It may sound fanciful, but researchers say a world running on 100% renewable electricity is attainable by mid-century, or even earlier. If you think a world powered by 100% renewable electricity – and significantly cheaper than today’s – is an impossible dream, there’s a surprise in store for you. A new study says it’s already in the making. A global transition to 100% renewable electricity, far from being a long-term vision, is happening now, the study says. It is the work of Finland’s Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and the Energy Watch Group (EWG), and was published at the UN climate change conference, COP23, which is meeting in Bonn. The authors say a global electricity system based entirely on renewable energy will soon be feasible day in, day out, at every moment throughout the year, and would be more cost-effective than the existing system, based largely on fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
Climate News Network 8th Nov 2017 read more »
Ecowatch 8th Nov 2017 read more »
Cape Verde, the small island archipelago nation off Africa’s northwest coast, has set itself a very bold renewable energy target. As part of its “sustainable energy for all” agenda, it has pledged to obtain 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2025. Cape Verde is made up of 10 islands, nine of which are inhabited, that lie about 600km west of Senegal. Almost all of the islands’ 550,000 residents have access to electricity, but about one-third still rely on firewood and charcoal for cooking. Cape Verde’s per capita electricity consumption of 727 kWh per person per year is substantially higher than the sub-Saharan Africa average of 488 kWh per person per year. But electricity prices are high. They range from US$0.26 – 0.32 in recent years compared, for example, to an average of US$0.13 for residential homes in the US.
Independent 8th Nov 2017 read more »
