Renewable Energy: 80% of the Energy Mix by 2050

From its ongoing meeting in Abu-Dhabi, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a mammoth report in which it says that renewable energy sources are expected to contribute to 80% of the total energy mix in the world.

The Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN) followed a review of 164 scenarios and the conclusion is that alternative energy will play a crucial role in any plans to curb climate change.

“With consistent climate and energy policy support, renewable energy sources can contribute substantially to human well-being by sustainably supplying energy and stabilizing the climate,” said Professor Ottmar Edenhofer, co-chair of Working Group III at the report launch. He warned, though, that “the substantial increase of renewables is technically and politically very challenging”.

The document was welcomed by the Global Wind Energy Council.

“The report clearly demonstrates that renewable technologies could supply the world with more energy than it would ever need, and at a highly competitive cost,” said GWEC’s CEO Steve Sawyer. “The IPCC report will be a key reference for policy makers and industry alike, as it represents the most comprehensive high level review of renewable energy to date.”

The 1,000 page report was adopted by 194 governments after marathon negotiations held yesterday. It takes into account a wide mix of energy sources, including biomass, geothermal, hydro, ocean, solar and wind energy. It analyzes their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, how they can be integrated into the energy networks, their contribution to sustainable development, and the policies which are needed to put them in place.

The report also emphasises that wind power alone is capable of supplying more than 100% of future demand, and solar power many times more.

“The IPCC brought together the most relevant and best available information to provide the world with this scientific assessment of the potential of renewable energy sources to mitigate climate change. The Special Report can serve as a sound knowledge basis for policymakers to take on this major challenge of the 21st century”, Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the IPCC, said at the launch. The full report will be available on May 31st.

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