The future belongs to renewable energy!

Renewable energy sources will conquer the world. We should all contribute to lowering CO2 levels in the atmosphere, and one way is to install photovoltaic systems in order to produce electricity ourselves.

But not our country. In terms of non-hydro renewable energy, Albania is far behind compared to other countries in the region, although our country has great potential to set up wind farms up to 2000 MW and solar panels. The European Union has been very clear in defining their conditions for Albania in terms of renewable energy. By 2020, approximately 38% of energy Albanian consumers will need to obtain from renewable energy. This is a condition set by the EU, which will provide Albanian citizens with lower energy costs and a cleaner and pollution-free environment. Through IPARD Like funds, the EU has invested in several renewable energy projects.

Renewable energy is created by wind, solar or other environmentally friendly ways. Also with the amendments to the law on “renewable energy”, which has been approved by the Commission on Production Activities, it is intended to attract more investors in this field. Albania is the second largest country in Europe after Norway with almost 100% of renewable electricity thanks to the use of hydropower through hydro power plants and which is blessed with having sun all year.

The future is inevitably towards renewable energy, and below are four reasons why the world will embrace these natural resources in the future:

1. No other way: 2015 is the hottest year in history, while the time has come to prioritize the issue of climate change. Countries, which have about 90% of greenhouse gas emissions, have submitted their climate action plan before the opening of negotiations in Paris, but there is still a gap between what governments intend to do and what needs to be done, kept temperatures to rise to a maximum of 2 degrees for which they were committed. The energy sector accounts for about 2/3 of global emissions. Renewable energy and increased energy efficiency are the only technologies that can be implemented quickly and at a substantial rate to close this gap in time.

• Lower costs: Renewable energies are the most economical sources of energy in many countries around the world and are growing even more over time. Since the Copenhagen climate conference in 2009, solar panel prices have fallen by 75%. While wind is one of the most competitive sources of energy, producing energy for less than 5 pennies per kilowatt-hour.
• Coherent with other goals: Renewable energy is the fastest and safest way to provide modern energy services to more than 1 billion people who currently do not have access to renewable energy. Renewable energy can meet the needs of almost 60% of energy demand. The Marshall Islands, for example, have brought clean energy to more than 95% of their remote communities on the island thanks to the installation of solar panels. In addition to access to renewable energy, it also creates jobs, dramatically reduces air pollution, and increases local GDP through lower costs to develop local industry.
• Transformation is on the way: Renewable energy capacity accounts for more than half of global energy capacity since 2011. More than 130 countries have committed to dicarbonization in the long run. Companies like IKEA, Johnson & Johnson, H&M, Nike and Nestlé have also joined the initiative using 100% renewable energy for their daily consumption.

The question now is not whether the world will move towards renewable energy, but how quickly it will do so. The decisions that will be taken in the coming years will determine whether we are working to close the greenhouse gas emission gap, creating a better climate for children and future generations.