Wind and solar can provide significantly more energy than the highest energy demand forecasts for 2050 and nearly ten times current electricity demand (299 TWh/year). The research shows up to 2,896 TWh a year could be generated by wind and solar, against the demand forecast of 1,500 TWh/year.
These estimates are intentionally conservative, accounting for common concerns around land use and the visibility of installations, say the authors.
‘This is a question of ambition rather than technical feasibility,’ insists lead author Dr Brian O’Callaghan. ‘The UK is already lagging in the global green race. Instead of hitting reverse, we should be turbocharging on renewables with US-style incentives and gearing up our grid for the surge that is already underway.’
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Here’s some other ideas that’ll turbocharge this green transition:
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Get the Shetland to Scotland interconnect upgraded so they don’t have to keep switching off the turbines because they’re generating more power than Shetland consumes and can be transmitted back to the mainland.
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Artificial energy islands off the north coast of Scotland to connect large amounts of wind turbines.
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Approve and accelerate Viking Link to build out the future energy market with Norway.
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Co-design and co-finance huge shared north sea wind farms with Norway.
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Significantly increase taxes on capital gains with an exemption for green power investments. Stand back and watch how quickly private capital can move to fund large projects when properly incentivised.
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Work with the City (of London) to create funds for people to invest via LISAs, Investment ISAs, and Pensions that fuel a new UK citizen owned green energy company. Stand back and watch as a new generation get wealthy the same way previous ones did when British Gas was privateised. Socilise the risk, socilise the profits.
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