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Can renewable energy ever fully replace coal as the primary energy source?

Giana Larrad

Well, well, well, my dear friends! Let's talk about the heated debate of renewable energy vs coal as the primary energy source, shall we? One thing is for sure, the topic sounds as exciting as watching a football game, but this is an important conversation to have. So, grab a drink and let's dive in!

To answer the question straight away, can renewable energy ever fully replace coal as the primary energy source? The answer is, of course, it can. But the real question is, will it happen anytime soon? The short answer, we don't know, but let's explore both sides.

On one hand, coal has been the primary energy source since the Industrial Revolution, and it's cheap to produce. Plus, it's reliable since it's stored in huge quantities that can be accessed any time of the day. These characteristics have made coal the go-to energy source for countries all around the world.

On the other hand, renewable energy sources are becoming cheaper to produce, and they are sustainable, so they do not have the same environmental impact as coal. The energy sources that are growing the fastest are wind and solar power. In fact, between 2010 and 2017, the cost of solar power has decreased by 73%, while wind power decreased by 21%, which means that renewable energy sources are becoming more and more accessible to the masses.

But let's talk about the elephant in the room, and that's the fact that renewable energy sources are not as reliable as coal. Wind turbines and solar panels cannot work during cloudy days or when there is no wind. Although batteries that store renewable energy are becoming more common, they are not quite as efficient as we would like them to be. The thing is, until a reliable way to store renewable energy is found, it will be difficult to fully replace coal as the primary energy source.

However, the push for renewable energy sources is becoming more and more evident. The Paris Agreement, signed by 195 countries, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy. China, one of the biggest coal-consuming countries in the world, is also leading the way in renewable energy production and has the largest installed capacity of wind and solar power plants globally.

In conclusion, can renewable energy ever fully replace coal as the primary energy source? Yes, it definitely can. But the real question is when it will happen. Renewable energy is becoming cheaper to produce, but we need more investment and innovation to ensure that it becomes a reliable energy source. We must keep pushing for renewable energy sources to reach a time when we can rely on them fully. Only time will tell, but here's hoping for a greener energy future!