Can renewables alone meet the world’s power needs?
As our planet’s fossil fuel reserves dwindle, we will have no choice but to switch to renewable energy sources. Renewables currently provide only 14% of the world’s energy, but, fortunately, their capacity could be vastly expanded. Exploited to their maximum potential, renewables could supply several times the estimated global energy demand in 2100. The world’s largest offshore wind farm will soon be under construction in the Thames estuary and is set to cover a third of London households’ electricity demands. Many renewable technologies such as solar power remain costly relative to fossil fuel combustion, but improved efficiency and government subsidies could soon make them competitive.
