Like the Renewable Energy by 2030 report in Energy Journal, this study has a broad portfolio of existing renewable energy sources with geothermal and tidal providing a base load and solar and wind supplementing when available. The study also discounts nuclear power as a dirty and expensive form of energy in the long run and eliminates it from the energy mix. The report supports carbon capture but does not believe that the technology will be mature enough to be economically feasible by the time renewables are in place.
The Energy Report goes further in detailing transportation solutions, social energy equity, and broad conservation as pivotal to the success of the proposal. This means biofuels, vast grid networks and distributed energy generation, and zero energy building and retrofits similar to the Passivhaus standard. The study places great emphasis on reducing energy demand which also lowers costs. Another positive aspect is that while the study notes that the implementation of renewables at such scales is costly, the ongoing energy generation is less expensive than our current system so in the bigger picture, it will not necessarily cost more.
+ The Energy Report: 100% Renewable Energy by 2050
Well stated Carl, and the book looks to make for a provocative read. Envisioning a better world in detail is a critical function to getting beyond just fretting over what we are currently doing to this globe.
This is so needed, because what we think is possible will help determine what we do. If we understand that it is possible, it will be possible. If we believe it isn’t, and that the problem is that we need more oil and coal, that will be our fate. A new book, “The View From Lazy Point; A Natural Year in an Unnatural World,” delves into this, and into the way corporations continue distorting public understanding, leading to policies on energy that are self-defeating ( http://bit.ly/gATt4E )