The trend towards renewable energies has been on the rise for years.
In the light of this reality, 27 researchers from Germany, Denmark and America have joined together in a research group led by Mark Z. Jacobson of Stanford University and have published their study in the prestigious scientific journal 'Joule' where they state that by the year 2050 139 countries including Spain, The energy supply in China or the USA can be provided solely by renewable energies, which can be wind, hydro or solar energy, or alternating them depending on the geographical situation of each country or region.
This study arises from a concern to explain that a more sustainable future is possible where all organisms and beings are winners, as Jacobson himself states: 'Both individuals and governments can lead this change. Politicians generally don't want to commit to doing something unless there is some reasonable science that can show that it is possible, and that is what we are trying to do.
The study analyses the electricity, heating, transport, cooling, industry, forestry and fisheries sectors in each country.
More than a few countries have already begun the transition to clean energy, for example, in Hong Kong 98.2% of the energy they obtain is offshore wind energy, in Kosovo 35.9% of energy is geothermal energy, and in Nepal 28.6% of the energy consumed is photovoltaic energy obtained through the multiple solar panels installed in homes.
But what would be the impact if these countries were to be powered solely by renewable energy by 2050?
The points detailed in the research itself are:
- Independence for national energy self-sufficiency.
- Creation of 24 million new jobs.
- Installation of technology capable of storing and distributing energy obtained from sustainable sources, such as hydrogen-powered shuttles and rockets.
- Investment in public transport elements such as clean energy buses or trains, as well as private transport from cars to electric-powered aircraft, which is already becoming a reality in many countries.
- Reduction of four to seven million deaths from air pollution per year.
- Economic savings of more than 20 million dollars per year in the area of health and environment.
There is a growing awareness of the multitude of natural resources that are not being harnessed. It is also a reality that giving up fossil fuels is difficult, as wind, water and solar energy can undergo changes that can affect a sharp reduction in energy supply at any time.
Thus, fossil fuels can be an alternative when the energy needed to supply a region cannot be obtained on an ad hoc basis, and not the other way around.