Three Renewable Energy That Is Suitable for Thailand.

Thailand's energy usage is 0. 95% of the global energy consumption, only 10% of that is renewable energy (Hong, 2019). With the percentage nearly making up one percent of the world energy depletion, most of our energy source comes from non-restorable energy, which is unsustainable and can affect both the economy and the environment. Energy is something that we are accustomed to using. Especially during the pandemic, frequent tasks like studying and communicating require energy. However, the accessibility to electricity comes with a cost that will agitate our pockets and the environment. Due to Thailand's humid weather, people frequently use air conditioners to cool down their houses which is also one of the many reasons that electricity bills are high. The use of energy in Thailand is increasing each year which can be harmful to the environment. That is why we should reconsider our initial energy source and change to renewable energy. Here are three renewable energy that will minimize the environmental issue in Thailand: solar energy, wind energy, and nuclear power plant energy. Solar energy, renewable energy that generates electricity from the sun, can be potentially suited for a country with hot weather like Thailand. One major advantage of solar energy is that solar panels collect sunlight radiation and convert it to energy making this type of renewable energy inexhaustible. Another obvious advantage of solar energy is that it is well suited for Thailand's solar radiation, especially in the north-eastern part of the country that benefits from this all year round. Netherlands Embassy in Bangkok (2016) notes that Thailand has more solar radiation than those in southeast Asia and is close behind countries potentially suited for solar energy like the United States and Australia. By all means, it can be a reality for Thailand to generate its energy from solar panels. Another factor is that solar energy does not pollute land or water, which can help solve the rancid canals in Thailand. However, to provide 100% energy generated from solar panels for a house will require at least 20 to 25 solar panels and can cost up to $35, 600 US dollars depending on the solar panels you choose to buy (Marsh, 2021). It can be expensive comparing to our usual electricity bill. Solar panels also require a large amount of space. For example, to power one house requires between 335 to 400 square feet of roof space and is impossible to place in places with limited space like apartments. Considering all these factors installing solar panels will be beneficial in the long run since they will reduce electricity bills by half. Not to mention, solar panels create fewer carbon emissions and are inexhaustible. To alternate from fossil fuels, solar power can be Thailand's renewable energy source. Wind energy, renewable energy that converts wind to electricity, is capable of generating electricity for Thailand. One main asset is that wind energy is very cost-effective. To develop energy from wind turbines costs around $32 to $62 per megawatt; on the other hand, generating energy from coal costs between $57 and $148 (Meic, 2017). Signifying that wind energy is a cheaper alternative to what we are accustomed to using. A further possible advantage of wind energy is that maintaining wind turbines allows job opportunities ranging from manufacturers, installations, maintenance, and services; observing from the Wind Vision Report (2015), wind industries can support more than 600, 000 workers. Installing wind energy will provide jobs for many people in Thailand working in this industry. One other apparent advantage is that installing wind turbines can be constructed on existing farms. The U. S Department of Energy (2015) notes that placing turbines in existing farms has a significant economic impact in rural regions, allowing farmers and ranchers to utilize the land because wind turbines only take up a small portion of it. So that farmers can receive rent from turbines owners while also maintaining their farm. However, wind turbines can be inconsistent. Since it generates energy from the wind choosing a location that can provide enough wind is very important (Donev et al, 2020). So wind turbines will only be efficient in only some areas. Even so, wind power is widely used throughout Thailand and can help reduce a large amount of air pollution. Wind power has the potential to generate energy for the country. Nuclear energy, a sustainable energy source, is an efficient way to create energy but has been overlooked by the accidents it has caused. The most obvious advantage is that a Nuclear station can last up to 40 years and operate with full power (U. S department of energy, 2020). Its long lifespan allows us an unlimited amount of energy. The energy generated does not have to depend on the climate and gives an efficient amount of energy operated every day. One other apparent advantage of Nuclear power is that it does not release radiation into the atmosphere. Nuclear energy institute (2020) observes that Nuclear power prevents more than 471 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the environment each year, which would otherwise come from fossil fuels. So if Thailand operates its energy from nuclear power plants, it will reduce the amount of carbon created by fossil fuel. Contrarily, when most people consider Nuclear power plants, they often think about how dangerous they can be. Green America (2020) believes that if there were to be human error and natural disasters: nuclear stations can cause dangerous accidents. With that said, Nuclear power is perfect for being Thailand’s renewable energy since it does not rely on a specific climate and does not create carbon footprints. Finding a suitable renewable energy source is a vital factor for our environment. If we were to continue our use of energy without being aware, we might face serious pollution problems in the future. Thailand should adjust its energy source to benefit the environment. The three most suitable renewable energy for Thailand are solar energy, wind energy, and nuclear energy. Of these three choices, the best possible option would be Nuclear energy. The reason being, Nuclear power has a long lifespan comparing to other renewable energy sources, allowing it to operate inexhaustible energy for longer. It does not have to rely on the weather and can generate energy anytime throughout the day. Importantly, it creates no carbon emissions. The environment is our responsibility. Where our energy sources come from today will lead us to where our environment will be tomorrow. If Thailand had started focusing on renewable energy earlier, there would have been better living qualities: no environmental disaster nor air pollution. We have to take action, make changes, and develop our old way of living (being unaware of the environment); For a future that will not have to suffer from the consequences caused by us today.