Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 7.9.
Ranges of global technical potentials of renewables compared with global
energy supply and demands (logarithmic scale). Biomass and solar may have both heat
(modified).
Wind energy is currently the third most competitive renewable energy technology after
hydropower and geothermal, and it has expanded rapidly over the last two decades in
Europe and North America, and more recently in China and India. In order to achieve
the high expansion indicated by most scenarios, greater geographical distribution will be
needed. Yet this will be limited by environmental and NIMBY constraints. Offshore wind
energy has a high potential, but further technological advances and major investment in
gridconnectionsbetweenlandandseaisneededbeforemanyofthemostpromisingremote
offshore locations can be exploited.
Concentrating solar power (CSP), solar PV, geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), and
enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) will require technological improvements and further
improvements in cost efficiency before they achieve grid parity (are competitive) with
fossil-based power.
Figure 7.10.
Projected ranges of global renewables use by source in 2020 and 2050.
Total renewable energy deployment in 2050 is projected to be between 117 and 314
exajoules per year, while global primary production is expected to be between 600 and
Where will these alternative energies be deployed? Most scenarios suggest that
developing countries will account for most of the increase in global energy demand over
the coming decades, and that growth in renewable energy generation will also be highest
in these countries. North Africa is the most interesting region for solar power, while North
America has the greatest wind power potential. Large-scale hydropower potential has been
