Renewable Energy has become a very hot topic amongst the masses and global leaders as the problems with non-renewable energy manifest themselves in various virulent forms like the BP Oil Spill,Coal Mine Deaths,Energy Insecurity etc.Renewable Energy as the name implies has the greatest benefit of being renewable that is it does not get exhausted like the Oil beneath the Earth.Fossil Fuels which are the primary non-Renewable Energy form suffers from the problem that it releases Carbon sequestered in the ground in the form of Carbon Dioxide and other Greenhouse Gases.These GHG emissions lead to Global Warming which can have catastrophic effect on mankind even endangering the very existence in the worst case scenario.However Fossil Fuel Lobbies are very strong and have tried to obfuscate the Climate Change Issue.They have been able to do that because Climate Change is highly complex and the outcome is not 100% or even 90% certain.But repeated studies have shown that human induced Carbon Emissions will lead to major changes in the weather,sea level rise and other disasters.We can see Climate Changing already with massive floods and droughts and the highest temperature recorded in the last 200 or so years.

The Benefits of Renewable Energy are many however the higher costs of renewable energy sources like Solar,Wind and the Lack of Availability has prevented more widespread use.There are also drawbacks like intermittency,long gestation time,immature technology.However the Benefits of Renewable Energy are too compelling to ignore and in the next 40-50 years we should see Renewable Energy as the Dominant form of Energy.Here  are the Benefits of Renewable Energy.

No Greenhouse Gas Emissions/Air Pollution – Renewable Energy does not produce any GHG emissions or cause air pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels unlike coal,oil or gas.This makes them very attractive as a source of cheap,non carbon dioxide producing electricity.

Distributed Democratization of Energy – Alternative Energy can be produced in almost any size from 1 kw solar installation to 10000 MW Hydro Plant which makes it very versatile.Small Hydro,Micro Wind and Residental Solar Plants are being encouraged by government as they cause less ecological damage and reduce the need of expensive power transmission.

No Fuel Requirements and Cost – Renewable Energy does not require any fuel like most other sources of fossil energy.This is a huge advantage over other fossil fuels whose costs are increasing at a drastic  rate every year due to depletion of resources.Electricity prices are increasingly rapidly in most parts of  the world much faster than general inflation.Price shocks due to high fuel costs are a big risk with fossil fuel energy these days

Almost Unlimited Potential – Clean Energy Potential is almost infinite compared to the limited and peak features of other forms of  energy like Oil,Gas and others.

Declining Costs – Renewable Energy Costs are declining for the last 20 years or so with technology and scale improvements.Wind Energy is almost comparable in costs to higher fossil fuel costs while Solar Energy is  rapidly approaching grid parity in most parts of the world.In comparision the cost of Fossil Fuels is increasing rapidly particularly of Oil

Summary

Renewable Energy has many benefits that make it a much more preferable alternative to Non-Renewable Energy sources.However the established industrial base of Fossil Fuels,Higher Costs of Renewable Energy and lack of progress on Climate Change has not made the adoption of Renewable Energy as fast as it should be.However Clean Energy will dominate in the future,it is only a question of when.