By when can energy go 100% renewable?
John Moorhead ???????
Author, Regenerative climate solutions researcher and advocate for a healthier, fairer, safer world, within planetary boundaries and that are SDG positive
12 years after the first clean energy roadmap was published, a 100% renewable energy system is realisable by 2035. As was the case in 2009 it is a question of political will and overcoming vested incumbent interests. The benefits to society, biodiversity, environment & climate of clean energy over fossil fuels are clear. Investment in renewables is paid for several times over by the economic, social, health and environmental savings. Technical feasability is confirmed by facts on the ground.
A 100% Renewable Energy System by 2035
On the eve of the 2009 Copenhagen climate summit Scientific American's cover story written by energy experts Mark Z. Jacobson and Mark A. Delucchi showed how a rigourously researched pathway to power the world with 100% renewable energy by 2030 was possible. The article concluded:
"A large-scale wind, water and solar (WWS) energy system can reliably supply the world’s needs, significantly benefiting climate, air quality, water quality, ecology and energy security...As we have shown, the obstacles are primarily political, not technical...(leaders) can start by committing to meaningful climate and renewable energy goals now".
12 years later on the eve of the Glasgow climate summit and global leaders are still not committting to meaningful climate and renewable energy goals with a global commitment that far exceeds 2°C warming Furthermore:
"...major bodies, such as IRENA and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), have only demanded to achieve 70% RE by 2050. The EU as a whole has only a 32% RE target in total energy by 2030, ...." The Global 100% Renewable Energy Strategy Group
The evidence (2009-2021)
Since 2009 hundreds of researchers worldwide from 13 research groups have published hundreds of papers on the feasibility of a 100% RE system and reached an important milestone on February 9 2021 with the publication of a 10 point Joint Declaration of The Global 100% Renewable Energy Strategy Group co-signed by 46 researchers .
Recognizing the importance of this declaration Eco-Watch reported in an article the day after its publication:
"Setting out to rebut defeatist and cynical claims that transitioning the entire global energy system to 100% renewables by 2035* is infeasible, a group of dozens of leading scientists from around the world unveiled a joint declaration Tuesday arguing that such a transformation of the fossil fuel-dependent status quo is not only necessary to avert climate disaster but eminently achievable" *2030 for electricity
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The experts agree (click on expert name link for more...)
ECONOMICS: Tony Seba says the plunge in cost that has already made solar the cheapest electricity ever, combined with a further 70% drop to come in Solar Wind Battery (SWB) makes it the most cost effective option. He further explains that the non-linear trade-off between generation and storage means that at 3-5x generation you already have the cheapest 100% renewable energy system that only requires 1-4 days of storage. At 1% GDP SWB is the cheapest energy system option for US. Because of SWB design an additional 200-300% "super energy" can be achieved thanks to a further 20% investment. SWB with its near zero cost "super energy" electricity is therefore disruptive to all forms of energy for transportation, heating, industry, buildings not just electricity.
BENEFITS: Mark Jacobson says 100% RE solves both climate change, air pollution and secures cost-effective clean energy for all sectors:
FACTS ON THE GROUND: Andrew Blakers Wind + Solar + Pumped Hydro + Transmission:
TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE: Sven Teske ?Reach #carbonneutrality ?by 2040 by:
Conclusion
The research is clear, the benefits of clean energy and the efficiency of a 100% renewable energy system over fossil fuels can not be contested. The world would achieve lower energy costs and more secure, resilient, fairer and distributed energy that is more accessible by all. We would solve the climate crisis, keep within 1.5°C global warming. We would no longer need nuclear energy, industrial carbon capture and storage (CCS), energy crops for CCS or riskiest forms of geo-engineering to do so. We would still need hydrogen, some biomass and bio-fuels for heavy industry for the next years WHY WAIT?
This article is an update of an article previously published on We Don't Have Time
Founder | Convener | Chief Executive Officer | Climate Leader | Philanthropy | UN Advisor | International Gender Champion Climate Impact Group Co-Chair | Mentor | Professor of Sustainability and Entrepreneurship
3 年Very timely article on why moving towards 100% renewables is not only desirable but also possible ??
Winemaker - Director of Business Development Solera Beverage Group
3 年Jean-Marc Jancovici
Busineens at A LL PAK
3 年Good morning?
Paul Clements-Hunt changed the way global investment thinks and acts: Coined ESG (2004)|| Created UNPRI || Built The Blended Capital Group (2012-now)|| Chair UK Charity|| Advisor to Mishcon de Reya LLP|| Speaker-Writer
3 年John Moorhead a clear, structured, lobbying PR effort underway to blame “ lack of wind”, unreliable renewables etc etc for current energy issues. You are ?? % right to call it out as seeking undermine public trust in the decarbonisation advanced Professor Paul Watchman Daniel Cash Gordon Noble Michael Marais Ingo Kumic (he/him) Sean Flannery
Principal designer Pine Hills Ranch Ltd.
3 年We must slam the brakes on fossil fuel use now so we must accelerate the use of renewables yes we will have set backs, problems and inconvenience. It is a job that must be done now.