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| Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook (PDF, 4.6 MB) |
According to a new study from Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), the world’s energy needs could be met entirely from renewable sources by 2090. The report, entitled “Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook,” proposes that improvements in energy efficiency could cut energy requirements in half compared to business-as-usual scenarios, with renewable technologies meeting the remaining energy requirements.
The report also argues that by 2050, aggressive investment in renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency could create a $360 billion industry that provides half the world’s energy, delivers deep cuts in carbon emissions and trims more than $18 trillion from future fuel costs.
According to Sven Teske, co-author of the report, projections are based on internationally accepted predictions for population and economic growth and the goal of a zero carbon energy system can be achieved without compromising economic expansion. Teske also says that the 2090 scenario is technically feasible without nuclear power and carbon capture technologies, sighting hydro-power, concentrated solar power with energy storage, biomass and geothermal as base load technologies.
“We favor the Japanese top runner model, where the three most efficient TVs, for example, in a market become the standard and the three least efficient are banned within three years,” said Teske. “It is a simple and effective model and should be applied to all electrical appliances, buildings and cars.”
- Read background: “Report: Zero Carbon Global Economy Possible by 2090” BusinessGreen (10/31/08)
- Download the report, “Energy [R]evolution” (PDF, 4.6 MB)
- Related: “Carbon Revolution” Can Slow Global Warming, Says McKinsey Study (e-Newswire, 7/9/08)
- Related: “Energy Efficiency Could Slash Growth in Global Energy Demand by Over 50%, Report Says” (e-Newswire, 12/13/06)
