Energy, environment, and resources | Global energy demand and the technical potential of renewable energies

Abstract

The steady increase in global primary energy demand in the past has led to a substantial rise in greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute significantly to climate change. To mitigate the latter, the energy demand must be met more sustainably, which requires an unprecedented expansion of renewable energies. In this context, the question arises whether renewable sources of energy have sufficient global potential to meet the steadily increasing demand in the future. Against this background, this chapter contrasts the necessary expansion of renewable energies with the technical potentials available worldwide and attempts to answer the question of whether a mostly renewable energy supply would be possible on the basis of technical potentials.