So far this summer in Spain we have suffered a large number of fires, which have forced the eviction of hundreds and thousands of families and have had a significant environmental impact with serious effects on health.
RENEWABLES IN FIRE PREVENTION
According to reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), forest fires generate up to a third of the carbon emissions of global ecosystems, a phenomenon that intensifies climate change and aggravates its effects.
There are many causes behind forest fires and many factors that influence their spread, including climate change, the exodus from rural areas and poor urban management of forests, which is not designed to prevent or mitigate them.
One of the strongest solutions in the fight against climate change, as well as in the prevention of forest fires, is the use of renewable energies, as clean energy plants act as firebreaks preventing the spread of fires by being completely cleared of brush and stubble.
How can renewable energies contribute to fire prevention and mitigation?
- Through early warning and monitoring systems: Renewable energies, such as solar and wind, can power monitoring and early warning systems in fire-prone areas. These systems can include smoke detection cameras, temperature sensors and monitoring systems that can detect fires at an early stage, enabling a quick and efficient response.
- Supplying energy to rural areas: in this case, renewables can provide a reliable source of energy for weather stations, communication towers and other devices used in fire monitoring and detection.
- Using clean technologies in forest management: sustainable forest management can include the use of electric machinery and vehicles powered by renewable energy, thus reducing dependence on fossil fuels and emissions of polluting gases that could increase the risk of fires.
Renewables can play a key role in fire prevention and mitigation while promoting sustainability and environmental protection, minimising their negative impacts on CO2 emissions.