Renewable Energy, 2012
"A fully sustainable renewable power supply is the only way we can secure energy for all and avoid environmental catastrophe."
The following viewpoint is an extract from a report undertaken by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Ecofys (a consulting firm for sustainable energy projects), and the Office for Metropolitan Architecture. The viewpoint summarizes the findings of an Ecofys study that predicted the world can switch from fossil fuels to a fullyrenewable energy future by 2050. According to the study, most energy will be electricity-based, and that energy will be supplied chiefly by solar power. Wind power, geothermal heat, and water power will also serve to create electricity and heat homes. Finally the Ecofys scenario argues that biofuels will be needed to power some transport systems and industrial processes that require liquid fuels. According to the WWF and Ecofys, the renewables-driven future will save money, stall climate change, and create a sustainable energy system.
As you read, consider the following questions:
1. According to the WWF, by what percent does the International Energy Agency predict oil and gas reserves will fall by 2030?
2. What percent of the world's energy needs does Ecofys claim can be satisfied by renewables in 2050?
3. Why does Ecofys's scenario only provide for a small increase in hydropower by 2050?