A new report shows that renewable energy sources, like wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal, now produce more electricity than coal. Green energy created 34% of the world’s electricity, while coal-powered energy fell to 33%. China and India have contributed most to the rise in renewable energy.
There are a few reasons for this development. First, new technology has made renewable energy cheaper and more efficient. The cost of making solar panels and wind turbines has gone down, and more and more people are worried about climate change. Governments have also helped by providing financial help for those who use renewable energy.
Meanwhile, using coal has become less popular. Coal plants are often old and expensive to run, and anti-pollution laws are becoming stricter.
The report shows that the world is moving towards more sustainable and reliable sources of energy. The rise of renewable energy will lead to more investment and a safer life for future generations.
Wind turbines in the North Sea
Image: © Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Words
- anti-pollution laws = rules that a government makes to lower pollution
- contribute = to make something happen
- development = here: new activity, progress
- efficient = here: to create power at lower costs
- electricity = the power that is carried in cables and wires, used to give us heat and light, and to make machines work
- financial help = money
- geothermal = coming from the heat inside the Earth
- government = the people who rule a country
- hydroelectric = power produced by water
- investment = to put money into a project or an idea
- provide = give
- reliable = here: something you can always depend on, or that you always have
- renewable = something that never ends and replaces itself naturally
- solar = from the sun
- solar panel = a plate that you put on the roof of a house; it gets warm when the sun shines and creates electricity
- source = where something comes from
- strict = here: you must obey
- sustainable = without causing problems for the environment and nature
- wind turbine = a modern windmill that produces electricity