Is Renewable Energy Accessible To Everyone

Renewable energy comes from natural sources that are constantly replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. Renewable energy technologies harness these flows of energy to generate electricity, provide heating and cooling, and fuel transportation.

Energy accessibility refers to the ability for all people to obtain affordable, reliable and sustainable energy services to meet their basic human needs. This includes access to both electricity and clean cooking facilities. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), around 770 million people globally lack access to electricity, and about 2.6 billion lack access to clean cooking facilities (IEA).

Therefore, renewable energy accessibility means enabling universal access to clean, affordable and reliable renewable electricity and cooking solutions. This is critical for economic development, poverty reduction, education, health and environmental sustainability.

Current State of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources like wind, solar, hydropower and bioenergy accounted for over 29% of global electricity generation in 2021, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) (IEA). Global renewable energy capacity grew 9.6% in 2022 to reach 3,640 GW despite supply chain challenges, rising costs and policy uncertainty, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) (IRENA). This growth was driven by a 21% increase in solar PV capacity and a 13% rise in wind power capacity. However, IRENA notes that renewables capacity needs to grow at triple this rate to meet the Paris Agreement’s climate goals. Overall, renewable energy adoption continues to accelerate globally, now accounting for over one-third of new power generation capacity added in 2022.

Costs of Renewable Energy

The upfront costs of installing renewable energy systems like solar panels or small wind turbines can be prohibitive for some homeowners. According to Direct Energy, the average cost nationally for a professionally installed solar panel system is about $8,000 to $9,000. However, costs can vary widely based on system size, panels, and installation.

For small wind turbines, the American Wind Energy Association estimates costs between $3,000 to $5,000 per kilowatt of power capacity. For example, a 5 kW turbine could cost $15,000 to $25,000 installed. According to The Roundup, total installed costs for a home wind turbine system can range from $15,000 up to $65,000.

While these upfront costs are substantial, homeowners can benefit from electricity bill savings over the long run. There are also an increasing number of government incentives and financing options aimed at improving renewable energy accessibility and affordability.

Government Incentives

The federal government and many state governments offer incentives and rebates to make renewable energy more affordable for homeowners and businesses. These programs aim to accelerate the adoption of renewables like solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal systems, and more.

At the federal level, the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) provides a 26% tax credit for installing solar panels and other renewables. Many states also offer additional rebates and incentives, such as the California Solar Initiative which provides cash back for installing solar panels. Programs often target low-income households as well to increase access.

Eligibility for these programs varies, but often is based on household income, system size, and geography. For example, in New York the NY-Sun Incentive Program provides higher incentives for low-to-moderate income households. Checking databases like the DSIRE database can help find programs available for your situation.

Though government incentives reduce upfront costs, solar and other renewables still require significant investment. Proper research and planning is key to taking advantage of available rebates and financing options. Government support aims to make renewables more viable across income levels, but challenges remain in accessibility.

See this source for more information on solar panel rebate programs.

Community Renewable Energy

Community renewable energy projects allow groups of people to share the costs and benefits of local clean energy generation. This makes renewable energy more accessible and affordable. Two common types of community renewable energy are community solar and community wind.

Community solar projects involve installing a solar array that community members can subscribe to. Subscribers receive credits on their electricity bills based on the energy production of the solar array. This allows renters and homeowners without suitable rooftop space to utilize solar power. According to the Michigan Public Service Commission, “Community solar offers an opportunity for individuals to participate in solar generation without installing it directly on their home or business.”¹

Similarly, community wind projects consist of local residents jointly investing in and benefiting from a shared wind turbine or wind farm. This spreads out the costs, while providing clean energy and financial returns. Community wind projects make wind energy more accessible in rural areas.

Low Income Access

Low-income communities often face barriers to accessing renewable energy sources like rooftop solar. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, around 25% of African-American households and 20% of Hispanic households have a high energy burden, defined as spending more than 6% of household income on energy costs.

To help address this issue, the federal government has created programs like the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program, which provides tax credits for solar projects that benefit low-income communities. As described on the Department of Energy’s website, Low-Income Community Energy Solutions, this program aims to expand solar access to disadvantaged groups through partnerships with solar developers.

There are also community solar models that allow low-income households to subscribe to a shared solar project at little or no upfront cost. These programs are making renewable energy more financially accessible for underserved communities.

Rural Access

Rural and remote areas often face unique challenges in accessing renewable energy. High costs of infrastructure and low population density can make it difficult to connect rural communities to the main power grid [1]. Off-grid solutions like solar home systems, mini-grids, and stand-alone systems are key to providing electricity access in these areas. According to IRENA, off-grid renewable energy has brought access to over 133 million people, with 84% of new connections happening in rural areas [2]. However, there are still 789 million people without electricity access, over 85% in rural areas. Challenges include high upfront costs, lack of access to finance, low awareness and capacity to maintain systems. Targeted policies, innovative business models involving local SMEs, and community participation can help increase adoption of decentralized renewables for rural electrification.

Developing Nations

Many developing countries have an abundance of renewable energy resources that remain untapped (Press, 2022). Solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower and biomass sources have significant potential to provide affordable and sustainable energy access to the 1 billion people globally who currently lack electricity, the majority of whom reside in rural areas of developing countries (World Bank, 2021).

Some examples of successful renewable energy deployment in developing nations include:

• Bangladesh has installed over 5 million solar home systems, providing electricity to over 20 million people in rural areas (Press, 2022).
• Kenya generates around 70% of its electricity from renewable sources like geothermal, wind and solar power (Press, 2022).
• Costa Rica generated 98-99% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2015-2018, predominantly hydropower (Press, 2022).

Despite these successes, over 770 million people globally still lack access to electricity. Barriers like high upfront costs, lack of infrastructure and skilled labor constrain further deployment of renewables in developing nations. International investment, technology transfer and capacity building will be critical to enable universal access to clean, sustainable energy worldwide (World Bank, 2021).

Future Outlook

The future of renewable energy looks bright according to many projections and forecasts. Recent research shows that renewable energy capacity is expected to increase rapidly in the coming decades.

One report projects that renewable energy capacity will grow over 60% between 2019 and 2024, led by solar and wind power. Many countries have set ambitious renewable energy targets, with the aim for renewables to provide over 30% of electricity globally by 2030. The International Renewable Energy Agency predicts renewables meeting up to 90% of electricity demand by 2050.

Key innovations like improved energy storage technology and smarter grids will also enable greater adoption of renewables going forward. Government policies, falling technology costs, and increased public awareness of renewable options are other drivers projected to spur the growth in adoption of renewable energy worldwide.

Conclusion

In summary, renewable energy is becoming more accessible, but there is still progress to be made. Costs have fallen dramatically in recent years, making solar and wind competitive with fossil fuels. Government incentives help defray costs for homeowners and businesses. Community solar and renewable energy projects are bringing clean power to low income families. More work remains to increase renewable energy access for rural and developing areas.

The future is promising for wider adoption of renewables. As technology continues advancing and costs keep decreasing, clean energy will reach more people worldwide. With persistent growth, innovation and equitable policies, renewable energy can become truly accessible to all.