Sustainable Energy and Smart Grids: Breakthrough in Thinking, Modelling, and Technology

The Future of Sustainable Energy

High renewable electricity futures can result in deep reductions in electric sector greenhouse gas emissions and water use. Direct environmental and social implications are associated with the high renewable futures examined, including reduced electric sector air emissions and water use resulting from reduced fossil energy consumption, and increased land use competition and associated issues. NREL - Renewable Electricity Futures Study, 2013.

Changing to a sustainable intermittent or non-intermittent energy source is not a trivial matter. It has taken generations to build up the current energy system; it will probably also take decades to change to a completely renewable and sustainable power system. Figure 6 presents the vision that renewable energy sources are mainly harvested where they are available (hydro energy in mountainous regions, solar energy closer to the equator, wind energy more offshore) and that a smart super grid is used to connect everything.

Figure 6. Renewable Energy Sources and Super Grids in Europe and North Africa