¾ world energy could be renewable by 2050, say scientists

Renewable technologies could supply 77% of the world’s energy by 2050, according to a report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The report says strong and flexible national […]

Renewable technologies could supply 77% of the world’s energy by 2050, according to a report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The report says strong and flexible national and international policies are needed to stimulate investment and encourage accelerated use of renewable energy.

The report looked at 164 scenarios of future energy supplies and six renewable energy technologies in the potential energy mix: bioenergy, direct solar energy. The most optimistic scenarios suggest that by 2050, renewables could account for over three quarters of the energy mix and significantly contribute to stabilising greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the report, it is technically feasible to supply all the world’s demand for energy from renewable sources as the capability of renewable energy systems are greater than the global demand for energy, yet the most pessimistic scenarios see the renewables share remaining almost static until mid-century.

More positively, the research suggests that renewable energy can help developing countries to grow in a sustainable manner. The benefits of renewables can help promote social and economic development in remote rural areas by speeding up access to energy for 1.4 billion people currently unable to access electricity supplies.

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