Seven countries get all of their electricity from green energy
Listen to the story (British accent)
Seven countries are now using almost all green energy for their electricity. These countries are Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They use geothermal, hydro, solar or wind power to make more than 99.7% of their electricity.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), found that 40 other countries made at least half of their electricity from green energy in 2021 and 2022. This includes 11 countries in Europe.
Professor Mark Jacobson from Stanford University says we don't need new technology, we just need to use electricity for everything and make that electricity from geothermal, hydro, solar or wind power.
He also said that some countries, like Germany, can use 100% renewable energy for short periods of time.
In January, the IEA said that the UK made 41.5% of its electricity from green energy in 2022. That's 10.5% more than the previous year.
In 2022, Scotland generated more electricity from green energy than it needed.
Experts think that sunlight will be the main source of electricity in the future.
Solar cells, which turn sunlight into electricity, are getting better and cheaper. Scientists in the UK say that solar energy will be the main source of energy by 2050.
They wrote a paper in 2023 saying that the switch to clean energy is not just possible, but certain. They said that solar energy is the most available energy on Earth and it's getting cheaper and more popular.
Vocabulary27 words
- Green energy
- energy generated/created from renewable sources (wind, solar, water, etc.) without creating/making greenhouse gasses (CO2)
- Electricity
- power; current; energy used to operate lights, TVs, etc.; ⚡?
- Geothermal
- heat that comes from inside the Earth
- Geothermal power
- Energy that comes from the heat inside the Earth and can be used to generate/create electricity
- Hydro power
- Energy that comes from moving water like rivers and waterfalls and can be used to generate/create electricity
- Solar power
- Energy that comes from the sun and can be used to generate/create electricity
- Wind power
- Energy that comes from the wind and can be used to generate/create electricity
- Find
- realize; learn; discover;
- Include
- to contain; incorporate; to be part of; to have something smaller as a part of it; come with
- Professor
- a teacher at a university
- Technology
- Tools and machines that help us do things better or easier;
- Renewable energy
- energy generated/created from renewable sources (wind, solar, water, etc.)
- Period
- a length of time; or portion of time
- Previous
- coming or occurring before something else; existing before in time or order; preceding
- Generate
- produce; create; cause; make
- Expert
- a person with a lot of knowledge and experience in a trade, job or profession
- Sunlight
- The light that comes from the sun
- Main
- the most important or the biggest;
- Source
- any thing or place from which something comes from or is obtained; origin; where something comes from; the original; a reference
- Solar cell
- A device that changes sunlight into electricity;
- Scientist
- a person who studies science or the natural world; researcher; ?????
- Paper
- A written report about a specific topic
- Switch
- To change from one thing to another
- Clean energy
- energy generated from renewable sources (wind, solar, water, etc.) without creating greenhouse gasses (CO2)
- Certain
- Sure; without any doubt; definite
- Available
- able to be used: ready for use; accessible
- Earth
- the planet/world we live on ?
Quiz
Answer key
1. Nuclear 2. Scotland 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Seven countries _____ now using almost all green energy for _____ electricity. These countries are Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, _____, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
_____ use geothermal, hydro, solar or wind power to make more than _____% of their electricity.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) and _____ Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), found that 40 other countries made at least _____ of their electricity from green energy in 2021 and 2022. This includes _____ countries in Europe.
Professor Mark Jacobson _____ Stanford University says we don't need new technology, we just _____ to use electricity for everything and make that _____ from geothermal, hydro, solar or wind power.
He also said that _____ countries, like Germany, can use 100% renewable energy for short _____ of time.
In January, the IEA said that the UK made _____% of its electricity from green energy in 2022. That's 10.5% _____ than the previous year.
In 2022, Scotland _____ more electricity from green energy than it needed.
_____ think that sunlight will be the main source of electricity in the future.
_____ cells, which turn sunlight into electricity, are getting _____ and cheaper. Scientists in the UK say that solar energy _____ be the main source of energy by 2050.
They wrote a _____ in 2023 saying that the switch to clean energy is not _____ possible, but certain. They said that solar energy is the _____ available energy on Earth and it's getting _____ and more popular.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think some countries are able to use almost all green energy for their electricity while others are not?
- Do you think it’s important to switch to clean energy sources? Why or why not?
- What are some challenges that countries might face when trying to use 100% renewable energy?
- How do you feel about the prediction that solar energy will be the main source of energy by 2050?
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