Research
On the History and Future of 100% Renewable Energy Systems Research
Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Review › Research › peer-review
- Christian Breyer, Lappeenranta University of Technology ,
- Siavash Khalili, Lappeenranta University of Technology ,
- Dmitrii Bogdanov, Lappeenranta University of Technology ,
- Manish Ram, Lappeenranta University of Technology ,
- Ayobami Solomon Oyewo, Lappeenranta University of Technology ,
- Arman Aghahosseini, Lappeenranta University of Technology ,
- Ashish Gulagi, Lappeenranta University of Technology ,
- A. A. Solomon, Lappeenranta University of Technology ,
- Dominik Keiner, Lappeenranta University of Technology ,
- Gabriel Lopez, Lappeenranta University of Technology ,
- Poul Alberg Østergaard, Aalborg University, Denmark
- Henrik Lund, Aalborg University, Denmark
- Brian V. Mathiesen, Aalborg University ,
- Mark Z. Jacobson, Stanford University ,
- Marta Victoria
- Sven Teske, University of Technology Sydney ,
- Thomas Pregger, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Networked Energy Systems ,
- Vasilis Fthenakis, Columbia University ,
- Marco Raugei, Columbia University, Oxford Brookes University ,
- Hannele Holttinen, Recognis Oy, University College Dublin ,
- Ugo Bardi, University of Florence ,
- Auke Hoekstra, Eindhoven University of Technology ,
- Benjamin Sovacool
Research on 100% renewable energy systems is a relatively recent phenomenon. It was initiated in the mid-1970s, catalyzed by skyrocketing oil prices. Since the mid-2000s, it has quickly evolved into a prominent research field encompassing an expansive and growing number of research groups and organizations across the world. The main conclusion of most of these studies is that 100% renewables is feasible worldwide at low cost. Advanced concepts and methods now enable the field to chart realistic as well as cost- or resource-optimized and efficient transition pathways to a future without the use of fossil fuels. Such proposed pathways in turn, have helped spur 100% renewable energy policy targets and actions, leading to more research. In most transition pathways, solar energy and wind power increasingly emerge as the central pillars of a sustainable energy system combined with energy efficiency measures. Cost-optimization modeling and greater resource availability tend to lead to higher solar photovoltaic shares, while emphasis on energy supply diversification tends to point to higher wind power contributions. Recent research has focused on the challenges and opportunities regarding grid congestion, energy storage, sector coupling, electrification of transport and industry implying power-to-X and hydrogen-to-X, and the inclusion of natural and technical carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches. The result is a holistic vision of the transition towards a net-negative greenhouse gas emissions economy that can limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C with a clearly defined carbon budget in a sustainable and cost-effective manner based on 100% renewable energy-industry-CDR systems. Initially, the field encountered very strong skepticism. Therefore, this paper also includes a response to major critiques against 100% renewable energy systems, and also discusses the institutional inertia that hampers adoption by the International Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as well as possible negative connections to community acceptance and energy justice. We conclude by discussing how this emergent research field can further progress to the benefit of society.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | IEEE Access |
| Volume | 10 |
| Pages (from-to) | 78176 - 78218 |
| Number of pages | 43 |
| ISSN | 2169-3536 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2022 |
- 100% renewable energy, CARBON CAPTURE, Climate safety, DIRECT AIR CAPTURE, FOSSIL-FUELS, Fuels, HEAT ROADMAP EUROPE, Hydroelectric power generation, Hydrogen, Jacobian matrices, LOW-COST, MIDDLE-EAST, PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR-SYSTEMS, POWER-TO-GAS, Renewable energy sources, System analysis and design, TECHNOECONOMIC ASSESSMENT, WIND POWER, Wind power generation, energy transition, power-to-X, sector coupling
Research areas
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