In the developing world, especially in remote communities, renewable energy can greatly improve the quality of life. In the developed world, the circumstances may be different. The quality improvements arise from:

(a) Job creation (selling, installation, maintenance, etc.)

(b) Access to electricity for remote communities with a host of benefits including lower child mortality and improved education. Other benefits include irrigation and preservation of food for long times.

(c) Reduced dependence on imported fuel thereby allowing government to channel more funds for vaccination and other social needs. In many developing countries, about 30% of the foreign exchange is spent on petroleum.

(d) Reduced pollution leading to better quality of life for people, biosphere and Earth (less global warming).

(e) Renewable energy at household levels can democratize energy usage. Renewable energy based power may be cheaper, which can be used to improve standard of living (for example, cheaper power will save income to be spent on other goods and services).

In the developed world, the benefits are somewhat reduced by special circumstances. For example, high wind towers may impact tourism negatively (e.g. unsightly towers). The penetration ratio, the ratio of renewable energy based power to fuel based power is fairly low unless batteries are involved. This is because both solar and wind power are intermittent requiring conventional generators to take on the load at certain times. Thus, the social impact scenario for developed countries will be different. In fact, greater investment on renewable energy can cause loss of jobs from fossil fuel based power generation sector.

The growth of renewable energies, mainly solar and wind, provides a new scenario for electric matrix. Energy utilities are changing the way they work, they are forced to change their standards.

In addition, there is improvement in the environmental issue.

Another interesting change is the architecture of residences that are changed to add solar energy.

Roberto -

I worked at the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) for the final 25 or so years of my employment, with most of that period dealing with sampling and estimation for electric power establishment surveys.  In the past, and for much of that period, renewable energy was a small, expensive part of the production of electric power.  In recent years it has become much cheaper and much more widely used.  The loss of coal plants has to be very good environmentally, but of course change - which is inevitable - always means adjustment for people.  There are loses of jobs in some areas, and gains in others. 

Electric production started with hydroelectric power, which sounds good because there is no need for fuel.  However, in the US, there are no longer any good places to place dams and I think that perhaps there is always the concern for impact on wildlife in streams from temperature changes and perhaps other issues caused by the power plant. 

Similarly, wind power may have an impact on bird populations, and they take up substantial room.  Some may object to the view, but I'd say "Get used to it.  It's a small price to pay."  Wind turbine production does depend to some extent on rare earth minerals, but I do not know what are the technical challenges.

Solar has come a long way, and on the surface it is hard to imagine objections.  However, I am not familiar with how much chemical or other pollution might be generated in the production of solar panels and equipment.  I expect it is very minor in comparison to the benefits. 

Battery development of all kinds is important.  I heard someone say, around 1971, that battery research was a huge area for chemists.  It really must be now.  Not just for use with solar and wind energy, but everything from cell phones to hybrid and electric cars.  Unfortunately it is my understanding that the production and probably recycling of batteries involves a good deal of pollution.

You asked if renewables like wind and solar "... represent an opportunity for a better quality of life for society?"  I'd say definitely "Yes" overall, but there are always adjustments to be made when job markets change.  Things will work out better for some individuals and worse for others.  There seems no question that a healthier environment will emerge.  In the United States we used to have problems with acid rain and smog that greatly improved when we paid attention to the environment.  The use of more renewables, I think, is likely a good additional step in the right direction.  Currently the Environmental Protection Agency, in my personal opinion, has been derailed from its mission, but I think this a temporary diversion. The course of history seems to indicate that we will be forced to adjust to circumstances.  Coal, for example, has become more expensive, and needs fewer people to extract it, so coal jobs are a minor consideration compared, as perhaps the most important example, to retail sector employment and problems there. 

So yes, renewables are having an overall positive impact and have come an impressively long way in a fairly short period.  We should all be embracing this, but also remembering that all good things can have downsides that need addressing.

Cheers - Jim

Fantastic answers. I agree that renewable energy helps the developing world in the same way that mobile communications did: many small groups without access to these services have jumped to the same level as the richer countries, because it was not necessary to create the expensive cable infrastructure.

Hi, Prof. @James R Knaub. I liked your ideas. A colleague of me from CNPq is starting a PhD Project in the area of Energy Planning, and if it were possible, I would like to contact you. His name is Enio, email: [email protected].

Thank you for this good question, with increasing of the population growth the power demand is increasing. With all the limitations of oil prices, decreasing its total storage amount, and pollution.. It is the time to find alternative sources of energy, and water or the future will be....