The Use of Renewable Energy in a Circular Economy
NoteA circular economy doesn’t just recycle materials, it also aims to power itself sustainably. That means reducing reliance on fossil fuels and switching to renewable energy sources.
Definition
Renewable Energy
Energy from natural sources that are replenished over time or never run out, such as solar, wind, and hydropower.
Key Renewable Energy Sources
- Solar power: from sunlight (e.g. solar panels)
- Wind power: from turbines
- Hydropower: from flowing water
- Geothermal: from heat within the Earth
- Biomass: from organic material (e.g. wood pellets, biogas)
Solar Energy
- How it works: Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells.
- Benefits: Abundant, reduces carbon emissions, and can be deployed at various scales (e.g., residential rooftops, large solar farms).
Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex – Morocco
- Location: Ouarzazate, Morocco
- Type: Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV)
- Impact:
- One of the largest solar power plants in the world
- Supplies electricity to over 1 million people
- Helps Morocco reduce reliance on fossil fuels and aims to generate 52% of its energy from renewables by 2030
Wind Energy
- How it works: Wind turbines convert kinetic energy from wind into electricity.
- Benefits: Low operational costs and minimal environmental impact once installed.
Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farm – Denmark
- Location: North Sea, off the west coast of Denmark
- Opened: Horns Rev 1 (2002), Horns Rev 2 (2009), Horns Rev 3 (2019)
- Impact:
- One of the first large-scale offshore wind farms in the world
- Horns Rev 3 alone powers over 400,000 Danish homes
- Showcased how offshore wind can deliver stable, large-scale renewable energy
Hydropower
- How it works: Water flow drives turbines to generate electricity.
- Benefits: Reliable and efficient, though it can impact local ecosystems.
Three Gorges Dam – China
- Location: Yangtze River
- Scale: World’s largest hydroelectric power station
- Output: Can produce up to 22,500 MW, supplying millions of homes
- Impact: Major renewable energy contributor, though with environmental trade-offs (e.g. ecosystem disruption)
Biomass
- How it works: Organic materials (e.g., wood, agricultural waste) are burned or converted into biofuels.
- Benefits: Utilises waste materials and can be carbon-neutral if managed sustainably.
Drax Power Station – United Kingdom
- Location: North Yorkshire
- Use: Europe’s largest biomass power station
- Fuel: Uses compressed wood pellets instead of coal
- Impact: Supplies around 7% of the UK’s electricity, helping reduce carbon emissions
Geothermal Energy
- How it works: Heat from the Earth's core is used to generate electricity or provide direct heating.
- Benefits: Consistent and reliable, with a small land footprint.
Iceland – National Power Supply
- Use: About 90% of Iceland’s homes are heated with geothermal energy.
- Impact: Nearly carbon-free heating and electricity generation.
- Why it works: Abundant volcanic activity makes geothermal an ideal local resource.
Renewable energy sources are often location-dependent. For example, solar energy is most effective in sunny regions, while wind energy thrives in areas with consistent wind patterns.
