Hi, I’m M Jackson and this is Crash Course Climate and Energy. Our lifestyles are centered around electricity and worldwide we consume more than 22,000 terawatt hours every year, enough to microwave about 2 trillion Mac and cheeses. But the way we make electricity is taking a toll on Earth’s climate. Power plants running on fossil fuels are pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, enhancing the planet’s greenhouse effect which warms the earth. Scientists agree that we have to find ways to make electricity without releasing so much carbon dioxide, also known as decarbonizing the electricity supply. This would make a huge impact because a little over a quarter of all of our greenhouse gas emissions come from generating electricity. A growing number of countries are committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Reaching net zero carbon emissions is a challenge in an ever-growing world with an increasing demand for energy. However, the good news is that there are options. Solar and wind power are two of the biggest solutions. Solar power involves capturing radiation from the Sun and converting it to electricity, usually through photovoltaic panels. Concentrating solar power plants focus sunlight onto a single receiver, where temperatures can reach hundreds of degrees Celsius and generate electricity without releasing carbon dioxide. Wind power uses the force of moving air to turn turbines and generate electricity. In the last decade, the costs of both wind and solar energy have dropped significantly, making them more affordable worldwide. Currently, wind and solar account for around 7% of the global electricity supply.
However, scientists don’t believe that wind and solar can completely replace fossil fuel power plants. This is partly because they require a lot more space to generate the same amount of energy, and also because the supply of renewable energy is not always consistent. For instance, you can’t control when the Sun shines or the wind blows. Therefore, if you relied solely on renewable energy, the levels could get dangerously low or the bucket might overflow in a downpour.