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100% Renewable Energy By 2050 Is Possible—Here's How We Can Do It



ecofys renewable energy mix chart
Figure 1: Ecofys projected global energy consumption between 2000 and 2050.

To achieve the goal of 100% renewable energy production, Ecofys forsees that global energy demand in 2050 will be 15% lower than in 2005, despite a growing population and continued economicdevelopment in countries like India and China.In their scenario:



To achieve the necessary renewable energy production, Ecofys envisions that solar energy suppliesabout half of ourelectricity, half of our building heating, and 15% of our industrial heat and fuel by 2050. Thisrequires an average annual solar energy growth rate much lower than we're currently achieving - an encouraging finding.

The report notes that wind could meet one-quarter of the world's electricity needs by 2050 if current growth rates continue, and sets that as its goal. Ecofys also envisions more than one-third of building heat coming from geothermal sources by 2050.If we double current geothermal electricity production growth rates, it can provide 4% of our total electricity needs by that date. Ocean power, through both waves and tides, accounts for about 1% of global electricity needs in 2050.Hydropower, which currently supplies 15% of global electricity, ultimately supplies 12% in the Ecofys scenario.As you can see in Figure 2, global renewable energy use ramps up gradually between now and 2050.

ecofys energy mix projection to 2050 chart
Figure 2: Energy use by source between 2000 and 2050.

Burning biomass (such as plant and animal waste) will supply 60% of industrial fuels and heat, 13% of building heat, and 13% of electricity needs. Much of the proposed biomass use comes from plant residues from agriculture and food processing, sawdust and residues from forestry and wood processing, manure, and municipal waste.All of these renewable energy technologies currently exist, and it's just a matter of implementing them on a sufficiently large scale.

Ecofys also envisions using currently existing technology and expertise to "create buildings that require almost no conventional energy for heating or cooling, through airtight construction, heat pumps and sunlight. The Ecofys scenario foresees all new buildings achieving these standards by 2030."2-3% of existing buildings will also need to be retrofitted per year to improve energy efficiency.Ecofys notes that Germany is already retrofitting buildings at this rate. Transportation must become more efficient, using more fuel efficient vehicles like electric cars, and increasing use of mass public transportation.


  • Introduce minimum efficiency standards worldwide for all products that consume energy, including buildings.
  • Build energy conservation into every stage of product design.
  • Introduce strict energy efficiency criteria for all new buildings.
  • Introduce an energy tax, or perhaps a carbon emissions price.
  • Substantial investment in public transportation.


[Image by OregonDOT]

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