Renewables have increased in popularity in recent years amid the energy transition – but could clean energy technologies displace fossil fuels entirely by 2050?
A number of the world’s major economies are attempting to reduce their reliance on high-polluting fuels such as coal in a bid to drive down emissions and limit the potential impacts of climate change.
But two of the highest emitters, China and India, are continuing to invest heavily in fossil fuels as the two nations aim to combat their rapidly growing energy demand, with the Asia Pacific region’s demand expected to almost double by 2030.
A report by think tank Carbon Tracker has revealed that huge falls in the cost of solar and wind power in the past few years has unlocked an energy reserve that can meet world demand 100 times over.
It highlights that the two renewable energy sources are inexhaustible sources of energy, unlike coal, oil and gas, and at current growth rates will push fossil fuels out of the electricity sector by the mid-2030s.
By 2050, the analysis claims they could power the world, displacing fossil fuels entirely and producing cheap, clean energy to support new technologies such as electric vehicles and green hydrogen.
For more information please visit the Carbon Tracker website.