Clean Energy Can Meet Global Energy Needs by 2050
DOE, DOI Announce Offshore Wind Initiatives
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Clean Energy Could Meet Most Global Energy Needs by 2050
A combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy can meet most global energy needs by 2050, according to a report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Two years in the making, The Energy Report: 100% Renewable Energy by 2050 finds that most of the world's energy needs can be met with renewable energy, with only isolated residual uses of fossil and nuclear fuels.
The report examines how the world can shift to clean energy sources, drawing mainly on technologies available today. Energy efficiency can drive global energy demand 15% below 2005 levels in 2050, even with population increases and higher industrial output, freight, and travel. Shifting energy use from liquid fuels to electricity derived from renewable energy sources connected to a smart grid is the other major path.
Based on a detailed analysis by energy consultancy Ecofys, the report projects an 80% reduction in carbon emissions. While the shift requires a concerted global effort, "similar to the global response to the world financial crisis," savings start to outweigh costs by 2040. By 2050, the authors project savings of about 4 trillion Euros per year, or about $5.4 trillion. See the WWF press release and The Energy Report.
DOE, Interior Announce Offshore Wind Initiatives
The Departments of Energy (DOE) and Interior (DOI) released a coordinated strategic plan to accelerate development of offshore wind energy, including funding opportunities for up to $50.5 million. The joint National Offshore Wind Strategy: Creating an Offshore Wind Industry in the United States is the first interagency plan on offshore wind.
They also identified several high priority "wind energy areas" in the Mid-Atlantic as part of DOI's "Smart from the Start" program, announced in November 2010, which expedites appropriate commercial-scale wind development. The plan includes deployment of 10 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2020 and 54 GW by 2030, enough energy to power 2.8 million and 15.2 million average American homes respectively.
The plan focuses on overcoming three key challenges: the relatively high cost of offshore wind; technical challenges surrounding installation, operations, and grid interconnection; and the lack of site data and experience with project permitting processes.
In support of the plan, DOE is releasing three solicitations for up to $50.5 million over 5 years, to develop breakthrough offshore wind technology and to reduce specific market barriers to its deployment.
Funding will support development of innovative wind turbine design tools and hardware to provide a foundation for a cost-competitive U.S. offshore wind industry. It will also support baseline studies and targeted environmental research to characterize key industry sectors and factors limiting deployment of offshore wind. And it will fund development and refinement of next-generation designs for wind turbine drivetrains. For the funding opportunities (FOA) posted on Grants.gov, see the technology development and design FOA due on June 17, the removing market barriers FOA due June 10, and the turbine drivetrain FOA due on April 1.
The four wind areas off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic states - Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia - will benefit from coordinated environmental studies, large-scale planning, and expedited approval processes.
