A new study by the Energy Watch Group provides convincing evidence that even moderate investments are enough to extend the use of renewable energies. There is no need to construct new nuclear-power facilities to meet demand.

The authors of the new study “Renewable Energy Outlook 2030” have come to the conclusion that phasing out the use of fossil and nuclear fuels can be accomplished at a manageable investment level. By 2030, increasing financial inputs into renewable technologies by between 62 and 124 euros per capita of the world’s population would make it possible to cover between 17% and 30% of the global demand for electricity and heat using renewable sources. Depending on the pace of development, investment would need to range from 510 to 1,021 billion euros. By comparison, in 2005, worldwide military spending totalled about 800 billion euros or about 120 euros per global inhabitant. Germany currently puts about 100 euros per capita annually into cultural activities.

The study looks into the decrease in technology costs resulting from increased production volume, as well as the assumed individual development of the various world regions. On this basis, it generates a more optimistic - and more realistic - perspective of renewable technologies than the scenarios of the International Energy Agency's “World Energy Outlook” series has. The study’s main message is that renewables can be extended at much lower costs than even many scientists assume. More than half of the electricity demand (54%) and 13% of the heat demand in the OECD countries can be covered from renewable sources by 2030. With the global population increasing to more than eight billion people, the biggest investments will have to be made where most of the global population live: in Asia, and China and India should to be first. Depending on the regional availability of wind, sun and water, electricity generated from wind energy, photovoltaic, and hydropower will gain importance. In regard to the supply of heating, cogeneration facilities and solar thermal collectors will play a prominent role.

In “high-variant” and “low-variant” scenarios, which reflect differing rates of development, the REO 2030 study analyses the extension of renewables for the supply of electricity (and partially for heating) until 2030. Various factors, such as technology costs, cost-progression ratios for production, different economic prospects in the various world regions, individual potentials for renewable sources, and the development of growth have been considered.

The analysis was undertaken by Dipl. Ing. Stefan Peter (iSuSI) and Dr. Harry Lehmann on behalf of the Energy Watch Group. They are available for inquiries or interviews at (Stefan Peter) 0049.178.473.22.35, sp@isusi.de and (Harry Lehmann) 0049.172.59.42.433, harrylehmann@arcor.de.

The study “Renewable Energy Outlook 2030” will be available for download on at http://www.energywatchgroup.org/Erneuerbare.52+M5d637b1e38d.0.html