『Abstract
Climate change, pollution, and energy insecurity are among the
greatest problems of our time. Addressing them requires major
changes in our energy infrastructure. Here, we analyze the feasibility
of providing worldwide energy for all purposes (electric power,
transportation, heating/cooling, etc.) from wind, water, and sunlight
(WWS). In Part I, we discuss WWS energy system characteristics,
current and future energy demand, availability of WWS resources,
numbers of WWS devices, and area and material requirements. In
Part II, we address variability, economics, and policy of WWS
energy. We estimate that 〜3,800,000 5MW wind turbines, 〜49,000
300 MW concentrated solar plants, 〜40,000 300 MW solar PV power
plants, 〜1.7 billion 3 kW rooftop PV systems, 〜5350 100 MW geothermal
power plants, 〜270 new 1300 MW hydroelectric power plants, 〜720,000
0.75 MW wave devices, and 〜490,000 1 MW tidal turbines can power
a 2030 WWS would that uses electricity and electrolytic hydrogen
for all purposes. Such a WWS infrastructure reduces world power
demand by 30％ and requires only 〜0.41％ and 〜0.59％ more of the
world's land for footprint and spacing, respectively. We suggest
producing all new energy with WWS by 2030 and replacing the pre-existing
energy by 2050. Barriers of the plan are primarily social and
political, not technological or economic. The energy cost in a
WWS world should be similar to that today.
Keywords: Wind power; Solar power; Water power』
1. Introduction
2. Clean, low-risk, sustainable energy systems
2.1. Evaluation of long-term energy systems: why we choose
WWS power
2.2. Characteristics of electricity-generating WWS technologies
2.2.1. Wind
2.2.2. Wave
2.2.3. Geothermal
2.2.4. Hydroelectricity
2.2.5. Tidal
2.2.6. Solar PV
2.2.7. CSP
2.3. Use of WWS power for transportation
2.4. Use of WWS power for heating and cooling
3. Energy resources needed and available
4. Quantities and areas of plants and devices required
5. Material resources
5.1. Wind power
5.2. Solar power
5.3. Electric vehicles
6. Summary of technical findings and conclusions
Acknowledgements
Appendix A
A.1. The economics of nuclear power
A.2. Notes to Table 2
A.2.1. TW power in 2030 (fossil-fuel case)
A.2.2. Electrified fraction
A.2.3. Residential sector
A.2.4. Commercial sector
A.2.5. Industrial sector
A.2.6. Transport sector
A.2.7. Non-electrified energy services
A.2.8. End-use energy/work w.r.t. to fossil fuel
A.2.9. Upstream factor
A.2.10. EHCM factor
A.2.11. TW power in 2030 (WWS case)
References