Clean energy, is it for real?

You might say that clean energy is the holy grail. It shouldn’t be something out of reach, though. Defined as energy that ‘comes from renewable, zero-emission sources that do not pollute the atmosphere when used’, this is where we should all be aiming to get to, as quickly as possible

At chiefmachers, clean energy is certainly something we’re passionate about. Given the opportunity, clean energy solutions are the stories we wish to be a part of.

How feasible are these solutions, though? We know about green and renewable energy sources, but they are not one and the same. The latter two do come with drawbacks. Is this an inevitability, or might there be a better way on the horizon?

Let’s start by defining each term clearly.

Green energy might be simply defined as energy that comes from natural sources. Renewable energy might cover a broader range, being energy from recyclable sources. On the other hand, clean energy is often defined as ‘clean air’ energy. In other words, energy that does not pollute.

This would suggest that this is very much a reality and a proposition that should receive serious focus.

This might include wind power, some hydropower solutions and solar power. With the state of the environment and its future high on the agenda, especially after COP27, this is a crucial topic.

So, the environmental benefits are pretty straightforward. We know all too well, though, that businesses need to make sense from an economic perspective too. This is where the argument becomes even more compelling.

For a start, clean energy supplied from a diverse range of sources reduces the reliance on imported fuels and the associated costs. That could be the price of extraction or even transportation, among others.

This is also an industry experiencing a boom. Jobs are being created, efficiencies are being realised and innovation is moving at pace. With the added benefit that this is an energy source that does not release greenhouse gases, this is a movement and an industry that presents a huge opportunity.

Should this be the way forward, then?

Renewable sources of energy receive a lot of attention. However, not all of them are ‘clean’. For example, burning wood from sustainably managed forests would tick the ‘renewable’ box, but it is not ‘clean’. As mentioned previously, the seriousness of the environmental agenda is higher than ever. We need to do more, and we need to do it now.

It is for this reason that clean energy should be the way forwards.

Do you agree? Are you working with a clean (or even a renewable) energy provider and you want to add your thoughts? Do you have an idea for the best way forward? Are you working on something we haven’t even discussed yet? Get in touch! We would love to hear from you. Let us know your thoughts and we might even be able to put you in touch with businesses that could use your insights.