Green energy

What is green energy?

Green energy comes from renewable sources, such as the sun, wind, water, biomass or geothermal energy. These are natural resources that are renewed in a relatively short time and whose use does not lead to environmental degradation. Unlike fossil fuels, green energy does not emit carbon dioxide and is neutral to the environment.

Renewable energy is widely used in industry. Companies can use photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric power plants or biogas installations that process organic waste into energy. Each of these solutions allows for a reduction of the carbon footprint and independence from variable prices of energy from the grid.

Check out our articles on climate-neutral fuels:

• Biofuels in industry
• Green hydrogen - the future of energy

How to provide green energy for your company?

Focusing on industrial companies - access to green energy can be implemented in various ways. One of the simplest solutions is to purchase renewable energy from external suppliers. To this end, companies can conclude long-term energy supply contracts with guarantees of origin, which confirm that the electricity comes from renewable sources. Such a solution does not require any initial investment and allows for a quick transition to green energy.

So-called cPPA agreements, i.e. contracts for the purchase of renewable energy directly from its producers, are also becoming increasingly popular. Thanks to them, companies can ensure stable energy prices for many years, which is particularly beneficial in times of dynamic changes on the energy market.

For more information on PPA and cPPA agreements, see the article: PPA and cPPA: the key to energy efficiency and emission reduction

Another approach is to invest in your own renewable energy installations. Companies can decide to install photovoltaic panels, build wind turbines or install biogas cogeneration systems that allow for the simultaneous production of electricity and heat. However, the decision to invest requires a thorough analysis of local technical and environmental conditions, as well as an estimate of the payback period for such a project.

Benefits of green energy

Switching to green energy brings many benefits to companies. In addition to the obvious ecological advantages, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions or reducing the negative impact on the environment, using renewable energy allows for cost reduction. Renewable energy sources are free, if we are talking about fuel - solar, wind or geothermal energy. However, in order to use them to produce energy, you need to invest financial resources at the beginning, in an amount depending on the specific technology - for example, the cost of wind turbines or photovoltaic panels will be lower than the cost of building a biogas plant. Although the cost of operating the installation is low and electricity from renewable energy sources is free, it should be remembered that investments in renewable sources pay off for a long time - usually a period of several years.

Green energy is also a tool for building a positive image. Companies using renewable energy sources are perceived as innovative and socially responsible, which can translate into better relations with customers and business partners. Additionally, many investments in green transformation are covered by financial support from European programs and government projects.

Challenges related to green energy

Despite the numerous benefits, implementing green energy in industry also involves certain challenges. Companies must carefully assess which solutions are most suitable for their needs and possibilities. In the case of building their own renewable energy installations, both local environmental and technical conditions are important, e.g. available space or the structure of the power grid.

One of the biggest challenges related to green energy is its storage. Energy production from photovoltaics or wind turbines depends on weather conditions, which are difficult to predict and do not always coincide with the company's energy demand. For example, during periods of intense sunlight or strong wind, there may be surplus energy production, which is lost without an appropriate storage system. On the other hand, during times of lower production, e.g. at night or in calm weather, companies may have difficulty meeting their energy needs.

Energy storage systems are a solution to this problem. They still pose a challenge due to high installation costs and limited storage capacity. In the long term, the development of energy storage technologies is important for the full use of renewable energy sources and achieving energy independence. Companies investing in energy storage can better manage surpluses, minimize the costs associated with purchasing energy from the grid, and stabilize their production processes, even in conditions of variable availability of energy from renewable sources.

Green energy as the future of industry

Green energy is not only an ecological solution, but also an investment in the future of industry. In the face of growing market requirements and regulatory pressure, companies that decide to switch to renewable energy sources can gain a significant competitive advantage.

When implementing green energy, it is worth remembering the long term. Although investments in renewable energy sources may require an initial capital commitment, their effects will bring benefits for many years, both in the form of financial savings and improved energy efficiency and market position. This process is associated with certain challenges, but the environmental, economic and image benefits it offers can outweigh the potential difficulties. Choosing the right solutions, tailored to the specifics of the company's activity, allows you to build long-term energy independence. Green energy is the foundation of the future of industry – ecological, efficient and in line with the requirements of a dynamically changing market.