โ๏ธ What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy refers to energy generated from resources that naturally replenish over time. This includes sunlight, water, geothermal heat, rainfall, and organic materials. As an eco-friendly energy source, it plays a vital role in ensuring the sustainability of our planet.
- It significantly helps in reducing air pollution and combating climate change.
- Compared to traditional fossil fuels, it has minimal negative impacts on the environment.
โก Renewable Energy vs. Non-Renewable Energy
There are fundamental differences between renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
- Non-Renewable Energy Sources:
- Based on limited resources like fossil fuels (oil, coal, etc.).
- Resource depletion over time leads to increased costs.
- Renewable Energy:
- Can be used indefinitely in a sustainable way.
- With technological advancements and infrastructure investments, costs are decreasing over time.
๐ฑ OECDโs Top 10 Countries by Renewable Energy Usage
Countries with high renewable energy usage have successfully balanced environmental protection and energy independence. Here are the top 10 OECD countries with the highest renewable energy usage:
- ๐ฎ๐ธ Iceland โ 81%
- ๐ณ๐ด Norway โ 67%
- ๐บ๐พ Uruguay โ 56%
- ๐จ๐ท Costa Rica โ 40%
- ๐ฉ๐ช Germany โ 28%
- ๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark โ 26%
- ๐ช๐ธ Spain โ 23%
- ๐ณ๐ฟ New Zealand โ 22%
- ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom โ 21%
- ๐ธ๐ช Sweden โ 20%
These countries have significantly expanded renewable energy through proactive policies and infrastructure investments.
๐ฐ๐ท South Korea and Other Major Countries
South Koreaโs renewable energy usage is only 3.4%, ranking 37th out of 38 OECD member countries. This is a relatively low figure, highlighting the urgent need for improvements.
- Comparison with Major Countries:
- ๐จ๐ฆ Canada: 22.1%
- ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom: 12.2%
- ๐บ๐ธ United States: 10.4%
- ๐ฏ๐ต Japan: 7.7%
These statistics indicate that South Korea needs to strengthen its efforts in renewable energy to remain competitive on the global stage.