The EU Commission wants to be carbon neutral by 2050. Thus, the complete phase-out of coal, Oil and Gas is connected. Can this be done? Yes, experts say. Energy is expensive and there are even more Jobs.
For many people, a life without fossil energies is not yet conceivable. How to heat without Oil or Gas, how to work traffic, or fly?
The majority of people, but it is now also clear that the use of coal, Oil and Gas must, as soon as possible be stopped, to stop the climate warming and the associated consequences, such as increased extreme weather events.
Yet this goal is not possible, according to the latest UN Report and in the report of the world climate Council. Only, you no longer should hesitate now. “Climate protection is a matter of life and death,” warned UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, at the world climate conference in Katowice.
How can coal replace Oil and Gas?
The power supply from Wind, solar, biomass, and water power is now no longer rocket science. The crucial factor is the right Mix, depending on the weather and the Region, as well as batteries and as a long-time memory Power-to-Gas.
In the case of Power-to-Gas is produced from electricity and water to hydrogen. This can be stored and used in the transport or industrial use. Under the addition of CO2 from the air, synthetic force, but can be used to produce and, thus, fossil natural gas, and Oil products such as kerosene substitute.
More on this: at what point is the air travel green?
With these established techniques, the fossil fuels can be replaced. How could that go up to 2050 in Europe, as calculated now, a Team of 14 scientists led by Christian Breyer from the Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland, and Hans-Josef fell, the Energy Watch Group in a study.
In Europe, energy from the sun and the Wind
The researchers fed their high-performance computing in Finland with all available data, from the weather in the regions, by-the-hour energy needs in Europe as well as the costs for all energies and storage technologies.
“The report confirms that a shift towards 100 percent renewable energy in all sectors is possible and not more expensive than the current energy system”, says Hans-Josef fell. The study show that Europe can switch to an emission-free energy system. “Therefore, the European politicians should do much more for climate protection than currently envisaged.”
The study shows that a very large electrification for the transition to a climate-neutral energy supply is required. Compared to today, the current would increase production on the Four – to five-fold by 2050, and more than 85 percent of the total energy demand in Europe cover.
In Europe, the total electricity consumption, then, according to the study, mainly from solar energy (62 percent), followed by wind power (32 percent), hydropower (4 percent), bio energy(2 percent) and geothermal (1 percent).
The costs of this climate-friendly energy production would be, according to Breyer, is not more expensive than it is today. At the same time, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced in the energy sector, but as desired to Zero by 2050.
“The results of the study show that the current goals of the Paris climate agreement can be accelerated and should,” says Breyer. “A transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy is very realistic – even now, with the technologies available today.”
More Jobs through renewable energy
By abandoning coal, Oil and Gas jobs in the fossil fuel industry will be lost. On the other hand, new Jobs will be created in the eco-friendly technologies.
The EU Commission expects below-the-line here with a positive Job effect. The study of LUT and the Energy Watch Group sees a growth of around one million Jobs by 2050 in the industry, in comparison to today, about 30 percent more jobs.
“The study shows that a climate-neutral energy supply in Europe is 100 percent renewable energies is technically and economically before the year 2050,” says Volker Quaschning, Professor for renewable energy systems at the University of technology and Economics in Berlin.
“Only if we go in the study presented way, the Paris climate protection targets comply with the global warming to a 1.5 degree limit,” stresses Quaschning. “The policy is now required to get the necessary groundwork for successful climate protection, and to accelerate the Expansion of renewable energies significantly.”
With groundbreaking policy to climate neutrality
The economic profit through the transformation of the energy system for Europe the study is not considered. According to EU climate Commissioner Arias Cañete would be saved with a clean energy system, however, health costs of around 200 billion euros per year in Europe. Add to this the saving of energy imports from the current 266 billion euros per year.
The authors of the study recommend to the policy to stimulate the conversion to emissions-free technologies with corresponding incentives are strong.
The abolition of subsidies and tax breaks for coal and fossil fuels belong to, the Integration of environmental damage, with taxes on CO2 and fuel elements, as well as fixed feed-in tariffs for investors.
“The feed-in tariff is an essential Element, and thus the conversion is fast”, stresses the fur compared to the DW. “Only when the Investor has the guarantee that, for example, the wind Turbine funded through the feed-in tariff for sure, he gets to the Bank the credit. This safety allows a lot of private investment and is important for the thrust of climate-friendly energy,” the fur.
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Solar power helps climate protectionGlobal Boom
The photovoltaic conquered the power supply. The world is already generated two percent of the electricity needs with solar power, in the EU there are already four percent. By 2020, it should deliver according to Prognos, the modules in the world three per cent of electricity and by 2030, approximately three to ten percent.
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Solar power helps climate protectionChina is pushing ahead with Expansion quickly
China leads in the Development of solar energy. Photovoltaic systems with a total capacity of 131 Gigawatt (GW) were installed here by the end of 2017. The equivalent capacity of 130 large nuclear plants, or about 250 coal-fired power plants. Germany installed up to the end of 2017, 43 GW in Japan by the end of 2016 43 GW and the US is 42 GW.
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Solar power helps climate protectionSolar power is cheapest energy
Solar power is becoming more and more important. About Ten GW have been installed in India (photo) by 2022 to 100 GW. Solar power from new installations is now a world’s usually cheaper than from new coal-, Gas – and nuclear power plants. India and China have also stopped, therefore, the planning of new coal-fired power plants.
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Solar power helps climate protectionProgress with solar energy
Around two billion people still live without access to electricity. As a light source, there is often only kerosene lamps. But kerosene is expensive and the soot is damaging to the respiratory tract. Much cheaper and better for small solar systems with battery and efficient LED. In Bangladesh, as supplied to over four million homes.
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Solar power helps climate protectionTrend to own energy
In spite of connection to the grid also house owners and entrepreneurs are increasingly relying on the power from your own roof. In Germany, the self-generated electricity costs less than half than from the energy supplier. Solar systems are therefore profitable, who has a protects the climate and saves money.
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Solar power helps climate protectionBatteries to accelerate the Trend
The Save from your own electricity is currently expensive. However, in the case of the batteries, the prices are tumbling rapidly. So you are for home owners and businesses increasingly interesting. The Trend to generate its own power through the battery technology a further boost.
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Solar power helps climate protectionVisionaries show how to do it
The solar airplane Solar Impulse 2 flew only with the energy of the sun to the world. The plane is very light, the solar cells and the battery supply the economical engines. With the circumnavigation of the world the aviation pioneers wanted to make on the possibilities of technology, and promoted the switch to solar energy.
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Solar power helps climate protectionPotential for climate protection
The power of the sun is approximately 1000 Times greater than the worldwide energy consumption. In order to meet the global demand for energy and to limit global warming, solar technology has a key function. For the achievement of the climate targets of the Boom is very important, but needs to be accelerated significantly.