Practice Tests
IELTS Reading (AC) Task 1 #134

A. Renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed. The most prominent examples include solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass energy. The global shift towards these energy sources is driven by the urgent need to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, as well as by concerns over energy security and air pollution. This transition represents a fundamental restructuring of the global energy system.

B. Solar and wind power have emerged as the fastest-growing sources of renewable energy. Solar panels, or photovoltaic (PV) cells, convert sunlight directly into electricity, while wind turbines capture the kinetic energy of the wind to generate power. The costs of both technologies have plummeted over the past decade, making them economically competitive with, and in many cases cheaper than, fossil fuels in many parts of the world. Hydropower, which harnesses the energy of flowing water, is a more established technology and remains a major source of renewable electricity globally.

C. One of the primary challenges associated with solar and wind power is their intermittency—they only generate power when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. This variability poses a challenge for grid stability, which requires a constant and reliable supply of electricity. To overcome this, significant investment is needed in energy storage solutions, such as large-scale batteries, and in developing smarter, more flexible electricity grids that can manage fluctuating power supplies.

D. The transition to a renewable energy-based economy offers numerous benefits beyond mitigating climate change. It can create new jobs in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance, stimulate technological innovation, and reduce dependence on a volatile global fossil fuel market. While the upfront investment is substantial and the transition requires overcoming significant technical and political hurdles, the long-term environmental and economic advantages are compelling, making renewable energy the cornerstone of a sustainable future.