For several years, the IEA has been calling for an energy revolution to tackle climate change and enhance energy security and economic development. For the first time, such revolution is under way.
North Africa has the potential to become a significant exporter of electricity to Europe from solar energy projects according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka underscored that solar energy could represent 20 to 25% of global electricity production by 2050.
CSP devices concentrate energy from the sun’s rays to heat a receiver to high temperatures. This heat is transformed first into mechanical energy (by turbines or other engines) and then into electricity.
Solar power electricity could represent up to 20% to 25% of global electricity production by 2050.
Today, where local conditions are favourable, hydro energy and wind power are competitive generation technologies.
Increased efforts in wind technology R&D are essential if the vision of this roadmap is to become reality. Wind energy technology is proven but not yet fully mature.
Wind power plants installed by the end of 2008 are estimated to avoid the emission of some 230 megatonnes of CO2 per year.
Far from its beginnings in the late 1970s, wind power has become a global industry bearing the logos of established energy giants. In 2008, new investment in wind energy reached USD 51.8 bn (EUR 35.2 bn).
The Technology Roadmap explains action to be taken in order for the world’s wind capacity to reach 2,000 GW by 2050, so that 12% of global electricity will be generated from wind power.
National Plan for Scientific Research,
Development and Technological Innovation, 2008-2011
Strategic Action Plan for Energy and Climate Change
File no. ECC- 590000-2008-141
