fossil fuels. Developments in these technologies continue to push the boundaries of what clean energy can achieve and to many it is clear that these energy sources are the future. However, there is a significant level of misinformation that has led to the creation of some “myths” on the subject.  Read on as we take a look at and debunk five of the biggest myths about renewable energy.

Myth – Renewable Energy Is Too Expensive

In the early 2000s, this might have been true, but nowadays the idea that green energy sources like solar and wind power are too expensive to justify is one of the biggest myths about renewable energy. Over the last 15 years, the cost of producing green energy has been steadily declining to the point where now the cost of producing renewable energy in Ireland and abroad is about the same as – if not cheaper than – fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal and oil.

Myth – Providing Renewable Energy Will Take Up Too Much Land

It is true that solar and wind farms require a significant amount of space to operate. The misconception here though is that the land then cannot be used for other purposes in addition to generating power. There are a lot of ways that you can turn land allocated for green energy generation into dual-use areas. Agrivoltaics for example are an up-and-coming solution for maximising the use of land for renewable power. By growing crops nearby to or underneath solar panels, the space can be used to generate clean power. Meanwhile the growth of some crops, including beetroots, potatoes or berries, actively benefits from this process.

Myth – Renewable Energy Sources Can’t Deliver All Year Round

One of the most common myths about renewable energy that you’ll hear is that renewable energy will only work in certain weather conditions. Of course, you need sun for solar power and wind for wind power, but these are not the only efficient sources of renewable energy. For example, green technology like an air-to-water heat pump can extract energy from outside the home and transform it into usable heat even when the temperature is as low as -15c. This reinforces the importance of making use of a wide variety of energy sources as it allows others to pick up the slack when one source is not performing optimally. 

Myth – Wind Turbines Consume More Energy Than They Generate

Some myths about renewable energy stem from misinformation rather than a lack of research. A great example of this is the myth that wind turbines consume more energy than they generate, implying that wind turbines will never offer a suitable return on investment. In reality, this only applies to poorly located wind turbines. Wind turbines that are placed strategically tend can make back their cost in around three years.

Myth – Green Energy Sources Are Too Underdeveloped

Lastly, the idea that sources of renewable energy are underdeveloped and now powerful enough to sustain our growing energy needs is easily dispelled by looking into the development of these technologies over the last decade. Recent years have seen monumental progress in the development of all sorts of renewable energy sources and have shown marked improvement. This is demonstrated by the fact that it is now easier than ever to use renewable energy in the home with the prevalence of technology like heat pumps. 

If you need any advice about the best way to access renewable energy in your home, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the expert team here at Pipelife. We offer a range of renewable home heating solutions, helping you to heat your home in a greener and more efficient way.