SUN & WIND CAN POWER THE WORLD

Aid needed to boost world's "green" energy
Gelu Suluguic (w/Katie Nguyen), March 11, 2009 (Reuters UK)

"Wind and solar power could produce 40 percent of the world's electricity by 2050, but only if government subsidies are secured for the next two decades, scientists said…

"The technologies will each need global support totaling 10 billion to 20 billion euros ($12.76 billion to $25.51 billion) per year, said Peter Lund, professor in advanced energy systems at Helsinki University of Technology."

Greenpeace also sees a New Energy future. (click to enlarge)

"Without financial and political support, he said wind and solar power would only account for less than 15 percent of the world's energy output…[Lund] said with a strong deployment programme and supportive policies, wind power could break even between 2020 and 2025, while solar power could break even closer to 2030."

"In November, the International Energy Agency said if the world managed to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius by 2030 -- a scenario many scientists already see as hopeless -- renewable sources of energy would account for 40 percent of global electricity generation…To limit warming to 3 degrees, renewables would make up 23 percent of global power generation."

Even the EIA sees a New Energy future. (click to enlarge)

"Scientists said intermittent electricity such as that from wind is now still 50 percent more expensive compared to baseload electricity from coal or nuclear…To fully exploit the potential of wind and solar power, electricity grids will have to be modernized and national electricity markets will have to be integrated, scientists said…

"Eventually, the subsidies will lead to cheaper electricity when wind and solar power become commercially viable, Lund said…"